This magnificent fiestas bring alive the tranquil backwaters.

Snake boat races are held in connection with Onam, the harvest festival in August/September. Scores of long snake boats and other smaller crafts participate in these events.

Around four helmsman, 25 singers and 100-125 oarsmen who row in unison to the fast rhythm of the Vanchipattu man a snake boat.

Thousand of visitors and tourists from around the world throng the water's edge to cheer the huge black crafts as they slice through the waters to spectacular finish.

The boat race seasons in Alappuzha is heralded by the famous Champakkulam Moolam boat race (July).

The other boat races are:
Aranmula Uthruttathi Vallam Kali (September)
Payippad Jalotsavam (September)
Rajiv Gandhi boat race, Pulincuunnu (Aug/Sep)
Neerettupuram boat race (Sept)

Though there are numerous boat races in Kerala, the 'Nehru Trophy Boat Race' is the most prestigious.

Places to See and Visit
Pathiramanal Backwaters:
According to mythology, a young Brahmin dived into the Vembanad Lake to perform his evening ablutions and the water made way for land to rise from below, thus creating the enchanting island of Pathiramanal (sands of midnight).

This little island on the Backwaters is a favourite haunt of hundreds of rare migratory birds from different parts of the world. The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom, and is accessible only by boat. It takes 1½ hours by motorboat/30 min, by speedboat from Alappuzha.

Kumarakom
Kumarakom slumbers on the banks of the famous Vembanad Lake, which is a part of Kuttanad ('granary' of Kerala). The Vembanad Lake with its majestic canals, streams and tributaries along its banks weave an intricate and enchantingly beautiful web.

The gorgeous green of the fringed palms ripple in the blue waters and blend into wavelets A boat ride in the countryside offers a close look into an engaging rustic life. Skilled-fishermen launching their cockshell boats.

Kuttanad
Kuttanad is an expanse of water-logged land lying below sea level. It bears strong resemblance to Holland in terms of geographical features.

Three rivers, namely Pampa, Manimala and Achankovil, criss cross the length and breadth of Kuttanad. Until a few years back, water was the main mode of transportation, though today buses and trains ply in the region.

However, so unique is the landscape that a boat trip is irresistible, not only for tourists but natives as well. Kuttanad, known as the 'rice bowl of Kerala' because of her wealth of paddy crops, is the very heart of the backwaters.

The scenic countryside here is a rich crop of Bananas, Yams and Casava. This is one of the places in the world, where farming is done below sea level. Inland waterways, which flow above land level is an amazing feature of this unique land.

The 75 kilometre long sparkling network of rivers, canals, lakes, lagoons and tiny streamlets between Quilon and Cochin and beyond to Thiruvananthapuram, of which the Kuttanad (backwater) consist are akin to a tropical land of canals.