Kayaking in Kerala

A kayak is a tiny paddle boat that seats one or two persons who propel the boat with double bladed paddles. The boat is almost entirely covered except the seat where the rower is seated; the spaces between the rower and the kayak are covered with waterproof cloth to prevent the entry of water and sinking of the kayak. Kayaking is a globally preferred adventure sport and requires extreme physical fitness.

Kayaking is a major sport in Kerala. The origins of this adventure sport lie in the regular use of kayaks by the locals as transport across the canals, lakes and lagoons and the backwaters of the state. A kayak is a simple vessel and forms rapid transport. Traditionally used to ferry one or two people and small trade items, kayaks have caught on in Kerala and races are annually organized amidst great cheer. The tourists indulge in kayaking expeditions across the luxuriant backwaters of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kollam, Kozhikode and Thiruvallam and the mountainous parts from which the rivers descend to the plains. The scenic settings, the plush green landscape and the exotic flora and fauna elevate the mind and enthrall the spirit. Kayaking from Trivandrum to Calicut takes about 14 days.

Kayaking may be undertaken on the gushing rapids of the rugged mountain faces and is called whitewater kayaking. The kayaks used for this sport are made of a tough and durable plastic or polythene and may be from 6 to 12 feet in length. The rowers usually adorn safety padding and helmets before venturing into whitewater kayaking. Kayaks also venture out into the deep sea and this is called sea kayaking. The kayaks used for sea kayaking may be constructed from a variety of material including wood, bark and polythene. The line corresponding to the surface of the water when the kayak is afloat is longer than the kayaks used for whitewater kayaking. The gears used by the rowers are floating jackets etc. that prevent against drowning.

Men and women from Kerala have truly excelled in this sport and earn the country and the state laurels in national and international Kayaking competitions.

Last Updated on 26 May 2011