Travel for participation in sports activities including local, regional or international events, is an important aspect of sports tourism. The great variety of sports activities widens the scope for tourist interest and enhances their participation in it. In Kerala package tour operators offer both the domestic and the international tourist the option of both traditional and popular sports even though they come at a higher price due to the need to hire the necessary accessories.
Along with its cultural diversities, Kerala state also offers significant diversities in all type of sporting events. With the advent of the modern communication systems, a vast majority of the youth have now taken to the modern sporting events in a mass way. Even then the traditional sporting events also have many takers. In place of the popular horse race, you can see the bullock race or the water sports involving bullocks that plough the field.
Almost all the traditional sporting events unfold during the traditional Onam week. For a tourist interested in traditional sporting events, the best time to visit the state is during the August-October period. But the sad fact is that after the Onam season almost all the traditional sporting events literally disappear from the scene due to the total domination of cricket.
Perhaps the most popular traditional sporting event in Kerala is the ‘snake boat race’ which is held in different parts of the state. The snake boat race held at the Vembanad Lake is now known all over the world due to its unique characteristics. More than 100 oarsmen power the long snake boats to the finishing line. The traditional songs sung during the event motivate the participants to achieve remarkable progress against the opponents. Scores of domestic and international tourists come to witness this event. The tourism authorities have now made it possible to the visitors to step in and witness at close quarters the unique design pattern of this boat.
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