Manik Taneja, the founder of the Malabar River Festival, initially searched for “river rapids” on Google Maps, not as a traveler but to identify potential sites for developing white-water kayaking in India. The result was a rural stretch in Kozhikode, which has now evolved into Asia’s largest kayaking festival.
Kozhikode is once again hosting the Malabar River Festival, now in its 12th edition, attracting kayakers from all over India and abroad for a three-day competition focused on white-water rapids. Set on the Chalipuzha and Iruvazhinjipuzha rivers at Thusharagiri, the festival is organized by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPS), the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC), and the Kozhikode District Panchayat, with technical support from the Indian Kayaking and Canoeing Association (IKCA). This event underscores Kerala’s rising profile as an adventure tourism hotspot.
The Kerala government has earmarked ₹50 lakh for this year’s festival, as mentioned by Binu Kuriakose, CEO of KATPS. He noted that a series of pre-events were conducted to enhance awareness and participation. The festival will be co-hosted by eight local panchayats in Kozhikode district, with the government allocating ₹2 lakh to each participating grama panchayat.
Kuriakose highlighted that the festival also stimulates the local economy, with participants and visitors from across India and beyond supporting homestays, eateries, and local businesses. The influx of visitors generates seasonal employment opportunities and increases visibility for the area. The event draws not just kayakers but also spectators, enhancing Kozhikode’s reputation as an adventure tourism destination.
A spectator remarked that skills related to this sport should be imparted to more individuals, especially in a region like Kerala, where intense monsoon rains often lead to flooding and other natural calamities.
What is white-water kayaking?
White-water kayaking is a sport where paddlers maneuver kayaks through swiftly flowing, turbulent rivers—often navigating over rapids and around rocks or other obstacles. It differs from flat-water kayaking, requiring superior boat control, quick reflexes, and the ability to interpret ever-changing river conditions.
The man who put Kerala on the kayaking map
Manik Taneja, the visionary behind bringing kayaking to rural Kozhikode, noted that the Kerala government has provided support for the sport more consistently than many other states and even at the national level. He recounted that when the initiative began in 2012, the event received only ₹2.5 lakh in government funding, which has since escalated to approximately ₹50 lakh, alongside a significantly larger prize pool.
Taneja discovered the location through Google Maps searching for suitable river stretches after kayakers in Bengaluru faced challenges finding appropriate white-water training rivers. Unlike several other places, he found that Kerala’s local communities embraced the idea, and the river conditions turned out to be perfect for the sport.
What started as a modest initiative has blossomed into a broader ecosystem. Three kayaking schools now operate in the region during the monsoon season, training aspiring paddlers and positioning Kozhikode as a recognized hub for white-water kayaking in India.
A global paddler’s Kerala experience
Ryan O’Connor, the winner of the Rapid Raja 2025 title, shared that Kozhikode’s unique setting sets it apart. He described the warm rivers and monsoon conditions as “a super cool environment” and commended the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society for promoting the sport on an international scale.
O’Connor added that enhanced support for local paddlers would further bolster Kerala’s kayaking ecosystem and attract more international participants in the future.
The amateur who stunned the field
Meanwhile, Muskaan S. from Karnataka, who clinched the Amateur Women category after only 20 days of training in white-water kayaking, said her victory was unexpected.
“I felt uncertain before the race, as it was my very first competition, and I was up against kayakers with more experience. But my team rallied around me, assisting with equipment and offering continuous motivation throughout the race. My parents’ support also played a vital role. I adhered to my strategy and stayed composed throughout,” she mentioned.
India’s kayaking and canoeing community has been steadily growing in recent years, bolstered by events like the Malabar River Festival and greater access to training. With an increasing number of kayaking schools opening around Kozhikode and more athletes embracing the sport during monsoon season, the festival has transformed into both a significant sporting event and a tourism success story, effectively placing Kerala on the global white-water kayaking map.
