Pulinkunnu river, which is Pampa river itself, is the venue of the Pulinkunnu Boat Race in Alappuzha district. The event is held annually on the last Saturday in August. The race is conducted every year to commemorate the visit of Mr Rajiv Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India, to Kuttanad.
The Prime Minister had come to Kuttanad to see first-hand the miseries of people who suffered from flooding in the region. He was welcomed at Pulinkunnu. A host of race boats and motor boats had arrived at the area to offer the Prime Minister a warm welcome.
Following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, it was decided to organise a boat race every year in Pulinkunnu river in his memory. The competition is being held for the Rajiv Gandhi trophy which was sponsored by Mr K. Karunakaran, the then Chief Minister of Kerala.
