Name: Ludhiana
Rating: 4.0

Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur, Ludhiana Overview

Home to one of the quirkiest festivals you will come around anywhere in the world - Rural Olympics, Kila Raipur is an amazing village whose love for sports and recreation is unmatched anywhere else in the country. The small village is located just 15 km from the city of Ludhiana in Punjab and is like any other village of the state with huge fields of wheat and mustard that stretch as far as eyes can see, and a certain calmness and peace about it, except for the three days of February when the village transforms into a hub of sports, enthusiasm and celebration.

Kila Raipur is famous all over the world for its celebration of rural sports and lifestyle in its event dubbed as the Rural Olympics. Since its inception in 1933, the festival is a magnum opus of all sports festivals. The festival is a bizarre yet grand affair, where sports lovers from far and wide flock by to witness the thrill and action. The event which unfolds in three days sees all farming activities suspended and male members of the Punjabi households participating in numerous sports activities. Participants come from all parts of the state and the neighboring states too to flaunt their prowess and athleticism. Along with sports one can also see the celebration of Punjabi rural life with renditions of Punjabi folk music and dances.

Restaurants Near Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur

Colonel's Cabin, Pandit Paranthe Wala and Yellow Chili in Jalandhar

How to reach Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur

Air: The nearest airport is at Ludhiana which is just 15 km from Kila Raipur. One can easily avail a cab or autorickshaws for Kila Raipur.
Rail: The nearest rail head is also at Ludhiana which is connected by trains to different parts of the country. Getting a cab or an autorickshaws for Kila Raipur village is easy.
Road: Kila Raipur is well connected by roads to different parts of Punjab with state and private buses plying to and from the village everyday.

Kila Raipur Dates

The festival if held for 3 days, dates for 2024 are February(dates not out yet). The three-day long extravaganza promises an experience like never-before for all sport-lovers!

A Spectacular Gathering

The festival witnesses over 6000+ competitors every year, with over 500,000 spectators, cheering and supporting their favourites. Kila Raipur Sports Festival is a huge and thrilling event which marks its footsteps ahead of other sports festivals. With over six decades of its existence, the festival has progressed through leaps and bounds. The magnitude of the festival can be gauged from the fact that the festival entertains more than 18 different sports events like bullock cart race, kabbaddi, hockey, tug of war, cycling, weight lifting, tent pegging, race, tractor race etc. Splendid and daring performances by the Nihang Sikhs are another crucial highlights of the festival. The most wildest and adventurous festivals of the world, KRSF promises its spectators an experience like never before. Besides the action packed festival, the KRSF also boasts of memorable and musical evenings along with festive folk songs and folk dances. Giddhas and Bhangras are a part and parcel of Punjabi celebrations. The magnificence of the festival lies in its dual merriment of action and cultural extravaganza.

Event Highlights

Kila Raipur Sports Festival has an impressive list of events that cater to various genre of sports. The events are roughly categorised into three parts; The Rural games, The modern sports and the performing sports. Athletics comprises of 100 m, 200 m, 400 m, 800 m and 1500 m race. There are various categories for women, men, U-19 and veterans. Besides, the festival has High Jump, Long Jump, Short Put, Javelin Throw and Discus Throw. Further, the festival has competitions for sports like hockey, kabaddi, tug of war, bullock cart race, dog race, cycle race and many more. The spectacular festival also boasts of events like archery, air pistol, sack-lifting, paragliding, tractor race, aero-modeling show, tent pegging etc. For differently abled citizens, thee festival has events for people with hearing impairment, speech-impairment and disabled. The unique Octogenarian race is another adventurous and splendid crowd-puller in the festival. The festival is a thunderous event where one can witness sports-persons pulling tractors with teeth or nose; riding two horses simultaneously, or heavy stone cracking by placing it on the chest.

Kila Raipur History

The Kila Raipur Sports Festival was initiated by Inder Singh Grewal, when little did he know that his initiative would transform metaphorically. The venue of the festival is the prosperous and culturally rich state of Punjab, precisely the Doaba belt. This year, the Kila Raipur Sports Festival proudly celebrates its 83rd edition from 1st to 3rd February 2019. Initiated by Grewal family an an annual meet, the Kila Raipur Sports festival is held in Village Kila Raipur of Ludhiana district every year. The festival is recognised by Sports Authority of India, Tourism department, Punjab Government as well as local Ludhiana administration.

Tips For Visiting Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur

1.The festival is a rural affair, 15 km from the district of Ludhiana. Make sure you carry enough essentials for the stay.
2. Make sure you reach the venue early in the morning to have some chances at getting a seat. 3. Don't carry valuable as you might lose them in the crowd.
4. If you are a faint-hearted person, please brace yourself for the adventurous and most bizarre view of the festival. You may find people testing their strengths by adrenaline-pumping or trail-blazing.
5. Make sure you grab your camera for special effects in and around the festival. There are a variety of Gurudwaras, Museums and hangout joints near Ludhiana.

Trivia About Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur

It is the only place in India that hosts the Rural Olympics.

Stay Near Rural Olympics at Qila Raipur

Kila Raipur does not have any accommodation options as it is a village but Ludhiana, which is a major city of Punjab has many accommodation options for various budget sizes.