The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is amongst the premier snake boat races in Kerala, where the rhythmic oars of the pacing snake boats slice the flow of the backwaters in Alleppey in the biggest boat race in India! The much-awaited Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2024 is to be held on 10th August on the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, Kerala.
Each year on the second Saturday of August, unique snake boats compete for that precious trophy in this special event held at the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, Kerala, to honor the visit of the first minister of India to Alleppey in 1952 – Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The rhythmic synchronized rowing of so many snake boats allows it to be a rare event because of which the Nehru Trophy Boat Race has emerged as the most popular snake boat race in Kerala and India. It is held on the second Saturday of August to coincide with the famous festival of Onam in Kerala.
In 2023, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held on August 12 at the famed Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, Kerala.
It’ll now be held on August 10, 2024!
It will be the 70th Nehru Trophy Boat Race, marking 7 glorious decades of this joyous and fiercely competitive annual extravaganza in Kerala!
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a respectable event in India held every year since 1952. The race entices tourists from different parts of India and the world to come and witness this rare yet exciting event.
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Nehru Trophy Boat Race history
The very first boat competition over the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey occurred in the year 1952 to commemorate the visit of the then Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
The otherwise quiet town of Alleppey, which is well-known for evening cruises on the backwaters and is a prominent addition to all Kerala houseboat packages, dons a completely different color during the events of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in August each year!
Folks from near and far swarm to Punnamada Lake’s banks to witness this joyous and exciting water regatta!
Chundans (snake boats), a remarkable type of boat, are over 100 feet long and have a raised prow. The colonial rulers, who had seen similar vessels in Norway, named Kerala’s chundans “snake boats” owing to their striking similarity.
In 1952, the first Prime Minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru visited Alappuzha in Kerala. He was felicitated by a grand reception organised by the locals of Alappuzha who decided to escort him in huge snake boats.
Excited to see the skills and efficiency of the oarsmen, Panditji leaped into the Nadubhagam Chundan forgetting all security arrangements and the vessel proceeded towards the boat jetty.
Upon his return to Delhi in December 1952, Nehru commissioned a silver trophy in the shape of a snake boat positioned on a wooden abacus. It was given to those oarsmen with the words “To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore Cochin” inscribed on it, becoming a permanent heritage of the small town. The locals named it the Nehru Trophy in his honor!
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To commemorate his visit to Alleppey and his thrilling ride on the chundans, as well as to boost Kerala tourism, the folks of Alappuzha celebrate the Nehru Trophy Boat Race every year!
Alleppey, which is the center of all our Kerala houseboat packages and backwater day cruise packages has a totally different hue and flavor on the occasion of the annual Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race in August.
Where is the race held every year?
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held on the Punnamada Lake in the backwaters of Alappuzha annually. Millions of people from around the world arrive at the premises to watch the spectacular race filled with vibrancy and zeal.
The 2022 Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race was an exception since it was held in September that year as part of the Champions Boat League instead of August. However, in 2023, the 69th edition of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race was held on 12th August, keeping up with the tradition.
The viewers station themselves on the top of the houseboats floating on the backwaters of Alappuzha. Before the race commences, the Punnamada Lake is cleared of all water traffic, including local fishermen and tourists sailing on houseboats in these parts.
These houseboats are parked right outside the tracks where spectators including locals, tourists, bureaucrats, and VIPs can sit and watch the colorful and energetic race.
The Origin of Snake Boat Races in Kerala
It is said that during the battle of the kingdoms of Chembakassery and Kayamkulam in the early 14th century in Kerala, King Devanarayana of Chembakassery commissioned a contractor to build a battle vessel. This is the same vessel that people call snake boats or “Chundan Vallams” in the region today.
So, it’s safe to say that the special knowledge of building and working these traditional snake boats has existed for over 650 years! Out of all the snake boats in existence today, the Parthasarathi Chundan is the oldest.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race has now become a significant part of the culture and traditions of the Indian state of Kerala that will be passed down from one generation to the next, picking up more and more enthusiasm and fame in the coming years.
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Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2024 Information
The ticket prices for participants and attendees of the upcoming Nehru Trophy Boat Race have been specified below for tourists and locals.
Tourist Gold: INR 3,000/-
Tourist Silver: INR 2,500/-
Rose Corner: INR 1,000/-
Victory Line: INR 500/-
All View: INR 300/-
Lake View: INR 200/-
Lawn: INR 100/-
NOTE: Each ticket admits 1 person
Venue: Punnamada Backwaters in Alleppey, Kerala
Date of the event: August 10, 2024
Time of the event: 1:30 PM onwards
Location: Punnamada
District: Alappuzha
Edition: 70th Edition of Nehru Trophy Boat Race
The race in 2022 was held as part of the newly constituted Champions Boat League or CBL. It could not be held in 2020 and 2021 on account of the coronavirus pandemic.
How to reach Alleppey Boat Race in 2024
It’s pretty easy to get to the venue of the Nehru Boat Race in Alleppey.
By Air:
The nearest airport is the Cochin International Airport in Kochi, located 80 km away from the Punnamada Lake boat jetty (entrance point) where the boat race is held every year.
Hire a taxi from the airport or take a KSRTC-operated bus from the nearest Kochi Bus Stand to get to Alappuzha Bus Station via NH 47. The jetty is within walking distance from the bus station in Alappuzha.
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By Rail:
The nearest railway station is the Alappuzha Railway Station situated only 5 km away from the Punnamada Lake boat jetty. One can hire a taxi, take an autorickshaw, or even walk to the entry point from there.
By Road:
NH 47 connects major cities in Kerala and neighboring states to Alleppey, a famous tourist destination in Kerala with a well-developed transport network.
You can take a taxi, book a seat on a private Volvo, or board a state-run bus from various points in nearby cities like Kochi and Trivandrum in Kerala, Madurai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu, and Bangalore in Karnataka to get to Alleppey comfortably and at nominal rates.
What happens at the Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Facts & Details
Over 100 members can participate in this fun and frolic adventure at a time. Out of these, 16 snake boats are generally referred to as the “kings of the water”.
These 100 or so rowers, four of which sit at the helm to guide the boat forward, sit on both sides, and paddle in unity to the finish point located 1.35 km away from the starting point.
The race distance extends for a length of about 1370 meters and is segregated into several tracks. The event starts with a snake boat procession with different types of boats from Kerala like Chundan, Churlan, Odi, and Parunthuvalan spread across a length of about 1.4 km for spectators to marvel at!
These include giant boats 100 feet long capable of accommodating 150 rowers, to small ones only about 18 feet long accommodating not more than 12 members. The boats are made of tree trunks of Kadampy and Anjil.
The competition between the snake boats is the center of attraction of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, not only because of the trophy that is awarded to the winner but also for the competitive spirit between the competing clubs which are the pride of each village.
The preparations for this mega race start weeks before the event. All boats are smeared with sardine oil so they can glide easily over the water.
The oarsmen are selected based on their merit and the practice sessions commence under the leadership of a senior oarsmen or leader. The village is represented by almost 150 oarsmen in the event
The annual boat race begins with drums beating and the chanting of Vanchipattu, the official song of the event sun in high spirits to build an environment of enthusiasm and motivate the participants.
The scenic Nehru Trophy ferry station is the finishing point of the world-famous Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race in Alleppey! A stunning statue of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru is placed in the backdrop of the ferry station amid a picturesque landscape of the Alappuzha backwaters.
The area is thronged by teeming millions who come to witness this spectacular event. The occasion attracts visitors from all across the world. Ranked 4th among India’s best sports leagues, it has been attended and supported by notable personalities like Shri. M Nassar, Allu Arjun, and Sachin Tendulkar in recent years.
The frenzy of activities, the laughter, the music, and the folk dance performances held during the Alapuzha Snake Boat Race bring out a whole lot of color and festive cheer to the event and the town at large, making it the most awaited event of Alleppey every year!
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Winners of Alleppey Snake Boat Race 2023
The winner of the first Nehru Trophy Boat Race held in 1952 was the Nadubhagam Chundan rowed by the Nadubhagam Boat Club and captained by Chacko Mappila Maathu Mappila.
Nadubhagam Chundan was the winner in 2019 as well, though this time it was rowed by the Pallathuruthy Boat Club and captained by Narayanankutty N Udayan. The winner of last year’s race was the Pallathuruthy Boat Club, bagging the title for the 4th time in a row.
Other boats that have won multiple times include the Karichal Chundan which is said to have won 15 times in a row, and the Kumarakom Town Boat Club which has a hat-trick of winning the race three times in a row under the captainship of Raju Vadakkathu of Kumarakom.
You can check the Nehru Trophy Boat Race results from 1952 to 2023 on Wikipedia. The race is part of the CBL Champions Boat League with prize money of INR 5.9 crore.
There was no boat race in 2020 and 2021 on account of the Covid pandemic.
How to watch Nehru Trophy Boat race live
You can watch the boat race live online on Keralatv.in or DD News Malayalam. They stream the whole event live and also broadcast a repeat telecast later for viewers who missed the live stream.
Sponsored by Nerolac Paints, the boat race is also broadcast on Star Sports Network for viewers across India.
Nehru Trophy Boat Race Video
The annual Snake Boat Race of Alleppey is the most prestigious boat race held in India filled with tremendous excitement and gusto. Watch the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Video from 2015 to see what makes it so spectacular and enjoyable.
Do’s & Don’ts of attending the Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2024
Purchase tickets from authorized retail outlets (through Govt. departments), and tourism information office’s authorized ticket counters.
Please check the tickets for the authorized seal of the committee and serial number. Authorized counters can be identified with banners, having the logo of NTBR.
Keep these guidelines issued by NTBR authorities in mind while planning your trip to Kerala, purchasing the boat race tickets, and attending the event:
- A maximum of 5 tickets can be purchased at a time.
- Ticket holders must reach the specially arranged boat jetty by 11 AM.
- The committee arranges separate boats for tourists and ticket holders to reach the race area.
- Seat availability is on a first come first serve basis.
- Occupy your seats by noon.
- The organizers shall not be held responsible in case a person fails to get the seat.
- Vehicles can be parked in the Municipal Stadium North of Zillah Court Bridge.
- Individuals must show their tickets at the entrance of the boat jetty as well as the entrance of the pavilion.
- Physical tickets need to be collected at the event from specific points: Tourist gold & silver – Matha Boat Jetty; Others – Punnamada Finishing Point.
- Carry water and only light snacks to the venue.
- Do not bring any explosive items and dangerous electronic devices
- Smoking is not allowed in the pavilion
- Do not bring liquor to the pavilion
- For any help, contact the control room at 2243441/100 (police)
- DO NOT LITTER!
The “Green” Boat Race Initiative of God’s Own Country
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2023 was complimented tremendously for being a ‘Green Fest’, wherein over 135 Haritha Karma Sena personnel joined hands to prevent plastic and other non-biodegradable materials from accumulating near the event area and polluting the venue.
Let’s strive to keep the event, as well as the town of Alleppey, just as clean and green this year as well!
These snake boat events are also a method to assure community involvement and several of the competition’s oarsmen possess a shared passion of the locality’s people for maintaining a tranquil, serene environment in addition to a fun-loving competitive spirit!
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Each boat competition has earned a massive level of recognition not just as a state-level or country-level sporting event, but also as a period that promotes brotherhood and friendliness between the people within this area.
Plan your trip to Kerala with us and book your tickets well in advance so you don’t miss out on this mind-blowing extravaganza and the camaraderie of the local people of Kerala!
The next race on 10th August 2024 is just around the corner and half the tickets are already gone!
Be a part of the spectacular Nehru Trophy Boat Race full of energy and vigor amid the serene backwaters of Kerala. Get your ticket without further delay and gear up for the most unique and breathtaking boating event in India in its most charming tourist destination, Kerala! Hurry!
