Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race of Alappuzha, Kerala – India’s Very Own ‘Water Olympics’

Although the name “Snake Boat Race”  might sound dangerous, there is nothing to be worried about. You must know that It does not involve snakes, if this is the first time you are hearing about it. The snake boat race is named after the shape of the boat that is used for racing. It is a long canoe-style boat that is utilised by the people of Kerala in order to participate in the racing competitions that take place in the backwaters. Snake boats are the pride of the villages, these historical war boats of Kerala are about 100 -120 ft long, and can hold around a 100 rowers.

History and interesting facts about Snake Boat Race

In Kerala’s history, Snake Boat Racing has been associated with the state for more than 400 years now. The story of boat racing could be traced back to the ancient king, Alleppey.  He was well known for fighting various battles with the kings of the nearby regions along the canals. The king suffered a heavy loss during war times, and in order to get a better boat, he got a boat architect to design and build a boat for him. The architect thus ended up making the snake boat. Nowadays, these boats are mainly used during festivals as part of the festivities, and adventure sports.

Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race

In the month of August or September, the very popular Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race is held every year. Drawing massive crowds from all over the country, it is one of the premier snake boat races. The venue of the boat race is Punnamada lake, if you’re eager or looking to be a part of this grand event, then you could mark your calendar of a time around the festival Onam to visit the place to be a part of the event. Every year, thousands of people crowd this region to watch, and enjoy the competition. During this celebration, the locals bring out the past that is associated with Alleppey to life, performing different ceremonial water processions that are held one after another along with a variety of magnificent water floats.

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held every year on the second Saturday of August and draws in a massive crowd. Locals and tourists gather in large numbers to watch the nearly 100 ft long boats competing against each other to the tune of old boat songs. The story, or reason behind this water regatta getting its name can be traced back to the visit of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1952. While visiting Kerala, Nehru was so enchanted by the sight of these majestic snake boats that he could not resist himself and, ignoring his security cover, leapt onto one of the snake boats himself. Later on in the year, he donated a silver trophy as a gift for the memories of the time he spent there. Hence, the race at a later time was named the Nehru Trophy Boat Race.

The area comes to life during this season with beautiful water floats and ceremonial water processions. From small country rafts to the huge snake boats (chundan valloms), the waters are controlled by the expert oarsmen, who puts together a magnificent show that one can never forget. To say the least, it is an art form in itself. The snake boat race is a major highlight of the Onam festival, and along with that a lot of other boat races are also held.

Nevertheless, Alleppey is considered as one of the best destinations in Kerala where you can go to enjoy the backwaters. People with an interest in sports should plan their trip around one of these major boat races in order to witness the local culture and traditions through this race. Alleppey is a well-known tourist attraction and other than the boat races, it radiates natural beauty and also houses many tourist destinations and experiences.

If you’re planning a trip to Kuttanad, Thumpoly Beach, Alleppey, Kanichukulangara or even Kerala as a whole, you must try visiting the  Punnamada lake not very far from Kanichukulangara. Also, If you’d like to stay just beside the Kanichukulangara Devi Temple, with reason to participate in some rituals at the temple, or if you have a preference to staying in close proximity to the above-mentioned vacation spots, then you could always choose Devi Royal Residency for your stay. 

Check out Devi Royal Residency’s comfortable, premium, and luxurious accommodations; they are made keeping an entire family’s comfort in mind, and the place is truly devoted to serving tourists and so also the devotees visiting the temple. Rooms with furnishing, ample space, and also a mini kitchen to cook your own food while you are on an extended stay, awaits you on your next visit to Kerala – “Gods Own Country”

We look forward to your visit, feel free to reach us at (0478 2862177) if you have any queries or requests that we can help you with.