Kerala, one of the most sought after destinations of South India, is famous for the spectacular boat races held every year. Among them, the most popular and prestigious event is Nehru Trophy Boat Race. This famous boat race is held on the second Saturday of August every year. The tranquil lake of Punnamada near Alappuzha (Alleppey) in Kerala is the venue for this exciting event, and is a major tourist attraction because of its sportive spirit. This aquatic festival fosters a sense of unity and fraternity and sportsman spirit among the participants and the spectators.

Being major tourist attraction this festival is celebrated near Alappuzha (Alleppey) in Lake Tranquil of Punnamada in Kerala. The Snake Boat Race festival is called Nehru Tropy Boat Race due to the Priminister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1952 visited Alappuzha, and awarded winners by the Silver Trophy. It is the world's largest snake boat race.

In the drums beats and rhythmic chants the snake boats with 100 to 120 oarsmen splash the oars in unison. 100-125 oarsmen, 25 singers, and 4 helmsmen are required to control this boat. To cheer the huge clack crafts thoudands people gather the waterways.

Name 'The Snake Boat' came from the snake shape of the boats used, the snakes have no relation with the festival or the game. Kuttanadu region people use the canoe style boat is a Snake shape. Construction of these expensive snake boats and grand festival preparations starts many weeks before the festival, second Saturday of August and attracts a large number of people from the whole world.

This boat racing is accomplished by a number of boats, having massive size and attractive shape it magnetize the maximum tourist attention, includes Kochu Vallam, Vadakkanody Vallam, Veppu Vallam, Odi Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Churulan Vallam. Due to the huge size of these Snake Boats greater number than hundred oadsmen are required to propel and speed up in the water with the team sprits. The greatest teamwork and team sprit required to be winner.

The kings of Alleppey (Alappuzha) used boats to flight with each others along the over 400 years ago. Due to defeat of one king, who suffered big losses, decided to architect boat a better vessel and generated the snake boat.

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The history of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is associated with the visit of late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India to Alappuzha.Visit Official website of Alappuzha. He chanced a trip from Kottayam to Alappuzha Visit Official website of Alappuzha. by boat, through water logged Kuttanad.  A pageantry of boats accompanied him on the trip.The first race was an impromptu once conducted in 1952 in honour of Panditji who visited Alappuzha.In that race of snake boats, Nadubhagam Chundan stood first. Panditji, who was thrilled and excited in the performance of the oarsmen, jumped into the Nadubhagam Chundan, forgetting all security arrangements.The boat proceeded to the boat jetty carrying the Prime Minister.On his return to Delhi in December 1952, Nehru donated a Silver Trophy, which is a replica of a snake boat placed on a wooden abacus.The trophy bears the following inscription above his signature.

“To the winners of the boat race which is a unique feature of community life in Travancore Cochin."
            
           This trophy later came to be known as Nehru Trophy, and in fond memory of great Panditiji, the people of Alappuzha celebrate the Nehru Trophy Boat Race every year.

The race courser having a length of about 1370 meters is divided into various tracks for the conduct of the competition. When they are advancing through various tracks, it appears like the fast moving snakes. The oarsmen splash the oars in unison with the rhythmic chants and beats of drums. The movements of competing boats are so thrilling that the spectators get a tune with the excited mood of the surrounding uproars.

The festival begins with a procession of the snake boats. The snake boats and the smaller varieties of Kerala race boats like the ‘Churulan’, ‘Veppu’ and oadi’ move in a formation down the 1.4 KM stretch of the lake as the sturdy villagers, their biceps rippling in the sun, row with an elaborate flourish of the oars to the singing of couplets from “Kuchelavritham Vanchipattu” the classic Malayalam poem written by Ramapurathu Warrier to regale King Marthanda Varma of Travancore in early 19th century during a boat journey from Vaikom to Thiruvananthapuram. The numerous beaded umbrellas held aloft in each boat, the gilded sterns of the ebony black snake boats and the changing patterns that the rowers weave with their oars transform the lake into a kaleidoscope. Floats giving glimpses of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage follow the race boats, with artists performing “kathakali” “theyyam” “panchavadyam” and “padayani”.

And then a quiet falls on the lake front, broken only by the sound of ripples lapping the embankment and the rustle of palm leaves in the wind. The snake boats line up at the starting point for the great race. As the starter’s flag goes up, the scence freezes into a tableau the rowers tense with their paddles poised, the pace keepers alert and the steersmen straining against their long oars.

The flag falls in a blur and suddenly the thumping begins. The crowd erupts into a roar, birds flutter up from their perch on the trees and the snake boats hiss their way down the lake in a haze of spray, fighting a pitched battle in the dappled waters. “Ayyo-poyye… ayyo-poyye” – the cadence grows to a crescendo as the oars dip and flash 100 to 120 times a minute and the steersmen hurl their gigantic oars in a high arc.

80Km south of Cochin International air port. 70 minutes journey by N.H 47.

125Km West of Thekkady. 3 hour's journey by N.H 47.

From Alappuzha Railway station to venue about 5 Km.

From Alappuzha K.S.R.T.C Bus station to venue-Walkable distance.

60 Km South of Cochi . An hour's drive from Cochi by N.H.47 .

170 Km North of Kovalam . 3 & 1/2 hour's journey by N.H 47 .

Source: http://nehrutrophy.nic.in

Year,Name of Boat,Captian,Boat club

2000, Karichal, Bency Randuthikkal, Alappuzha Boat Club
2001, Karichal, Tobin Chandy, Friends Boat Club Chennamkary & Venattukad
2002, Vellamkulangara, Sanny Jakob, Kumarakom Boat Club
2003, Karichal, Thampi Podippara, Navajeevan Boat Club Maniyaparampu
2004, Cheruthana, Raju Vadakkathu, Kumarakam P.O., Kumarakam Town Boat Club
2005, PAYIPPAD, Raju Vadakkath, Kumarakom Town Boat Club
2006, PAYIPPAD, Raju Vadakkath, Kumarakom Town Boat Club
2007, PAYIPPAD, Kunjumon Meluvallil, Kumarakom Town Boat Club
2008, KARICHAL, JiJi Jacob Pollayil, Jesus Boat Club Kollam