Nehru Trophy Boat Race ready for August 14
Published August 11, 2010 | As Onam, Kerala’s own cultural celebration is on the threshold of each and every Malayalee, Alappuzha gets ready to welcome Onam with the grand water Olympics on August 14 2010. Kerala is going to witness the 58th Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Punnamada Lake. Honourable President, Prathibha Patil will be the chief Guest of the event. The cultural events will start today at 2 pm with a spectacular cultural procession in Alappuzha town.
This time there are 60 boats including 19 snake boats for the boat race. The race will be conducted in four heats with 16 snake boats and in the B grade section three Snake Boats will mark their participation. The races will commence at 3.15pm on August 14. Activities by Navy and a spectacular cultural float will take place during intervals. Women from foreign countries will not take part in this year’s procession.
The ticket charges start from 2000(Tourist Gold), 1000(Tourist Silver), 500, 300, 200, 150, 100, 50 accordingly. Ticket charges that are less than 500 will have a separate pavilion in the west side of the lake. If you wish to watch this historical event, get tickets from R.T.O Office, and Village offices that have ticket counters from morning 10 till evening 5. On the day of the race there will be separate ticket counters at DTPC Office, RTO Office and Boat Jetty.
Last year Champakulam Chundan won the Nehru Trophy. This year, the captain of the winning boat will receive a certificate signed by the President.
A brief history about the Nehru Trophy Boat race:
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race on the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha, is held on the second Saturday of August every year, and is the most competitive and popular of the boat races. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people, including tourists from abroad, present only to watch this spectacular event. For the people of each village in Kuttanad, a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come.
The major attraction of the boat race is the competition of chundanvallams or snake boats. Chundans (snake boats) are an impressive sight, measuring over 100 feet in length, with a raised prow. The main highlight of this electrifying boat race is the 100 feet long boats that are decorated beautifully by the local craftsmen especially for this event. These boats can accommodate 100 people at a time. Usually the musicians and singers accompany the oarsmen to keep the participants with high spirits.
The largest snake boat ever made is all set to enter the Guinness Book
Published May 14, 2008 | 
Kochi: The first ever steel snake boat, ‘Aries Chundan’ became the largest snake boat with a capacity for 141 crew members, by smashing the existing record held by a traditional snake boat with a crew capacity of 118 members.
This architectural marvel in steel is all set to enter the Guinness book of world records for achieving this stellar feat. Constructed by Aries marine and engineering services, this snake boat hogged the limelight when it made its presence felt on the 1st of May in the Punnamada Lake in Alappuzha, famous venue for the annual Nehru Trophy Boat race, which attracts tourists from far and wide.
This innovative steel boat is designed using the well acclaimed ‘Autoship software’ and the strength and stability has been confirmed using overhanging test and sinking test, which ensures safety and stability under all conditions. “Aries chundan’ measuring a staggering 143 feet in length is already featured in the Limca Book of Records as the longest snake boat in steel ever made.