The Nehru Trophy Vallam Kali is a popular Boat Race held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala, India.  The race is conducted on second Saturday of August every year which is a major tourist attraction.Unfortunately with deep sorrow I must say that, "I Missed" it this year!

Me and my friend Durai reached Alappuzha by 11.30. Our colleague, Ajith Mettutharayil had arranged the entry passes for both of us so that we did not have to wait at the never ending queue. 

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. He chanced a trip from Kottayam to Alappuzha by boat, through water logged Kuttanad.

 A pageantry of boats accompanied him on this trip. The first race  once conducted in 1952 in honour of Panditji who visited Alappuzha was an impromptu.

The major attraction of the boat race is the competition of snake boats,chundanvallams or snake boats. Chundans (snake boats) are an impressive sight, measuring over 100 feet in length, with a raised prow. They were called snake boats by the former colonial rulers, who based the name on a native boat found in Norway,although Kerala's Chundans bear  little resemblance to their European namesakes.

Waiting moments

All setting up for the Mass Drill

Other categories of boats that participate in various events of the race are: Churulan Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Odi Vallam, Veppu Vallam (Vaipu Vallam), Vadakkanody Vallam and Kochu Vallam.

Churulans are pleasure boats and they are considered to be the conveyance of rich people in olden days. The Churulan Boats vary in length from 12 ½ to 20 ¼ Koles and their crew ranges from 10 to 36.(One koles being equivalent to 24 inches)

Oadis or Iruttukuthies have a different origin. They were used for smuggling. It is to be noted, they are seen in plenty in the costal areas near Cochin and suburbs. Their very design is for speed. Both the ends are alike. Maneuverability is little, practically nil. They are never turned and rowed up only in shuttle between, by turning round the rowers. The Odi, also called Cheru Chudan has a length of 28 ¼ to 32 ¼ Koles and has 40 to 60 rowers. 


Veppu Vallams (Parunthuvalans) are said to be boats that were used to carry stores for the soldiers on board the Chundans.  "Vaipu" became Veppu" by usage. Vaipu in Malayalam means cooking. The design and appearance of these vehicles differ from all other race boats. The length of Parunthuvalan varies from 28 ¼ to 32 ¼ Koles and it accommodates 28 to 36 rowers.

Chundans are supposed to be Navy boats of Chempakasserry rulers. It has got a length of more than a hundred feet and usually more than a hundred people are on board. Both the ends of the boats are raised from water level. The rear end has a height of about twenty feet from the surface of water. There are nearly eighty six people that are rowers, ten to fifteen  people are to give the rhythm and four of them are to steer the vessel. It is to be specially noted that the Chundans have the maximum maneuverability among all sorts of race boats.