Nehru Trophy Boat Race is an annual event which is organized at the Punnamada Lake in Alleppey, Kerala, India. It is held every year on the second Saturday of August and in 2012 Nehru Trophy Boat Race will be help on August 11, 2012. This is the most popular boat race in Kerala and this year the committee has decided to make the town more colorful in the evenings to the run-up to the Race, to woo tourists as the famed event celebrates its diamond jubilee year this year.

Nehru Trophy Boat Race of Kerala is not only popular in India but also throughout the world. The first boat race on the Punnamada Lake was held in the year 1952 in the honor of visit of late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, to Alappuzha. Alleppey which is well known for Kerala Houseboat Packages and day cruise package in backwaters has a totally different hue and flavor on the occasion of Nehru Trophy in August.

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.

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 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 race in honour of Panditji who visited Alappuzha on that day.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.

Here is a list of dos and dont’s if you are planning to attend Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2012

Purchase tickets from authorized retail outlets (through Govt. departments), and tourism information office’s authorized ticket counter.

Please check the tickets for the authorized seal of the committee and serial number. Authorized counters can be identified with banners, having logo of NTBR.

Try to reach Alappuzha by 9 AM

The committee arranges separate boats for the tourists and ticket holders to reach the race area.

The ticket holders must reach the specially arranged boat jetty by 11 am, for catching the boat.

Try to bring food items and water and can be taken to the venue.

Occupy your seats by 12.00 noon.

Vehicles can be parked in Municipal Stadium north of Zillah court Bridge.

This facility will available only up to 11 am.

Less luggage more comfort

Show your tickets at the entrance of the boat jetty and also at the entrance of the pavilion.

For any help please contact the control room 2243441/100 (police)

Do not purchase complimentary passes by paying cash

Do not bring any explosive items and dangerous electronic devices

Smoking is not allowed in the pavilion

Do not bring liquors to the pavilion