The boats are referred to as snake boats because of their long and slender shape and rest assured, it has nothing to do with the reptile itself! Watching a snake boat festival, live and in action is a cherishable experience, to say the least. The high energy levels of the teams rowing the traditional boat (chundan vallam) is infectious and the crowd gathered cheers on for their favourite teams. Several villages in Kerala gather to take part in this annual festival which is held along the lakes and rivers of the region, in boats that are typically 100 to 120 feet long! There is a grand prize too for the winning team but more than anything, it’s the sentiment of winning that holds more weight than the prize for the village that bags the trophy.

2. snake boats
Snake Boats
The boats are referred to as snake boats because of their long and
slender shape and rest assured, it has nothing to do with the reptile
itself! Watching a snake boat festival, live and in action is a cherishable
experience, to say the least. The high energy levels of the teams rowing
the traditional boat (chundan vallam) is infectious and the crowd
gathered cheers on for their favourite teams. Several villages in Kerala
gather to take part in this annual festival which is held along the lakes
and rivers of the region, in boats that are typically 100 to 120 feet long!
There is a grand prize too for the winning team but more than anything,
it’s the sentiment of winning that holds more weight than the prize for
the village that bags the trophy.

3. Snake boat is
made ready
for race. It is
about 100
feet long and
has a seating
capacity of
150 men.

4. Oarsmen launching a snake-boat into the Pampa at Thaimaravumkara, near Aranmula

5. Chundan Vallam (Beaked Boat), known to the outside world as Kerala snake boats, are one of the icons of
Kerala culture used in the Vallamkali (boat race.)

6. The race of Chundan Vallam (snake boat) is the major event. Hence Vallam Kali is also known in English as
Snake Boat Race and is a major tourist attraction in Kerala.

7. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a popular Vallam Kali held in the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha, Kerala

8. Snake-boats parked for Uthrittathi Vallamkali Snake-boats parked for Uthrittathi Vallamkali

9. Temporary gallery set up for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. This is a commercial event with entry fee
ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 5000 depending upon the view

10. Boat racing in Kerala is a big crowd pulling event and number of tourists from all over the world joining
here to enjoy this splendid occasion

11. A tourist guy capturing the race moments. Nehru Trophy Boat Race

12. Oarsmen getting ready for race

13. Oarsmen moving to the starting point of race

14. Oarswomen team participating in Nehru Trophy Boat Race

15. Forign Women participating in Nehru Trophy Boat Race

16. Teams moving the boat to starting line

17. Mass drill by different boat clubs just before the boat race

18. A view from the Nehru Trophy Boat Race occasion

19. ALL SET FOR THE BIG SPLASH

20. Watching the team energy, live and in action is a cherishable experience

21. One monent from Nehru Trophy Boat Race

22. President of India handing over the President’s Trophy to captain of the winner snake boat

23. Boat Race
Some of the boat races held during the months of August–September
are Rajiv Gandhi Boat Race, ATDC Boat Race, Neerettupuram Boat Race,
Kumarakom Arpookara Vanitha Jalamela, Karuvatta Boat Race,
Thazhathangadi Boat Race, Kottayam Mahatma Boat Race and
Kumaranasan Smaraka Jalotsavam. Indira Gandhi Boat Race is held on
the Ernakulam Lake during the Cochin Carnival in December last week.

24. Aranmula Boat Race: The oldest boat race in Kerala, it is held during Onam. It takes place at Aranmula
near the Aranmula Temple. Palliyodams are Aranmula’s unique snake boats which devotees hold in
reverence, considering it as the divine vessel of the presiding deity in Sree Parthasarathy Temple.

25. Payippad Jalotsavam: The three day annual fiesta on the Payippad Lake, 35 km from Alappuzha,
commemorates the installation of the deity at the Subramanya Swamy Temple, Haripad.

26. Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha: This boat race is so named because the former Indian Prime
Minister, JawaharlalNehru instituted the trophy for the winners. Over 16 chundan vallams participate in
the race along with scores of smaller crafts like the churulan, veppu, odi etc., with a prize for each
category. There are separate races for women too. The race begins with a colourful pageant of floats,
performing arts and decorated boats. And goes on late into the evening

27. Kumarakom Boat Race : The Sree Narayana Jayanthi Vallam Kali or Boat Race, at Kumarakom, Kerala is
held in the month of September every year during Onam festival. More than 1,000 oarsmen in boats of
different sizes and shapes participate. Even though snake boats participate in this race, the importance is
given here is for iruttukuthi, in which about 50 oarsmen row. The successful iruttukuthi wins the Sree
Narayana Ever Rolling Trophy.

28. The Indira Gandhi Boat Race is an annual boat race conducted in Kochi, Kerala, India. It is conducted in
the last week of December in the Lake of Kochi, by the Department of Tourism of the state of Kerala.