What is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race?
Kerala's backwaters are a maze of lakes, rivers and canals lined with coconut palms, rice fields and villages. Every year in August, on Punnamada Lake near the town of Alappuzha, also known as Alleppey, they host the most famous boat race in India. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a contest of chundan vallam, the snake boats of Kerala: long, narrow wooden boats over 100 feet in length, each powered by a crew of up to 128 paddlers rowing in perfect rhythm to the beat of songs and drums.
The race began with a visit. In December 1952, India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, came to the Kuttanad region and was greeted by a procession of snake boats, which turned into an impromptu race between nine boats. Nehru was so delighted that he jumped into the winning boat, the Nadubhagam Chundan, and later donated a silver trophy, the model of a snake boat. The first formal race was held in 1954, and the event, once called the Prime Minister's Trophy, was later renamed in his honour.
Snake boats have their roots in the naval battles between the old kingdoms of the region, and each one belongs to a village, which builds, maintains and races it with fierce pride. Teams train for weeks before the race, and villages celebrate a win for years. Since 2019, the Nehru Trophy has also opened the season of the Champions Boat League, a series of races across Kerala's backwaters.
On race day, tens of thousands of spectators line the shores and the stands along the 1.4-kilometre course, and the district declares a local holiday. In 2026, 71 boats took part across several categories, including 22 snake boats, and the final was decided by a fraction of a second.
What to expect
The race takes place on a single Saturday in August, from late morning to late afternoon.
Morning
Arrival and opening
Spectators arrive by boat and on foot and take their places in the stands and along the shore. The day opens with a ceremony and a procession of decorated boats.
Early afternoon
Heats
Smaller categories of boats race first, followed by the heats of the snake boats, with crews chanting and paddling to the rhythm of their songs.
Late afternoon
The final
The four fastest snake boats race in the final, with the crowd roaring them on, before the winning crew lifts the trophy.
Rowers wait for the finals of the Nehru Trophy
Photo by wandercrumbs / flickr · CC BY 2.0
Planning your trip
Getting there
Cochin International Airport is about 83 kilometres from Alappuzha, about two hours by road. Alappuzha has a railway station with trains from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The race course at Punnamada Lake is a short ride from the town centre, and boats run to the stands on race day.
Where to stay
Alappuzha has hotels, homestays and resorts, as well as the famous houseboats of the backwaters, which you can rent for a night or more. Rooms fill up for race day, so book early, or stay in Kochi and travel down for the day.
What it costs
Tickets for the stands cost from about ₹100 for basic areas to several thousand rupees for the best seats. Kerala is affordable for food and transport, though houseboats and hotels raise their prices on race day.
Go like you know
- Arrive early to watch the crews warm up and the boats gather on the lake.
- Listen for the vanchipattu, the boat songs the crews chant as they row.
- Spend a night on a houseboat in the backwaters before or after the race.
- Try Kerala's fish curry, karimeen (pearl spot fish) and appam in the toddy shops and restaurants of Alappuzha.
- Kerala's harvest festival, Onam, brings more snake boat races around late August and September.
- The temple festival Thrissur Pooram, in April or May, is Kerala's other great spectacle.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Nehru Trophy Boat Race?
Traditionally on the second Saturday of August, though recent races have moved: the 2024 race was postponed to September after landslides in Wayanad, the 2025 race was held on August 30 and the 2026 race on August 22. Check the official website for the 2027 date.
What is a snake boat?
A snake boat, or chundan vallam, is a long wooden racing boat from Kerala, over 100 feet long, with a high, tapered stern that resembles a raised snake's hood. Each boat carries dozens of paddlers, helmsmen and singers, and belongs to a village that builds, maintains and races it.
Can visitors watch for free?
Some spectators watch from the shores and jetties for free, but space is limited and the view can be poor. Most visitors buy tickets for the stands along the course, which range from cheap standing areas to premium seats near the finish, and sell out quickly for the best spots.
