Nehru Trophy Boat Race 2012 - A Water Olympics!

Nehru Trophy Boat Race , the most competitive and popular of the boat race is an annual event which is organized at the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha. The snake boat race will be held on the second saturday of august. In connection with the diamond jubilee of the nehru trophy boat race, the race is to be made into a three day event this year, on August 9, 10, 11.

The three-day event will kick off with the competitions of small boats and friendly race off snake boats. Kayaking, canoeing and competitions of speedboat will be held on the second day and the event will conclude with the snake boat race on the final day.

On the day of the event, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people.

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. Each snake boat accommodates 100+ rowers sitting in two rows and 5 other oarsmen. There are other group of people standing in between; singing the ‘Vanchi-pattu’ (boat songs with hymns) which gives a rhythm for the rowers to charge forward, all-together.

This synchronized way of rowing needs long and devoted training and inherent aptitude. Team work is so important that even a silly neglected act of one participant can lead a boat to lose the race.
when the boats race to finishing point, the atmosphere will be beyond words !!!

Technical Specifications

Track length – 1400 M.
Chundan -
Amaram - 5 Persons
Nilakkar - 5 Persons
Total no. of team members- 111
Tracks –
4 tracks of 10 M. wide from East.

How to reach Alappuzha

080 Km. South of Cochin International Airport – 70 minutes journey by NH 47
062 Km. South of Kochi – An hour drive from Kochi by NH 47
170 Km. North of Kovalam – 3 ½ hours journey by NH 47
155 Km. North of Trivandrum – 3 hours journey by NH 47
125 Km. West of Thekkady – 3 hours journey by road
050 Km. West of Kottayam – 1 hour journey by road

Distance

80 Km south of Cochin International air port . 70 minutes journey by N.H 47.
60 Km South of Cochi . An hour's drive from Cochi by N.H.47.
170 Km North of Kovalam . 3 & 1/2 hour's journey by N.H 47.
125 Km West of Thekkady . 3 hour's journey by N.H 47.
From Alappuzha Railway station to venue about 5 Km.
From Alappuzha K.S.R.T.C Bus station to venue-Walkable distance.

Reach Alappuzha before 11 AM and occupy your seats.
Boat Services will be available from 10 AM to 12 Noon
After 12 noon boat service will not be available


source: boat races

Read more »

Kerala Beach - Alappuzha

Alappuzha beach

Referred to as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha has always enjoyed an important place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.

Another delightful experience while in Alappuzha is a houseboat cruise. The ones you find in the backwaters of Alappuzha are in fact reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times. The original kettuvallams or rice barges used to carry tons of rice and spices. The kettuvallam or 'boat with knots' was so called because the entire boat was held together with coir knots only.

Of late, houseboats come with all creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. And one can always enjoy uninterrupted views of backwater life while staying in a houseboat. 

Getting there: 

Nearest railway station: Alappuzha, about 5 km from the beach. 

Nearest airport: Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town.
source:keralatourism.org

Read more »

Kerala Backwater Cruise

Cruise through Kerala in a houseboat!

Have you ever gone cruising in a houseboat on the backwaters of Kerala? If you haven't, make sure you do. This one is really a wonderful and unforgettable experience!

Present day houseboats are huge, slow moving exotic barges used for leisure trips, and are in fact reworked version of kettuvallams of olden times. The original kettuvallams were used to carry tons of rice and spices. A standard kettuvallam can hold up to 30 tons from Kuttanad to the Kochi port.

The kettuvallam is held together with coir knots. Not even a single nail is used during the construction of the boat.. The boat is made of planks of jack-wood joined together with coir. This is then coated with a caustic black resin made from boiled cashew kernels. With careful maintenance, a kettuvallam can last for generations.

A portion of the kettuvallam was covered with bamboo and coir to serve as a restroom and kitchen for the crew. Meals would be cooked onboard and supplemented with freshly cooked fish from the backwaters.

When the modern trucks replaced this system of transport, some one found a new way that would keep these boats, almost all of which were more than 100 years old, in the market. By constructing special rooms to accommodate travelers, these boats cruised forward from near-extinction to enjoy their present great popularity.

Now these are a familiar sight on the backwaters and in Alappuzha alone, there are as many as 500 houseboats.

While converting kettuvallams into houseboats, care is taken to use only natural products. Bamboo mats, sticks and wood of the areca nut tree are used for roofing, coir mats and wooden planks for the flooring and wood of coconut trees and coir for beds. For lighting though, solar panels are used.

Today, the houseboats have all the creature comforts of a good hotel including furnished bedrooms, modern toilets, cozy living rooms, a kitchen and even a balcony for angling. Parts of the curved roof of wood or plaited palm open out to provide shade and allow uninterrupted views. While most boats are poled by local oarsmen, some are powered by a 40 HP engine. Boat-trains - formed by joining two or more houseboats together are also used by large groups of sightseers.

source:keralatourism.org

Read more »