Vallam Kali Snake Boat Races
Hundred-foot longboats rowed by more than a hundred men each, raced on the backwaters after the monsoon.
Updated 4 September 2026
The chundan vallam, or snake boat, is a longboat of about a hundred to a hundred and forty feet with a high curved stern, built from anjili wood without nails, crewed by more than a hundred rowers with singers and helmsmen aboard, and owned by villages rather than individuals. Races are held through the monsoon months on the Kerala backwaters, the best known being the Nehru Trophy on Punnamada lake at Alappuzha in August, instituted after Nehru watched a race in 1952 and donated a trophy. Villages train for months and the rivalries are serious; a professional league now runs several races a season.
The main sights
- The chundan vallam - hundred-foot boats with high curved sterns.
- The crews - well over a hundred rowers to a boat, singing in time.
- The Nehru Trophy - the August race at Alappuzha, the best known.
- The bank crowds - villages lining the water for their own boats.
When to go
July to September, when the races run; the Nehru Trophy falls in August and Aranmula's on the Pampa around Onam. Dates shift each year and should be checked.
Good to know
Free bank viewing is very crowded with limited sightlines; grandstand tickets are needed for a proper view and sell ahead. Monsoon rain during races is normal. Alappuzha accommodation fills.
Nearby
Alappuzha backwaters surround the venue; Kumarakom is east.
What to pack for Vallam Kali Snake Boat Races
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Strong insect repellent - DEET or picaridin; the jungle is where bites and disease risk are highest. Find on Amazon
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- Long, light, quick-dry clothing - Covers skin from insects and sun without cooking you in the humidity. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
