Kerala is the most exiting tourist place in South India, the snake boat race festival is the most popular boat racing game of Kerala. Most prestigious game the snake boat race festival also called Nehru Trophy Boat Race celebrated on second Saturday of August every year.
Being major tourist attraction this festival is celebrated near Alappuzha (Alleppey) in Lake Tranquil of Punnamada in Kerala. The Snake Boat Race festival is called Nehru Trophy Boat Race due to the Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru in 1952 visited Alappuzha, and awarded winners by the Silver Trophy. It is the world's largest snake boat race.
In the drums beats and rhythmic chants the snake boats with 100 to 120 oarsmen splash the oars in unison. 100-125 oarsmen, 25 singers, and 4 helmsmen are required to control this boat. To cheer the huge clack crafts thousands people gather the waterways.
Name 'The Snake Boat' came from the snake shape of the boats used, the snakes have no relation with the festival or the game. Kuttanadu region people use the canoe style boat is a Snake shape. Construction of these expensive snake boats and grand festival preparations starts many weeks before the festival, second Saturday of August and attracts a large number of people from the whole world.
This boat race is accomplished by a number of boats, having massive size and attractive shape it magnetise the maximum tourist attention, includes Kochu Vallam, Vadakkanody Vallam, Veppu Vallam, Odi Vallam, Iruttukuthy Vallam, Churulan Vallam. Due to the huge size of these Snake Boats greater number than hundred oadsmen are required to propel and speed up in the water with the team sprits. The greatest teamwork and team sprit required to be winner.
The kings of Alleppey (Alappuzha) used boats to flight with each others along the over 400 years ago. Due to defeat of one king, who suffered big losses, decided to architect boat a better vessel and generated the snake boat.
Start counting down for
Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race which is scheduled at Punnamada Lake, Alleppey, Kerala, India on on 08th August 2009. World's most famous boat race game has attracted a number of tourists nationally and internationally, for this year a number of bookings done in advanced.
Kochi Airport is 54kms away from the Alleppey and Trivandrum Airport is at 154kms distance from Alleppey. Travelling to Alleppey by Train is too easy, it is connected to major cities like Kottayam, Cochin, Chengannur and Changanassery. By road Alleppey is connected is interconnected by a number of roadways of South India. One can also reach Alleppey from Cochin by backwater.
Kerala the most popular tourist destination in southwestern India is full of tourist places. One can enjoy the Backwaters, Beaches, Hill Stations, Monuments, Museums, Spice Plantations, Wildlife, Ayurveda and Religious Places in Kerala.
