Champakulam in Alappuzha district is deeply linked with the origins of snake boats. These types of vessels were originally war boats developed during the reign of Chempakassery kings, centuries ago. Today's race boats are rooted in the craftsmanship and traditions of that erstwhile era.The first Champakulam Chundan was launched in 1974. The boat won the Champakulam Boat Race in the inaugural year and repeated the feat in 1975 and 1976, recording a hat-trick. The boat also reached the finals of the Nehru Trophy in all three years since its launch. Champakulam Chundan won the coveted trophy for the first time in 1989 and completed a hat-trick with wins in 1990 and 1991. Their next victory on Punnamada was in 2009.Owing to its age, this chundan was retired and the new Champakulam Chundan was launched in 2013. Owned by 250 shareholders, it has a capacity to carry 100 people.
Cheruthana is a small village in Alappuzha district, surrounded by the Pamba and Achankovil rivers. According to local history, the snake boat was introduced here in the 1800s.The Cheruthana Chundan started participating in competitive races in the 70's. This boat won several major races and was active until 1981. Despite its active and strong presence in the snake boat race arena, this boat couldn't win the Nehru Trophy.The new Cheruthana Chundan was launched in 1982 and it was renowned for its aesthetic beauty among chundan fans. The boat has won at Payippad, Mannar and Karuvatta several times over the years. In 2004, the skilled rowers of Kumarakom Town Boat Club earned the boat its first Nehru Trophy win. The Cheruthana Boat Club repeated the feat several times over in later years.
The Devas Chundan is from Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha district. The boat is also known as the Backwater Knights team in Champions Boat League (CBL). The boat was launched in 2009 and the very next year, it won the Nehru Trophy championship. But it was a short-lived victory as they were disqualified for breaking the race rules. They reached the finals of the Nehru trophy in the year 2018 as well.The Devas Chundan was renovated in 2022. The refurbished boat continues to be a major contender in the snake boat race circuit.
Jawahar Thayankari Chundan made its grand entry into the snake boat race circuit on July 31, 1973. 52 years later, the vessel continues its dominance on the backwater arena, amassing victories and adulation. The vessel is the pride of the people of Thayankari - a village in Alappuzha district.The boat was named Jawahar Thayankari in the honour of India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. The boat has the capacity to hold 92 people on board, and it’s co-owned by 250 shareholders based in Thayankari. The boat is fondly called 'Vellikkoomban' (Silver-tipped) owing to the silver tip on its front end. In the past 50 years, Jawahar Thayankari has emerged victorious in almost all major snake boat events in Kerala. It won the first Nehru Trophy in 1977 and became champions in 1978, 1985, 2010 and 2015. The boat also finished second in the Nehru Trophy finals 14 times. Today, the Jawahar Boat Club regularly supplies rowers to the Thayankari Snake boat.
The Kalluparamban Chundan is a boat to emerge from Kottayam district to challenge mighty vessels from Alappuzha. The chundan has beaten major contenders from Kuttanad and has even brought the Nehru Trophy to Kottayam.The Kalluparamban Chundan won the Nehru Trophy in its debut year 1970. They proved that it wasn't beginners' luck by winning the trophy in 1971, 1972 and 1973. The winning streak ended after 1973 until 1992 when they reclaimed the Nehru Trophy and repeated the win in 1993 also. That was their last victory in the prestigious event.Kalluparamban has won other races including the Thazhathangadi race, several times. The chundan's last Nehru Trophy race was in 2009. The famous snake boat is now out of the racing circuit. Loyal fans are still waiting for the glorious return of the Kalluparamban Chundan to the backwater arena.
The Karichal Chundan is another evergreen star of Kerala's backwater racing circuit. Built in 1970 and launched on September 8, 1971, the boat is also known as 'Kaari' and 'Emperor of the Waters'. In the last 50 years, Karichal Chundan has won 16 Nehru Trophies.Karichal won its first Nehru Trophy in 1974. The boat achieved a hat-trick by winning in the next two years as well. Victories in 1982, 1983 and 1984 gave Karichal Chundan its second hat-trick. The fact that every team that has ridden this boat has won the Nehru Trophy, adds to its legendary status.Karichal Chundan has reached the Nehru Trophy finals for an astounding 33 times and it has won the championship 16 times, including the 2024 race.Over the last 50 years, the Karichal Chundan has undergone several repairs and renovation works. The last round of renovations on the boat was done in the year 2020. While maintaining its old form, significant changes were made to the boat, making it practically a new chundan vallam.
Ayaparambu Pandi Chundan, belongs to the residents of two neighbouring villages in Alappuzha district - Ayaparambu and Pandi. Snake boat race loving residents of both villages banded together for the formation of the Ayaparambu Pandi Boat Club. The team competed in many races on rented boats. In 1995, the villagers pooled in resources to build a boat of their own. The Ayaparambu Pandi Chundan started its debut with a win at the Pallana Jalolsavam (water fest). But the boat was irrevocably damaged during 1997's Payippad boat race.After a long wait of over a decade, the villagers came together to build a new snake boat in 2010. The new Ayaparambu Pandi Chundan was different in design and was launched in 2012. But it failed to make an impact in competitions. So, in 2016, the snake boat was refurbished. After that Ayaparambu Pandi Chundan has been registering impressive performances in various events.
The Nadubhagam Chundan was the winner of the inaugural Nehru Trophy race in 1952. And it also has an intriguing origin story - rife with rivalry, hurt pride and competitiveness.Nadubhagam and Amichakary were two villages in Champakulam at Alappuzha district's Kuttanad area. Both villages had boat clubs and they used to take turns rowing the Champakulam Chundan for local competitions. But in 1927, Amichakary denied Nadubhagam the chance to compete in the Champakulam Moolam Boat Race. Humiliated and enraged, Nadubhagam villagers complained to the Travancore Diwan M E Watts. He assisted them in buying a palliyodam (a type of snake boat). After a few refurbishments, the Nadubhagam Chundan was ready for the backwater battles.In 1940, Nadubhagam retired the old boat and built a new one. After their victory in 1952, Nadubhagam Chundan failed to lift the cup despite reaching the finals 36 times. The boat was refurbished in 1986 and 1996, but victory still eluded them. As the ageing vessel had lost its edge, Nadubhagam residents decided to build a new one in 2014.The new snake boat was able to break the jinx and it lifted the Nehru Trophy title in 2019. The new Nadubhagam Chundan continues its winning streak in other major events.
The Niranam Chundan is the first snake boat from Pathanamthitta district in Kerala. Launched on August 17, 2022, the Niranam Chundan was the product of the concentrated efforts of an entire village.Renowned as the land of palliyodams (a type of snake boat), the idea of building a snake boat originated from a question raised on a Facebook page named Niranam Vartha in 2021. The positive response to the query led to the formation of a society. The residents of Niranam village invested money and took stakes in the boat. The boat was completed in 168 days and it can hold 97 people.
The Anari village in Alappuzha district is a legacy participant of the famed Payippad Jalolsavam (water fest) from the time of the event’s inception. The villagers entered the snake boat race with a refurbished palliyodam (a large snake boat) bought from Aranmula in 1954. The Anari Chundan is co-owned by the farmers, middle income families and NRIs hailing from this hamlet in Cheruthana Panchayat. The villagers replaced the old boat in 1986, but it didn't win any significant titles.The villagers sold the old boat and commissioned the construction of a new one. The new Anari Chundan emerged victorious in major races like Payippad, Kallada, Piravom, Thazhathangadi, Karuvatta, Kannetty, Pallana and the President's Trophy. Though the boat made it into the Nehru Trophy finals four times, victory eluded it.Anari residents refurbished the new chundan and relaunched it in 2021, after a decade of its debut. The boat is still in pursuit of the Nehru Trophy championship.
Karuvatta village in Alappuzha district is home to two snake boats with similar names, owned by two rival organisations.Residents of Karuvatta bought the Pacha Chundan in 1976 and named it after their village. The boat underwent major repairs in 2009 and 2015. Apart from the funds amassed by the stakeholders, Kerala Tourism also supported the efforts with a grant. The boat is currently owned by 240 stakeholders. The Karuvatta Chundan is 123 feet long and it can hold 100 people.On its debut after the repairs, the snake boat came second in the Nehru Trophy championship.Meanwhile, a group of youngsters initiated the building of a new snake boat. The work commenced in December 2024. And the plan is to build a boat that can hold 83 paddlers. The new boat is expected to make its debut in the 2025 Nehru Trophy.
The Mahadevikkadu Kattil Thekkethil Chundan is privately owned by brothers Kattil Thekkethil Bijoy Surendran and Brijesh Surendran of Mahadevikkadu village in Karthikappally Taluk, Alappuzha. Also known as Katti and Garudan, this snake boat was launched on July 15, 2015.At 126 feet, the Kattil Thekkethil Chundan is currently the longest snake boat. It has the capacity to hold 110 people. This is also the first snake boat to have been built using chess board blocks.On its debut year, the boat rowed by St Francis Boat Club reached the finals of the Nehru Trophy. The snake boat repeated the feat in 2016 with the Kerala Police team on the helm. Kattil Thekkethil clinched the coveted Nehru Trophy in 2022. The Pallathuruthy Boat Club team that rowed the boat registered a hat trick with this win.Garudan's victory lap didn't end here. They became the Champions Boat League toppers by winning eight of the 12 races in the competition in that year.
Melpadom is a village in Alappuzha district’s Veeyapuram Panchayat. Renowned for its passion for snake boat race, almost every village in this panchayat owns a snake boat. And Melpadom is one among those.The dream to build a snake boat was amply supported by residents and the NRIs from Melpadom. The village broke traditional beliefs by including women in the snake boat associations. A significant number of women are stakeholders and three women were inducted into the patrons' association.Works began on July 14, 2023 and the Melpadom Chundan was completed within 9 months. The boat was officially launched on July 25, 2024. Kumarakom Boat Club team was the first to row the Melpadom Chundan. The snake boat is 128 feet long, 64 inches wide and can hold 85 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 7 singers.
The history of snake boat race in Kerala is deeply linked to the history of Payippad Chundan. The village of Payippad in Alappuzha district has been competing in various races on their own chundan for over a century.Payippad first bought a snake boat named Gopalakrishnan, but it didn't last long. So, the villagers built a new boat, but this vessel couldn't win a single Nehru Trophy and was eventually sold off.Payippad built a new boat, which won back to back Nehru Trophy races from 2005 to 2007, recording a hat-trick. They had to wait till 2018 for the next win. In 2023, Payippad commissioned the construction of a new snake boat, which was completed in 10 months. The Payippad Puthen Chundan is 126 feet long and 5 feet wide. It can hold 91 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 9 choristers.
Known as the 'Saint' of the backwaters in Kuttanad, the St George Chundan was the first snake boat to be launched with the accompaniment of Christian rites.Named after Kuttanad's favorite saint, the St George Chundan is owned by the Changamkari Nadubhagam Christian Union. The boat that was launched in 1957 was famous for its width.The St George Chundan won its only Nehru Trophy in 1964. The snake boat was successful in Champakulam, Neerattupuram, Kumarakom and Indira Gandhi Boat Race, but a second Nehru Trophy win still remains a dream.The snake boat was renovated in 1974, 1984, 2002 and 2007 but did not yield any victories. So, the owners sold it off and decided to build a new one. The new St George Chundan Vallam, launched in 2014, was noted for its beautiful stern. The 123-feet long, 5 feet wide boat can carry 85 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 9 choristers.The new snake boat won the 2019 Mamman Mappila Trophy and Changamkari natives are still holding on to the dream of lifting the Nehru Trophy again.
If St George Chundan is called the 'Saint', St Pius X Chundan is known as 'The Saint & Team' by the people of Kuttanad. The snake boat was built by the members of the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement (KCYM) unit at St Pius X church in Mankombu, Alappuzha.After tasting back-to-back victories in the veppu vallam (a smaller traditional boat that was used to carry food for soldiers travelling on snake boat) races at the Nehru Trophy from 2009 to 2013, motivated the team to enter the snake boat race.After failing to procure a snake boat for a race, the club members decided to build one of their own. The new St Pius X Mankombu Chundan was launched on July 18, 2014.The snake boat is 123-feet long and five feet wide. It can hold 87 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 7 choristers. St Pius X reached the Nehru Trophy finals in 2015 and won in the losers’ final clash in 2016.
Thalavady is a village in Upper Kuttanad Panchayat in Alappuzha. A group of boat race obsessed residents, decided to build a snake boat to represent the village. The initiative led by the Thalavady Boat Club received support from various sources including NRIs from the village.The 127-feet long, 5 feet wide Thalavady Chundan has the capacity to carry 83 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 9 choristers. The boat was launched on January 1, 2023. The chundan vallam's front end is shaped like a racehorse. The horse sculpture made of teak wood was mounted on the boat after being consecrated at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.Thalavady Chundan has proved to be a dark horse in the circuit in its inaugural year by winning the Neerattupuram race.
Valiya Diwanji Chundan is one of the most popular snake boats in Kerala. Named after Diwan Rajakesavadasan, the architect of Alappuzha city, the Valiya Diwanji Chundan was built in 1928. The boat was owned by the NSS (Nair Service Society) unit at Nedumudi in Alappuzha district. The boat is currently owned by the NSS unit in Ayaparambu.The 125-feet boat could carry 107 people including 91 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 11 choristers.Valiya Diwanji has been participating in the Nehru Trophy since the beginning of the championship. Since the boat was owned by Nedumudi village it was also known as Nedumudi Thekkemuri Chundan.Valiya Diwanji won its maiden Nehru Trophy in 1979, 50 years after its debut. They repeated the win in 1981. The boat won in other major events too. Victories became rare as the boat got older which led to the decision to build a new boat. The new Valiya Diwanji Chundan was launched in July 2016. The vessel earned praise for its beauty and craftsmanship.The 128-feet snake boat can carry 88 paddlers, 5 steersmen, 7 choristers and two idikkar (rhythmic pole beaters). With various wins including the Champakulam Rajapramukhan trophy, the Valiya Diwanji is aiming for another victory at the Nehru Trophy championship.
Veeyapuram Panchayat in Alappuzha district is known as the Capital of chundan vallams (snake boats). There are more than five snake boats in this panchayat, including the Veeyapuram Chundan, which was launched in 2019. The boat is co-owned by Veeyapuram south and north villages along with the residents of Puthanthuruth and Venkidachira. The NRI organisation named Nanma also supported the efforts to build the Veeyapuram Chundan.At 121-feet, Veeyapuram Chundan is comparatively shorter than other snake boats in the racing circuit. It can hold 83 paddlers, 5 steersmen and 7 choristers.In their inaugural year, Veeyapuram Chundan won the third Champions Boat League. They finished second in the Nehru Trophy finals, just a fraction of a second behind Champakulam Chundan.
The Vellamkulangara Chundan is another famed snake boat to hail from Vellamkulangara village in Veeyapuram Panchayat in Alappuzha. Also called 'Vellichudan' (silver snake boat), the boat was initially known as Napoleon.Napoleon went on to conquer the Nehru Trophy with wins in 1957, 1958 and 1959, completing a hat-trick. They became champions again in 1961.Vellamkulangara residents bought Napoleon and renamed it as Vellamkulangara Chundan in 1975. Vellamkulangara won their first Nehru Trophy in 1988. The boat was refurbished in 2001 and it paid off with another Nehru Trophy win in 2002.The boat was retired in 2010 and the newly-built Vellamkulangara Chundan was launched in 2013.
