Valiya Diwanji Chundan | Honoring the Architect of Alappuzha

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.

Other Snake Boats

Mahadevikkadu Kattil Thekkethil Chundan

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.

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Devas Chundan

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.

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Vellamkulangara 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.

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Karuvatta Chundan

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.

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