Veeyapuram Chundan | From the Capital of Chundans

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.

Other Snake Boats

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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Payippad Chundan

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.

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St. George Chundan

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.

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Anari Puthen Chundan

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.

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