Staying in the houseboats in Kerala can be described as an unusual yet delightful experience. It is wonderful to be able to be on a houseboat as it glides along the placid backwaters, allowing you to soak in the beauty of the environment. In this post you will get the information of Nehru Trophy and Champions Boat League 2019.
The tranquil waters and the soothing setting are like nectar for the soul. Gliding along the backwaters of Kerala is rejuvenating. But, the usually calm and serene backwaters of Kerala transform into an electrifying battleground as snake boats race in the two major boating championships, namely the Nehru Trophy held each year. The excitement is palpable as scullers gear up for winning the coveted race and the prize money that comes with it. What is better is that the intense drama continues, as they continue to row their boats, into a new challenge of the Champions Boat League (CBL).
Nehru Trophy 2019
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a celebrated event and a leading water sports competition in Kerala. Named after the country’s first Prime Minister the race was conceptualised to commemorate his first official visit to Alappuzha and the boat ride, he took on the backwaters.
The Nehru Trophy boat race has gone on to become a highly acclaimed boating contest that sees the best oarsmen compete for the coveted title. The atmosphere at the event is gripping to the very end, with the promise of a nail-biting finish. It is no surprise then that thousands of tourists from across the globe arrive in Kerala to witness this spectacular backwater boat race. The event is conducted in Punnamada Lake. The preparations like training the oarsmen, smearing the snake boat with sardine oil etc start weeks before the competition. Entire Alleppey is in a festive mode during the season.
Original date postponed
Like each year, the 2019 boat race was scheduled to be held on the second Saturday of August – 10 August 2019, and Sachin Tendulkar was supposed to be the Guest of Honour. However, the race had to be postponed due to incessant rainfall that wreaked havoc in the state, leaving it in total disarray. Six districts, namely, Idukki, Kannur, Kasargod, Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad, have been worst affected.
New date of Nehru Trophy 2019
This year’s race will be the 67th. The State Government, which had planned for a grand show is said to have spent approximately 40 crores for the event. The first prize purse is of Rs. 25 lakhs. The new schedule published for the Nehru Trophy Boat Race is 31 August 2019.
Teams of Nehru Trophy 2019
A total of nine teams are in the fray, they are –
Brothers Boat Club- Edathua, KBC/SFBC- Kumarakom, NCDC Kumarakom, Pallathuruthy Boat Club- Alappuzha, Police Boat Club, Town Boat Club- Kumarakom, United Boat Club- Kuttamangalam, Kainakary, Vembanad Boat Club- Kumarakom, Village Boat Club, Edathua.
Boats of Nehru Trophy 2019
Special boats called Chundan Vallom (snakeboat) are used in the race. These are long snake-like boats extending to almost a hundred feet in length. The two ends of these boats rise above the water, with the rear end rising to a height of almost twenty feet from the water line.
The boats are an impressive spectacle, they slide majestically across the channel, with over eighty men onboard rowing in rhythm, with all their might. Four men steer the boat, while another dozen odd-men provide the tempo.
Champions Boat League 2019
The Champions Boat League (CBL) is the first boat racing event planned on the lines of the Cricket Indian Premier League. Tickets for the events are priced from INR. 100 to INR. 3,000. The event will be broadcast live on various sports and other television channels. The event aims to promote the Kerala tourism and traditional festivals on the global scale. Alleppey being one of the popular tourist destinations in Kerala.
Boats for Champions Boat League
Chundan Vallam, the traditional snake boats will participate in the CBL. They can be described as long canoes, which can accommodate up to 100 oarsmen. The boats are really long, measuring anywhere between 100 – 150 feet. The boats are imposing vessels, tapering at the bow, with a distinctive pointed tip, and rising at the stern, to a height of twenty feet. The structure of the boat bears a resemblance to a snake with its hood up, which is why it is given the name snake boat.
Read: Places to visit in Munnar
Location of Champions Boat League
The champion league will be held at 12 locations across Kerala, starting with the Nehru Trophy Boat Race in Alappuzha Dist., on 31 August 2019. The location and the schedule for the other races are as follows –
07 September – Kottayam (Thazhathangadi)
14 September – Alappuzha (Karuvatta)
28 September – Ernakulam (Piravam)
05 October – Kochi (Marine Drive)
12 October – Thrissur (Kottappuram)
19 October – Malappuram (Ponnani)
26 October – Alappuzha (Kainakari)
02 November – Alappuzha dist. (Pulinkunnu)
09 November – Alappuzha (Kayamkulam)
16 November – Kollam (Kallada)
23 November – Kollam (president’s Trophy Boat Race)
Teams of Champions Boat League
A total of nine teams will participate in the Champions Boat League. Taking a cue from the IPL, the organisers of the CBL have renamed the teams, in the hope of garnering support at the national level.
The new names of the teams are –
Backwater Knights formerly Village Boat Club
Backwater Ninja formerly Brothers Boat Club
Backwater Warriors formerly Town Boat Club
Coast Dominators formerly United Boat Club
Mighty Oars formerly NCDC
Pride Chasers formerly Vembanad Boat Club
Raging Rowers formerly Police Boat Club
Thunder Oars formerly KBC/SFBC
Tropical Titans formerly Pallathuruthi Boat Club
How to book your tickets?
Tickets are available online on BookMyShow and SIB websites. Tickets are also available on official tickets counters on various districts.
About the Writer
Tony John
I am a travel blogger and love to explore the unseen destinations. I was a software architect who spent most part of the career in USA, later returned to India and chose blogging as a passion blended business. I love spending time with my family when I am not in front of the computer. And if there is no school for kids, then we love travelling around.
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