The Nehru Trophy Boat Race named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is conducted on the Punnamda Lake, Alappuzha, on the second Saturday of August every year. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people, including tourists from abroad for watching it. For the people of each village in Kuttanad, a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come.

 The Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Alappuzha are synonymous in the world tourism map.  The event manages to draw tourists - foreign and domestic - in flocks, turning the peaceful town of Alappuzha into a seething bee-hive of activity. 

The Nehru Trophy Boat Race has an official website since 2005. People, irrespective of their caste, creed, gender, financial status, and locale can have the look and feel of the world renowned water spectacle.    The  website http://www.nehrutrophy.nic.in opens up with flash of event photos and leads to videos and reminiscences of the yesteryears’ events.  The applauding special boat songs ‘Vanchipattukal’  , especially composed for being sung during boat races and which have gained considerable recognition in Malayalam literature are also included in the site.

 The official website of the world famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race is now available in Hindi and Malayalam also. The   trilingual website was launched by the Union Minister of State for Power Sh. K. C.Venugopal on 3rd August 2012 in a function held at Alappuzha Collectorate Conference Hall. The trilingual website is the brain child of the District Collector Sh. P Venugopal IAS. 

 District Collector’s words :

“ Adoption of  ICT in Governance can give a facelift to the District Administration by increasing the efficiency in  service delivery and governance.  District NIC with the support of the NIC Kerala State Centre has launched a multi lingual website for the world famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race conducted under the aegis of District Administration through a Society known as Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society.The   lofty mission behind conducting the race is the national integration and communal harmony. ”

The website was designed and developed under the guidance of NIC Alappuzha district centre and hosted at NIC Kerala. The  website statistics over the years shows the enthusiasm and vigor with which the boat race lovers views the site. Every year it increases by lakhs and this time within 10 days in August the site hits crossed 265000.

                                                                       Parvathi Devi.P (DIO)

                                Mohanan K K (DIA)

                                                                                        Alappuzha