71st Nehru Trophy Boat Race: Read its tale storybook-style, tourist info

During the Onam season, water bodies across Kerala's Alappuzha district transform into 'race tracks.' Snake boats and their myriad 'cousins' venture into lakes and rivers, holding muscular oarsmen, who row the spirit of the harvest festival to the pinnacle. Of all the races, the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, held on the Punnamada Lake, enjoys the most enormous fan following, and all eyes are on this arena as this year's event is scheduled for August 30. In comparison to the past, the event generates significantly more interest outside Kerala, with many foreign tourists, photographers, and even filmmakers visiting Alappuzha to experience the boat race. If you are planning to enjoy the Nehru Trophy this year in Alappuzha, here's everything you should know about it.

The thrilling history
In 1952, when the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Alappuzha, an impromptu boat race was conducted on the Punnamada Lake in his honour. What unfolded thereafter were historic events that a community holds to their heart, even today. Read on...

The main teams
A total of 75 boats are taking part in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race on Saturday, August 30. While numerous teams participate in the event across different boat categories, those with the most fan following are typically those representing various villages in the Kuttanad and nearby regions. A few notable teams are the existing winners Pallathuruthy Boat Club, Kumarakom Town Boat Club, Village Boat Club Kainakari, Niranam Boat Club, Vembanadu Boat Club, and United Boat Club, Kainakary, which are some of the popular team clubs.

A few of the other teams taking part this year are: 
Thekkekkara Boat Club
Vellur Boat Club
KCBC
Gagultha Boat Club
BBM Boat Club
St Joseph Boat Club
Friends Boat Club
Punnamada Boat Club
Changanassery Boat Club
Mankombu Boat Club
Emmanuel Boat Club
Payippadan Boat Club
Kainakary Town Boat Club
KCBC- B Team
St Pius 10th
Niranam Chundan Fans Association Boat Club

How to book tickets
1) Tickets can be booked online via the website 
2) Physical tickets should be collected on the race day at 8 am from the respective bank counters at Alappuzha District Tourist Information Centre (DTPC)
3) Book seats and passes via the KSRTC Whatsapp number 9846475874
4) Passes are also available at KSRTC budget tourism cell special counters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta

5) Tickets can also be purchased from the government offices of Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam.
6) Tickets range from Rs 100 to Rs 25,000. 

Where should each ticket holder reach
Platinum corner (Rs 25,000 - 4 people) - Pay and Park Jetty, Malikayil
Tourist Gold (Rs 3,000) - DTPC Boat Jetty, Near KSRTC Bus Stand
Tourist Silver (Rs 2,500) - Water Transport Department Boat Jetty
Rose Corner (Rs 1,500), Victory Line (Rs 500), Lake View (Rs 200), Loan (Rs 100) - Near the office of the Tourist Department Deputy Director (Near KSRTC Bus Stand)
All View (Rs 400) - Ponjikkara (On the eastern side of the Water Transport Department's Repairing Dock)
VVIP - Lake Palace Jetty, near Lake Palace Resort

Rules for spectators
1. Single-use plastic items will have a Rs 20 user fee (sticker will be pasted) when you purchase from shops near the venue, which will be reimbursed upon depositing them at the green check posts at the venue. This is part of the venue's green protocol rules.
2. The 100 metres around the NTBR venue will be a red zone from 6 am to 8 pm.
3. Drone cameras without an official permit won't be allowed in the region till the boat race ends.
4. There are designated parking spots for spectators. Read more about the traffic restrictions and parking spots, here.