Choosing the timber
The Acharyan chooses Anjili (wild jack) logs by grain, age and soundness. This choice decides how the boat will run for decades.
AI-generated artworkKerala backwaters · Karunagappally, Kollam
Pallickal Chundan
Pride of Karunagappally
Celebrating unity, tradition and craftsmanship. A snake boat built by a whole village, together, in the hands of our master craftsmen.
Neerettu · launch on 24 January 2027
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History & heritage
History & Heritage
The water has always carried Karunagappally
Long before the highway, Karunagappally moved by water. Country boats carried coir, cashew and paddy along the canals that tie the Kayamkulam backwaters to Ashtamudi Lake. Fishing craft worked the sea off Alappad. Every family here has someone who rowed, steered or sang.
That life on the water turns into celebration every monsoon. In the vallamkali season whole villages line the banks. Crowds gather for the Kallada boat race and the President’s Trophy on Ashtamudi, and travel to Punnamada for the Nehru Trophy. The chenda, the Vanchipattu and the rush of a hundred oars are part of how we mark the year.
The chundan vallam is the queen of these races. Once a war canoe of the old principalities, it carries close to a hundred people in a long, slender hull that ends in a high stern raised like a cobra’s hood. In 2025 the people of Pallickal and Karunagappally came together as the Pallickal Chundan Valla Samithi to build one of their own: a boat owned not by one family, but by the 61 shareholders who backed it.
The craft of the Acharyans
How the master craftsmen shape a chundan
Work in the Malippuram
Inside the Malippuram shed, planks are heated, bent and joined with copper nails. The line of the hull is set by the Acharyan’s eye, not by a drawing.
The amaram
The high stern is carved and sheathed in brass. It gives every chundan its silhouette and is completed with pooja.
Community unity
Shareholders, volunteers and families gather at the shed for every ritual. This boat is built by many hands.
Sponsors & advertising
Support Pallickal Chundan
Put your business alongside the pride of Karunagappally
Gold Sponsor
The Backbone of Your Brand
Branding, advertising, digital marketing, and web & mobile apps, from Kochi with branches in Hyderabad and Chennai.
Advertising & technology agency, KochiBanner space on this website is open to local businesses for the 2026–27 season. Every sponsorship helps put the boat on the water.
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Official Partners
Wall of honour
Shareholders
The visionaries who set this boat on the water
All 61 shareholders of the Samithi, honoured by name and share grade. Tap a grade to see its members.
All 61 shareholders of the Samithi, listed by share grade
- BinuGrade D · Binu Bhavanam
- Arun SasidharanGrade G · United Kingdom
- MuneerGrade G · Arackkal
- Shibi RGrade G · Alummoottil Vadakkathil
- Shibu KumarGrade G · Sheela Sadanam
- Mathew MohanGrade S · Thekkekadavil
- HafeesGrade S · Menathethil
- AnilGrade S · Somes
- AnwarGrade S · Pulimoottil
- Harikumar VGrade A · Pokkattu Tharayil
- AromalGrade A · Vadakke Kadavil
- SreejithGrade A · Thundutharayil
- RadhamaniGrade A · Karumppalil
- NissarGrade A · Menathethil
- BinuGrade A · Puthalathu
- Biju RGrade A · Nayanam
- BaluGrade A · Pulimoottil
- SiyadGrade A · Puluvilayil
- PramodGrade A · Thundil (Cable)
- SanalGrade A · Sanal Bhavanam
- BinuGrade A · Sariga
- SumeshGrade A · Sumesh Bhavanam
- SabuGrade A · Bormayil
- SajithGrade A · Pulimoottil
- PrakashGrade A · Varambel
- ReghunathanGrade A · CR Bhavanam
- Arun DevGrade A · Thondallil
- Renjith T VargheseGrade A · Grace Bhavanam
- PrabhaGrade A · Prabha Bhavanam
- MuraleedharanGrade B · Panjivilayil
- ThulasiGrade B · Thiruvonam
- AneesGrade B · Poovanayil
- AjayanGrade B · Manantharayil
- UnniGrade B · Changoor Vadakkathil
- PraveenGrade B · Kallupurackkal
- VishalGrade B · Kanicheril
- RajeshGrade B · Aradhyam
- AjithGrade B · Thondallil
- SudarsananGrade B · Edappankil
- UthirakuttanGrade B
- SunilkumarGrade B · Punartham
- ThampanGrade B · Vallallil
- Binu MathewGrade B
- RajeevGrade B · Kannelkizhakkethil
- SatheeshGrade B · Karumbalil
- SabuGrade B · Sumangaly
- SivakumarGrade B · Industry
- AbhilashGrade B · Chothuplackal
- SanthoshGrade B · Edayila Veettil
- ShefeekGrade B · Kodiyil
- RoosoGrade B · Mappila Veettil
- Biju DGrade C · Kerafed
- SmithGrade C · Vadakke Kadavil
- ReghuGrade C · Pokkattu
- AgriyanGrade C · Edappankil
- Ajayan KumarGrade C · Lekshmi Nivas
- Santhosh PGrade C · Vadakke Kadavil
- ShaluGrade C · Pulikkathara
- SajeevanGrade C · GK Vilasam
- NowshadGrade C · Kalari Kizhakkathil
- Sanal KumarGrade C · Devaragam
Leadership
Leadership & Committees
Office bearers, patrons and committees
Office bearers
Muraleedharan
President
പ്രസിഡന്റ്
Nissar
Secretary
സെക്രട്ടറി
Shibi R
Treasurer
ട്രഷറർ
Executive Committee
എക്സിക്യൂട്ടീവ് കമ്മിറ്റി- Members will be announced soon
Media Committee
മീഡിയ കമ്മിറ്റി- Members will be announced soon
Working Committee
വർക്കിംഗ് കമ്മിറ്റി- Members will be announced soon
Construction & gallery
Gallery & Updates
From the Anjili log to the launch
Wood arrival
തടി എത്തുന്നു
The Acharyan chose four Anjili logs at the Punalur depot. They reached Karunagappally by lorry and were received with prayers.
Ulikuthal ritual
ഉളികുത്ത്
With pooja before a lit nilavilakku, the first ceremonial chisel stroke began the construction. Shareholders and families gathered at the Malippuram.
Malippuram shaping
മാലിപ്പുരയിലെ പണി
The hull line set by eye, planks heated, bent and fixed with copper nails. Over five months the long hull rose inside the shed.
Amaram & brass work
അമരവും പിച്ചളപ്പണിയും
Happening now: the high stern is being carved and sheathed in brass. Rowers’ seats and the helmsmen’s platform come next.
About 62% of this stage done · updated 15 Oct 2026
Neerettu launch
നീരേറ്റ്
The finished boat will be carried from the Malippuram into the water with rituals, Vanchipattu and a public celebration. All are invited.
Photos after the ceremony
Trials & first race
പരിശീലനവും ആദ്യ മത്സരവും
Practice camp, trial paddles over 1,150 m, and then our first jalotsavam season.
Photos after the ceremony
Boat race calendar
Boat Race Celebrations
Rituals ahead and our first racing season
Rituals & ceremonies
Amaram pooja
അമരം പൂജ
8 Nov 2026
Malippuram, Pallickal
Blessing of the finished stern before the brass is fixed.
Neerettu (launch)
നീരേറ്റ്
24 Jan 2027
Pallickal river ghat
The boat meets the water. Sadya, Vanchipattu and a public celebration.
Practice camp opens
പരിശീലന ക്യാമ്പ്
Feb 2027
Kayamkulam backwaters
The first batch of rowers, helmsmen and singers begin training.
Season 2027
Nehru Trophy Boat Race
നെഹ്റു ട്രോഫി വള്ളംകളി
Aug 2027
Punnamada Lake, Alappuzha
Our target first race
Champions Boat League
ചാമ്പ്യൻസ് ബോട്ട് ലീഗ്
Sep – Nov 2027
Venues across Kerala
Entry depends on qualification
Kallada Jalotsavam
കല്ലട ജലോത്സവം
Sep 2027
Kallada river, Kollam
Home-district race
President’s Trophy
പ്രസിഡന്റ്സ് ട്രോഫി
Nov 2027
Ashtamudi Lake, Kollam
Home-district race
Race dates follow each organising committee’s announcement. Results will appear here after our first heat.
Contact & location
Contact & Location
Find us at Karunagappally
Samithi office
Pallickal Chundan Valla Samithi
Karunagappally, Kollam district
Kerala 690518
Reg. No. KLM/TC/291/2025
Malippuram (boat shed)
Riverside, Pallickal · visitors welcome on Sundays, 4–6 PM