Nehru Trophy boat race homestay

The walk down to the jetty at dusk is what I remember most. Not the race noise, not the crowds. Just the soft slap of water against the wooden planks, and the smell of woodsmoke from a distant cooking fire. The boatman’s diesel engine coughs once, then settles into a low hum. Six minutes across the channel, and the world behind me — the honks, the scooters, the shouting — just dissolves.

Most people come for the Nehru Trophy race. They want the thrill, the shouting, the hundred rowers in perfect sync. But what they remember, later, is the quiet that wraps around them when it’s over. Honestly, that’s the real prize.

Is Nehru Trophy boat race homestay really as quiet as people say?

Yes. But quiet here isn’t the absence of sound. It’s a different kind of sound. The rustle of coconut fronds in the evening breeze. The splash of a kingfisher diving for its dinner. The distant, rhythmic thud of a wooden boat being repaired on the next island.

There are no roads on our island. No cars, no buses, no delivery vans blasting horns at 6 AM. The only traffic is the morning ferry that chugs past at 7:15, carrying school kids in pressed uniforms and women with baskets of vegetables for the market in Alappuzha town. That ferry is my clock. When I hear its horn, I know it’s time to start the day’s cooking.

The silence takes some getting used to. I’ve seen guests arrive, check their phones every two minutes, fidget. By the second day, they’re sitting on the veranda, just watching the water. By the third, they’ve stopped checking altogether.

What does ‘no road access’ mean for your stay?

It means the journey here is part of the stay. You don’t just arrive — you cross water. That six-minute boat ride is a reset button. The engine noise fades, the air changes, and suddenly you’re in a different rhythm.

I grew up here, on this island. When I was a boy, we had one small shop that sold paraffin and biscuits. Even now, the only way to get anything is by boat. The vegetable boat comes every Tuesday and Friday, around 10 AM. You can hear the vendor’s call from half a kilometer away — a sing-song “pacha, pacha” that means green, fresh, come buy.

For guests, this means you pack light. You bring what you can carry. No suitcases full of extras. Most people overpack anyway. What you really need is a change of clothes, a book, and the willingness to slow down.

The meals here are simple — home-style Kerala food, mostly. Rice, fish curry, sambar, thoran made with whatever is fresh from the market that morning. Mustard seeds crackling in coconut oil, the smell of curry leaves frying. We eat on the veranda, looking out at the lake. No TV. No music. Just the water and the conversation.

Is this a good place to properly switch off?

I’m probably biased, but yes. Some guests disagree, and that’s fair. If you need constant WiFi, room service, and a pool, this isn’t for you. But if the idea of sitting on a veranda for three hours watching the light change on the water sounds good, then you’ll be fine.

The monsoon here is something else. Rain on a tin roof is a sound I never get tired of. It’s loud, then soft, then loud again. The air turns cool and smells of wet earth. The lake rises, and the paddy fields flood. The snakes boats are pulled up on the banks, waiting for the next race.

During the Nehru Trophy race week, the island comes alive. You can hear the practice runs from across the water — the oars dipping in unison, the captain’s chant. But by evening, it’s quiet again. The boats are tied up. The rowers go home. And we’re left with the same silence as before.

I think that’s what people really come for. Not just the race, but the contrast. The noise and the stillness. The crowds and the solitude. You can have both here.

For more about the experience, check out Evaan’s Casa — it’s our place, and we’d love to have you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nehru Trophy boat race homestay

How far is the homestay from the race venue?

About 15 minutes by boat. We’re on an island just off the main channel where the race happens. You can see the finish line from the far end of our paddy fields.

Is it safe to stay on an island with no road access?

Yes, very safe. The boat service runs from 6 AM to 9 PM, and the boatmen know everyone. The island is small and close-knit. Kids play outside until dark. I’ve never locked my door in 40 years.

What should I bring for a stay during the race week?

Light cotton clothes, a hat, sunscreen, and mosquito repellent. The evenings can be cool, so a thin shawl or sweater helps. Bring cash — there are no ATMs on the island, and the vegetable boat doesn’t take cards.

Is WiFi available at the homestay?

There’s basic WiFi, but it’s slow. Honestly, the connection is best on the veranda, and even then it’s patchy. Most guests end up putting their phones away after the first day. The lake views are better than any screen.

The last ferry leaves at 8:45 PM. After that, the island is dark and quiet. Just the stars, the water, and the occasional splash of a fish jumping. That’s the real Nehru Trophy experience — not just the race, but the silence that surrounds it.

Come for the race. Stay for the quiet. That’s what I tell everyone.

And if you want to see more, here’s Evaan’s Casa — our little piece of island life.