Champakulam
Encyclopedia
Champakulam is a village in Kerala
, India
. It is in Alappuzha
district. Champakulam is part of Kuttanad
, the rice bowl of Kerala, and is resplendent in green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl. Champakulam is an important tourist spot and is famous for the Moolam boat race. The river Pampa
flows through the village, splitting it into two. currently it is connected, by road to Alappuzha and Changanassery.
and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District.
Believed to be established in AD 427. Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell us about the history of the church. The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient ones with clear documentation of its antiquity up to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artefacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam
Church. Champakulam Church had very friedly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century. Belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
of India.
The annual feast at this church is on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph
is celebrated on March 19.
is the oldest
and one of the most popular vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on river Pampa on the moolam day (according to the Malayalam Era M.E) of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.
St. Thomas UP School
BKM English Medium School
Porookkara Memorial School
Champakulam Pachupilla
Rail - Well connected to Major Cities. Nearest Rail heads: Alleppey, Changanassery.
Air - Nearest International Airports : Kochi (Nedumbassery) - 85 km. Thiruvananthapuram - 150 km.
Water - Linked by boat service through the back waters to Alappuzha (1 hr), Kollam(8 Hrs), Changanacherry(3 hrs), Kumarakom(3 hr), Cochin(4 hrs) etc.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It is in Alappuzha
Alappuzha
Alappuzha , also known as Alleppey, is a town in Alappuzha District of Kerala state of southern India. As per 2001 census Alleppey is the sixth largest city in Kerala with an urban population of 177,029. Alleppey is situated to the south of Kochi and north of Trivandrum...
district. Champakulam is part of Kuttanad
Kuttanad
Kuttanadu is a region in the district of Alappuzha, in the state of Kerala, India, well known for its picturesque vast paddy fields and its geographical peculiarities. It's the region with the lowest altitude in India, and one of the few places in the world where farming is carried out below sea...
, the rice bowl of Kerala, and is resplendent in green paddy fields, coconut groves and water fowl. Champakulam is an important tourist spot and is famous for the Moolam boat race. The river Pampa
Pamba River
Pamba River is the third longest river in the South Indian state of Kerala after Periyar and Bharathappuzha and the longest river in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore...
flows through the village, splitting it into two. currently it is connected, by road to Alappuzha and Changanassery.
Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (Valia Palli)
One of the oldest Christian churches in Indiaand the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District.
Believed to be established in AD 427. Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell us about the history of the church. The open air Rock Cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient ones with clear documentation of its antiquity up to AD 1151. There are many archaeological artefacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam
Niranam
Niranam is a village in central Travancore region in Kerala, India. It was a port in ancient Kerala, on the confluence of the Manimala and Achankovil River. It is almost from Tiruvalla in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala...
Church. Champakulam Church had very friedly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century. Belongs to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...
of India.
The annual feast at this church is on the 3rd Sunday of October every year. The feast of St. Joseph
Saint Joseph
Saint Joseph is a figure in the Gospels, the husband of the Virgin Mary and the earthly father of Jesus Christ ....
is celebrated on March 19.
Champakulam Moolam Boat Race
Champakulam Moolam Boat RaceChampakulam Moolam Boat Race
The Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest and most popular vallam kali in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on the river Pampa on Moolam day of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.-The legend:It is said...
is the oldest
and one of the most popular vallam kali (snake boat race) in Kerala state of south India. The race is held on river Pampa on the moolam day (according to the Malayalam Era M.E) of the Malayalam month Midhunam, the day of the installation of the deity at the Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple.
Educational Institutions
St. Mary's High SchoolSt. Thomas UP School
BKM English Medium School
Porookkara Memorial School
Notable personalities from Champakulam
Bishop KurialasseryMar Thomas Kurialachery
Venerable Thomas Kurialassery was a Catholic bishop, within the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He was the first Bishop of what would become the Archdiocese of Changanassery, and he founded the Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament...
Champakulam Pachupilla
Tourist facilities
Champakulam is an important tourist spot. You can see hundreds of houseboats moving along the Pampa River everyday. Champakulam church (Valia Palli) and Champakulam snake boat (and some other snake boats too) are some of the tourist attractions. There are a number of resorts where people can stay and enjoy the beauty of nature. Champakulam angadi has some art-emporiums where tourists might find items of interest.Getting there
Road - 15 KM away from Alleppey, 18 km from Changanassery by road.Rail - Well connected to Major Cities. Nearest Rail heads: Alleppey, Changanassery.
Air - Nearest International Airports : Kochi (Nedumbassery) - 85 km. Thiruvananthapuram - 150 km.
Water - Linked by boat service through the back waters to Alappuzha (1 hr), Kollam(8 Hrs), Changanacherry(3 hrs), Kumarakom(3 hr), Cochin(4 hrs) etc.
Places in and around Champakulam
Though Champakulam is a village itself, there are many other small places in and around Champakulam. Some of them are part of Champakulam.- Amichakari
- Champakulam
- Kandankari
- Kondakkal
- Manapra
- Mancombu
- NedumudiNedumudiNedumudi is a village in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the birth place of malayalam actor Nedumudi Venu.Nedumudi sits in the banks of river Pampa...
- Padaharam
- Pulincunnu
- Pullangadi
- Thekkekkara
- Vaisyambhagom
- Nadubhagam