Champakulam

Champakulam ചമ്പക്കുളം
Village
The new bridge being constructed to connect east and west Champakulam across Pampa River near to Champakulam Church
Champakulam Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates: 9°24′41″N 76°24′46″E / 9.411447°N 76.412723°ECoordinates: 9°24′41″N 76°24′46″E / 9.411447°N 76.412723°E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Alappuzha
Talukas	Kuttanad
Elevation	1 m (3 ft)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	688505
Telephone code	(0477 27...)
Vehicle registration	KL-04
Nearest cities/towns	Alappuzha, Changanasserry
Climate	Tropical wet

Champakulam (Malayalam:ചമ്പക്കുളം) 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. It is connected, by road to Alappuzha, Changanassery and Edathua. By water, it is connected to various places too.

River Pampa passing through Champakulam

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (Valia Palli)

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India ^{[1] [2]} 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 artifacts found around the church about its history. Champakulam church was once under Niranam Church. Champakulam Church had very friendly 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.

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race is the oldest ^{[3] [4] [5] [6]} 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.

Champakulam Chundan

Champakulam Moolam Boat Race

Chundans (Snake Boats) are supposed to be Navy boats of Chempakasserry rulers. Now they are only using for the races. Traditionally each boat belongs to a village, and the villagers worship that boat like a deity. Only men are allowed to touch the boat, and to show respect they should be barefooted. To make the boat slippery while in the water, it is oiled with a mixture of fish oil, coconut shell carbon and eggs. Repair work is done annually by the village carpenter. Constructed according to specifications taken from the Sthapathya Veda, an ancient treatise for the building of wooden boats, Champakkulam chundan has 130 ft length and breadth of 69 inches It has a depth of 22 inches with the rear portion towering to a height of about 11 ft, and a long tapering front portion, it resembles a snake with its hood raised. Its hull is built of planks precisely 83 feet in length and six inches wide. It can accommodate 105 oarsmen. This chundan can cover a distance of 1.4 km in about 5 minutes. In the centre of the chundan vallom, which was earlier the place of the canon, stand two people who beat the odithatta (fire platforms) with poles and sing the vanchippattu (songs of the boatmen) to maintain the rowing rhythm. While the strongest oarsmen sit at the front to set the pace, the back is managed by six hefty amarackars (helmsmen) who stand and help steer the boat. The person at the highest point of the boat is the chief oarsman. Champakulam Chundan is the winner of several boat races including hatric winner of the famous Nehru Trophy boat race during 1989,1990,1991.

Later the boat was procured by UST Global, a California-based IT services company. It was handed over to UST Global by the owners Chambakulam Boat Club at a gala ceremony conducted at Alappuzha on 21 December 2013. The UST Global Trivandrum Campus will be the new home for Chambakulam Chundan.^[7]

New Champakulam chundan sculptured by Uma Maheswaran, in around 180 days with an approximate cost of 56 Lakhs. It can accommodate 104 orsmen. It is the winner of 2014 Nehru Trophy Boat race.

Educational Institutions

St. Mary's High School ^[8]
St. Thomas UP School
Bishop Kurialacherry Public School ^[9]
Porukara Memorial School ^[10]

Notable personalities from Champakulam

Bishop Kurialassery ^[11]
Champakulam Pachupilla ^[12]

Tourism

Champakulam is an important tourist spot. You can see hundreds of houseboats moving along the Pampa River every day. 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.

Other facilities

Hospitals: There is a Government hospital, currently working very efficiently on the east bank of Pampa, near the bus station. There is a private hospital on the west bank called Mission Hospital; but it is currently not functional. There are a number of medical shops near to these hospitals.

Banks & ATMs: There are various banks and co-operative societies functioning in Champakulam. The most important ones are the "State Bank of Travancore" and "Federal Bank", both on the west bank of Pampa. There is an ATM next to the State Bank.

St. Thomas Art emporium is very famous for many years - a number of high quality statues - mostly on wood are produced here. A lot of these are exported to other countries too.

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.

Location (Wikimapia)

• http://wikimapia.org/3880758/ചമ്പക്കുളം-Champakulam

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
• Nedumudi
• Padaharam
• Pulincunnu
• Pullangadi
• Thekkekkara
• Vaisyambhagom
• Nadubhagam

Champakulam Bridge

The two banks (East and West) of Pampa River in Champakulam were only connected by ferries. The other alternate way is via road, but that is a long route. A new bridge was always in the talks but started materializing only recently. A new bridge is being constructed currently connecting the east and west banks of Champakulam. This also connects the 2 bus stations on either side of the river.

The new bridge being constructed to connect east and west Champakulam across Pampa River near to Champakulam Church

References

1. Syrian Churches of Kerala
2. "Champakulam Kalloorkkadu St Mary’s Church- The Hidden Pearl in Nasrani History".
3. "Champakulam Moolam Boat Race video".
4. "Champakulam Moolam Boat race at Champakulam , Alappuzha (Alleppey) Kerala state, India".
5. "Champakulam Moolam Boat Race - My-Kerala.com".
6. "Champakulam Moolam Boat Race at zonkerala.com".
7. http://www.telegraphindia.com/external/display.jsp?mode=details&id=37763
8. "St.Mary's High School Champakulam".
9. "BISHOP KURIALACHERRY PUBLIC SCHOOL Champakulam".
10. "Porukara Central School Champakulam".
11. "Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry".
12. "Death of Kathakali exponent mourned - The Hindu news paper".

External links