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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}

{{Infobox settlement
| name = Champakulam
| other_name =
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline = Champakulam Bridge River Pampa.jpg
| image_alt =
| image_caption = The new bridge being constructed to connect east and west Champakulam across Pampa River near to Champakulam Church
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.411447|N|76.412723|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|India}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[States and territories of India|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| parts_type = [[Taluka]]s
| parts = [[Kuttanad]]
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m = 1
| population_total =
| population_as_of = 2001
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[English language|English]]
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 688505
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = (0477 27...)
| registration_plate = [[KL-66]]
| blank2_info_sec1 = [[Alappuzha]], [[Changanasserry]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = [[Climate of India|Climate]]
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[Climatic regions of India|Tropical wet]]
| website =
| footnotes =
}}

[[Image:MoolamBoatRace.jpg|Champakulam Moolam Boat Race|thumb]]
[[Image:Champakulam.jpg|River Pampa passing through Champakulam|thumb]]
'''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 [[Pamba River|Pampa]] flows through the village, splitting it into two. It is connected by road to Alappuzha, [[Changanassery]] and [[Edathua]].

==Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (Valia Palli)==
[[Champakulam Kalloorkadu Church|Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary's Forane Church (also called Champakulam Valia Palli)]] is one of the oldest Christian churches in India<ref>[[Syrian Churches of Kerala]]</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Champakulam Kalloorkkadu St Mary's Church- The Hidden Pearl in Nasrani History | url = http://nasrani.net/2010/01/30/champakulam-kalloorkkadu-st-marys-church/}}</ref> and the mother church of almost all Catholic Syrian churches in Alleppey District. Believed{{by who?|date=January 2020}} to be established in AD 427. Rebuilt many times and the many rock inscriptions found around the church tell about the history of the church. The open air rock cross at Champakulam church is one of the most ancient 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 [[Saint Joseph|St. Joseph]] is celebrated on March 19.

== Champakulam Moolam boat race ==
The [[Champakulam Moolam boat race]] is the oldest<ref>{{cite web | title = Champakulam Moolam Boat Race video| url = http://www.keralatourism.org/video-clips/champakulam-moolam-boat-race-107.php}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Champakulam Moolam Boat race at Champakulam , Alappuzha (Alleppey) Kerala state, India| url = http://www.alappuzhaonline.com/champakulammoolam-boatrace.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| title = Champakulam Moolam Boat Race - My-Kerala.com| url = http://www.my-kerala.com/tour/district/alappuzha/boat-race/champakulam-moolam.shtml| access-date = 13 July 2011| archive-date = 2 February 2017| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170202095630/http://www.my-kerala.com/tour/district/alappuzha/boat-race/champakulam-moolam.shtml| url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Champakulam Moolam Boat Race at zonkerala.com| url = http://www.zonkerala.com/Champakulam-Moolam-Boat-Race-2071.html}}</ref> 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'''
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, Champakulam 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{{which lang|date=January 2020}} (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{{which lang|date=January 2020}} winner of the Nehru Trophy boat race during 1989, 1990, and 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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/external/display.jsp?mode=details&id=37763# |title=Archived copy |access-date=10 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512215403/http://www.telegraphindia.com/external/display.jsp?mode=details&id=37763# |archive-date=12 May 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

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

==Educational Institutions==

St. Mary's High School
<ref>{{cite web|title=St.Mary's High School Champakulam |url=http://corporateschoolschry.org/schoolsystem/stmaryshschampakulam }}{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><br />
St. Thomas UP School<br />
Bishop Kurialacherry Public School
<ref>{{cite web | title = BISHOP KURIALACHERRY PUBLIC SCHOOL Champakulam| url = http://www.bkpublicschool.org/index.php}}</ref><br />
Porukara Memorial School
<ref>{{cite web |title=Porukara Central School Champakulam |url=http://www.porukarajc.org/homepage.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120618004849/http://www.porukarajc.org/homepage.php |archive-date=2012-06-18 }}</ref>

==Notable personalities from Champakulam==
*[[Nedumudi Venu]]
*[[V. J. James]]
*[[Parvathy Jayaram]]
*[[Shyama (actress)]]
*[[Guru Gopinath]]
*[[Mar Thomas Kurialachery|Bishop Kurialassery]]<ref>{{cite web | title = Bishop Thomas Kurialacherry| url = http://www.churchesinindia.com/bishop_thomas_kurialacherry.html}}</ref>
*Champakulam Pachupilla<ref>{{cite web| title = Death of Kathakali exponent mourned - The Hindu news paper| url = http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/05/13/stories/2004051306630300.htm| access-date = 13 July 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060329010414/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/05/13/stories/2004051306630300.htm| archive-date = 29 March 2006| url-status = dead| df = dmy-all}}</ref>
*[[Saji Thomas]] International Sportsman, Arjuna Awardee

==Tourism==

Champakulam is an important tourist spot. There are 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.

==Art emporium==

St. Thomas Art emporium has high quality statues - mostly on wood are produced here. A lot of these are exported to other countries too.

{{Geographic Location
|title = '''Places around Champakulam'''
|Northwest = [[Alappuzha]], and [[Nedumudi]]
|North = [[Nedumudi]], and [[Mancombu]]
|Northeast = [[Pulinkunnu]]
|East = [[Ramankari]]
|Centre = Champakulam
|Southeast = [[Edathua]]
|South = [[Thakazhy]]
|Southwest = [[Ambalappuzha]]
|West = [[Vandanam]]
}}

== 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
*[[Kandankary]]
*[[Kondakkal]]
*[[Manapra]]
*[[Mankombu]]
*[[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 previously. Construction of a new bridge is completed recently and it is open to public now. This bridge connects the east and west banks of Champakulam. This also connects the 2 bus stations on either side of the river.

[[File:Champakulam Valia Palli River Pampa.jpg|thumb|right|The new bridge connecting east and west Champakulam during construction
Pampa River near to Champakulam Church]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Champakulam|position=left}}

{{Alappuzha district}}
{{Waters of Kerala}}

[[Category:Villages in Alappuzha district]]

Champakulam - Revision history

>InternetArchiveBot at 19:24, 29 June 2021