SuzetteEql at 14:11, 12 August 2025

2025-08-12T14:11:19Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Chengalam East
| native_name = Elikkulam
| other_name = Padua of Kerala
| nickname =
| settlement_type = Village
| image_skyline =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = India Kerala#India
| pushpin_label_position = right
| pushpin_map_alt =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Kerala, India
| coordinates = {{coord|9.6488600|N|76.702450|E|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = India
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = [[Kerala]]
| subdivision_type2 = [[List of districts of India|District]]
| subdivision_name2 = [[Kottayam district|Kottayam]]
| established_title = 
| established_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| unit_pref = Metric
| area_footnotes =
| area_rank =
| area_total_km2 =
| elevation_footnotes =
| elevation_m =
| population_total =
| population_as_of =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym =
| population_footnotes =
| demographics_type1 = Languages
| demographics1_title1 = Official
| demographics1_info1 = [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], English
| timezone1 = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]]
| utc_offset1 = +5:30
| postal_code_type = [[Postal Index Number|PIN]]
| postal_code = 686585
| area_code_type = Telephone code
| area_code = 04828 & 0481
| registration_plate = KL-34 & KL-05
| blank1_name_sec1 = Nearest city
| blank1_info_sec1 = [[Ponkunnam]]
| website =
| iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:IN|IN-KL]]
| footnotes =
}}

'''Chengalam''' is a village situated in the east of [[Kottayam District]] in India.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mindat.org |url=https://www.mindat.org/feature-11186356.html |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=www.mindat.org}}</ref>

==Location==
The town is on the border of [[Kottayam]], [[Kanjirappally]] and [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]] [[Taluka]]. Chengalam is well connected by road to urban areas like [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]] (15 km), [[Kanjirappally]] (14 km), [[Ponkunnam]] (9 km), [[Paika]] (5 km) and [[Pallickathode]] (4 km). It is located 26 km from [[Kottayam]], the district capital. The nearby district capitals are [[Idukki]] (85 km), [[Pathanamthitta]] (50 km), [[Alappuzha]] (63 km), [[Ernakulam]] (78 km). [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the state capital is located (156 km) from Chengalam.

==Economy==
Chengalam is predominantly an [[Agriculture|agricultural]] and [[animal husbandry]] based economy with a few industrial areas.<ref>https://www.nabard.org/auth/writereaddata/tender/2511200029KER_Kottayam.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=August 2025}}</ref>

==Demographics==
Chengalam is a village is part of the [[Kottayam]] [[Taluka]], [[Kanjirappally]] [[Taluka]] and [[Meenachil]] [[Taluka]] of [[Kottayam district]], Kerala with total 1215 families residing there. Population of Chengalam is predominantly [[Saint Thomas Christians]] [[(Syrian Catholics]]/[[Syro Malabar)]] who trace their origins to the evangelistic activity of [[Thomas the Apostle]] in the 1st century. As of [[2011 India census]], Chengalam had a population of 5226 of which 2519 are males and 2707 are females.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Revenue Portal |url=https://village.kerala.gov.in/Office_websites/about_village.php?nm=10451045ChengalamEastvillageoffice |access-date=2025-02-13 |website=village.kerala.gov.in}}</ref>

In Chengalam village population of children with age 0–6 is 446 which makes up 8.53% of total population of village. Average Sex Ratio of Chengalam village is 1075 which is lower than [[Kerala state]] average of 1084. [[Child sexuality|Child Sex]] Ratio for Chengalam as per census is 1046, higher than Kerala average of 964.<ref name=":0" />

Chengalam village has higher literacy rate compared to [[Kerala]]. In 2011, literacy rate of Chengalam village was 97.51% compared to 94.00% of Kerala. In Chengalam Male literacy stands at 97.35% while female literacy rate was 97.66%.<ref name=":0" />

==History==
{{Citations needed|section|date=February 2025}}
The present village of Chengalam was once inhabited by [[wild animals]]. People from the neighbouring villages of [[Cherpunkal]], [[Poovarany]], [[Pala, Kerala|Pala]], [[Kanjirappally]], [[Kozhuvanal]] and [[Anickadu]] started occupying the area in the 18th century.

The area belonged to the then [[Thiruvarppu Devasm]] and was known as "[[Chenkalkulam]]" as there was a pond hewn out of "Chenkal". It is believed that the pond was built to gather water needed for the annual ''[[Homa (ritual)|homam]]'', rituals to appease the deities. Later the term Chenkalkulam became "Chenkulam" and finally Chengalam. This is the story behind the [[etymology]] of the local name Chengalam.

Before 50–60 years the church here [[St Antony's Church]] was very much famous. The church is in the name of [[Anthony of Padua]]. The [[foundation stone]] of this church has laid in 1913. Also the Chengalam market was very famous. The place is very calm and quiet. The climate is nice with enough rainfall and moderate temperatures. This place is also known as [[Padua]] of [[Kerala]].

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Kottayam district}}
[[Category:Villages in Kottayam district]]

{{India-geo-stub}}

Chengalam - Revision history

SuzetteEql at 14:11, 12 August 2025