Champakulam, a water logged village located about 26 km from Alappuzha
city is well known for the boat race held here. Champakulam boat race
(Champakkulam Moolam Vallamkali) is the first race which marks the beginning
of the month long festival season of Alappuzha. The traditional Snake
Boat (Chundan vallom) race is the main item at the Champakulam race conducted
in June (on the moolam day of the Midhunam month of the Malayalam era)
annually, in the Champakulam Lake. It marks the installation of the famous
idol of Lord Krishna in Ambalapuzha Sree Krishnaswamy temple, brought
from Karinkulam temple in Kurichi near Kottayam, four centuries ago.
Some of the interesting spots in Champakulam include the St. Mary's Forane
Church (Syrian) built in 1870 by the Portuguese on the site of one of
the original churches of St Thomas, the Apostle. There are beautiful mural
paintings in the church. The St. Thomas Statuary near the church makes
wooden statues of Christ for export. There is rarely any traffic other
than the occasional cycle and canoes in this place. The Kalloorkkad Angadi
here is one of the ancient markets in the locality.
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