Champakulam Church

Christianity has had a foothold in this part of India since the time of Christ, and this church is one of the oldest in Kerala. Believed to be one of the seven churches built by St Thomas around the 1st century AD, Champakulam offers the best glimpse of this religion's influence in the region.

Champakulam Kalloorkadu St. Mary’s Forane Church (also called Champakulam Valia Palli) is one of the oldest Christian churches in India 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, which was founded by the Apostle Saint Thomas himself. Champakulam Church had very friendly relations with the Jacobite Syrian group and had a pivotal role in many ecumenical efforts in the Eighteenth century.

How to Reach:

Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport

Nearest Railway Station: Alappuzha

Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary

A tropical evergreen forest, a stone's throw from the Pallakad gap in the southern Western Ghats, this part of Tamil Nadu is arguably its most biodiversity-rich. More popularly referred to as the Anamalais (elephant mountain), it has been officially christened the Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary. The Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kerala (like the Anamalais) is mountainous, wildlife-rich and fascinating almost beyond description. Famous for its three reservoirs – Peruvaripallam (2.89 sq. km.), Thunakadavu (4.33 sq. km.) and Parambikulam (21.22 sq. km.), the forests epitomise the counsel of naturalists that "protecting forests protects water sources." A visit to the Anamalais-Parambikulam rainforest, populated by elephants, tigers and a wide variety of bird species, is an exhilarating and unique experience. These forests are some of the most biodiversity-rich in India. Top Slip, a popular destination, is a birdwatcher's paradise. Karian Shola is a highly recommended tourist destination which begins at Top Slip and moves through the semi-evergreen forest to a mountain top where one has a 360 degree view of the Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary. Another place to visit in the Anamalais is the Akamalai Shola (near Valparai) which is a good place to look for shola birds. The dense hilly terrain of the Anamalais has a high density of herbivores and a low density of carnivores. The Nature Information Centre and the Annapady area are definitely worth a visit. Karimala Gopuram is the tallest peak (1,438 m.) in the sanctuary. The mountainous terrain of Parambikulam harbours over 2,000 species of plants.

Parambikulam’s animal species include many of India’s most prominent mammals: tigers, leopards, wild dogs, sloth bears, elephants, wild boar, barking deer, spotted deer, langurs and macaques. Parambikulam is also home to Kerala’s largest population of gaur. Besides these, civet, chevrotain, pangolin, crocodile, jungle cat, porcupine and some 140 species of birds are found in the sanctuary. Although the larger cats are few and far between, gaur, monkeys and deer are fairly common in the sanctuary.

Entry into the sanctuary is allowed from 7:00am till 6:00pm in the evening and no vehicles can leave the park after 6:30pm.

How to Reach:

Nearest Railway Station : Coimbatore and Palakkad (107 km.)

Nearest Airport : Cochin International Airport and Coimbatore airport