Chengalam

The town is on the border of Kottayam, Kanjirappally and Pala Taluka. Chengalam is well connected by road to urban areas like 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). Thiruvanathapuram, the state capital is located (156 km) from Chengalam.

Chengalam is predominantly an agricultural and animal husbandry based economy with a few industrial areas.

Chengalam is a village located in Kottayam 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.

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 Sex Ratio for Chengalam as per census is 1046, higher than Kerala average of 964.

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%.

The present village of Chengalam was once inhabited by wild animals. Catholics from the neighbouring villages of Cherpunkal, Poovarany, Pala, Kanjirappally, Kozhuvanal and Anickadu started occupying the area in the 19th century. Even today Chengalam remains a Catholic-belt.

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 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.

There are several Institutions like State Bank of India, South Indian Bank, ESAF Small Finance Bank, Chengalam Service Co-operative Bank, Kanjiramattom Service Co-operative Bank, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Telephone Exchange, Malanadu Milk Society, Karshaka Open Market, Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, Kairali Library, Kairali Arts and Sports Club are located at Chengalam.

The educational Institutions are Chengalam Anganwadi and Alunkalthakady Anganwadi, St Antony's Lower Primary School, St Antony's High School and Sacred Heart Convent Senior Secondary School for school education and PTCM Government Industrial Training Institute, Kottayam Institute of Technology & Science and K. R. Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts for higher-level education.

The Government Institutions located in Chengalam are Village Office, Government Veterinary hospital, Post Office, Akshaya e-centre and Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation.

▪︎St Antony's Pilgrim Church Chengalam - Its under the Syro Malabar Kanjirapally Eparchy is one of the famous Christian pilgrimage centre from the ancient times. It is popularly known as Paduva Of Kerala. It is one of the Pilgrim centres of Divine Mercy in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The first Pilgrim church of St. Antony in Middle Kerala.

▪︎Vayalumkal Kurishupally

▪︎Adoration Chapel

▪︎St Theresa's Chapel

▪︎Sacred Heart Filial Church

▪︎St Joseph's Filial Church

▪︎St Mary's Filial Church

▪︎St George's Church Urulikunnam

▪︎Nearest KSRTC Bus Stand- KSRTC Ponkunnam Stand (9 km)

▪︎Nearest Private Bus Stand- Pallickathode Bus Stand (4 km)

▪︎Nearest Railway Stations- Ettumanur railway station (25 km) and Kottayam railway station(25 km)

▪︎Nearest Airport- Cochin International Airport (87 km)

▪︎Anicadu - (3 km)

▪︎Kavungumpaalam - (2 km)

▪︎Pallicathodu - (4 km)

▪︎Poovathilappu - (6 km)

▪︎Kanjiramattom - (4 km)

▪︎Thekkumthala - (3 km)

▪︎Alunkalthakady - (2 km)

▪︎Kidakuzhy - (3 km)

▪︎Kochukottaram - (6 km)

▪︎Uralikunnam - (4 km)

▪︎Elamgulam - (5 km)

▪︎Paika - (5 km)

▪︎Koorali - (4 km)

▪︎Poovarani - (8 km)

▪︎Elikulam - (4 km)

▪︎Elamaplly - (3 km)

▪︎Ottackal - (3 km)

NB : Kannur district also have one place name chengalam. It is located Kadannappalli panappuzha panchayat ward no.01. kaithapram kadannappalli and kandonthar is the nearest place of Chengalam. Lyrics wrighter kaithapram damodaran namboothiri, EX MLA KP kunhikannan, ex-central minister KC Venugopal and ex-minister Kadannappally Ramachandran also their birthplace and house is in the same panchayat.

NB : Chengalam South is a small hamlet located in Thiruvarpu panchayath in Kottayam town of Kerala, India. (another place in Kottayam district)