Chempu Explained

Chempu
Settlement Type:village
Pushpin Label Position:right
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Kerala, India
Coordinates:9.8072°N 76.3969°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: India
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Kerala
Subdivision Type2:District
Subdivision Name2:Kottayam
Established Date:1953
Government Type:Gramapanchayat
Unit Pref:Metric
Area Total Km2:18.42
Population Total:18,828
Population Density Km2:1022
Demographics Type1:Languages
Demographics1 Title1:Official
Demographics1 Info1:Malayalam
Timezone1:IST
Utc Offset1:+5:30
Postal Code Type:PIN
Postal Code:686608
Registration Plate:KL-36
Blank1 Name Sec1:Nearest city
Blank1 Info Sec1:Kochi
Blank2 Name Sec1:Literacy
Blank2 Info Sec1:90%

Chempu (SH-15, Kochi-Kumarakom road) is a village near Vaikom in Kottayam, Kerala, India. It is bounded by the shores of the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various distributaries of the River Muvattupuzha.

Demographics

It is inhabited by people of all communities including Arayans, Christians, Dhewars, Ezhavas, Muslims, Nairs and Namboothiris.

Etymology

The story behind the origin of name of the place is interesting. This place was an area of fishers and most of the population led their livelihood through fishing. The Brahmins who lived here were used to call the fish as 'Champa', consequently developed as Chempu.

History

Chempu is a historically important place, as it is the birthplace of Chempil Arayan. He was the captain of the army of Veluthampi Dalawa, the Travancore king. He was the first martyr from Tranvancore in the Indian Independence Movement.[1] t

The "Illi fort", which starts from the north-western corner of Brahmamangalam to the east owns a key role in the history of the Travancore kingdom. This fort was built during the construction of the Travancore kingdom by Marthandavarma between 1742 and 1756.The fort was used to determine the boundary between the Kochi kingdom and thereby to ensure the protection of Travancore. This was under the supervision of Ramayyan Dalawa, who was the minister of Marthandavarma.

Geography

It lies at the north-western corner of Kottayam district and the Vaikom Taluk. The village is divided into three sections: Chempu, Kattikkunu, and Brahmamangalam. The North of the village is covered by Udayamperoor and Amballoor, the East by Velloor, South with Maravanthuruthu, and the West with Vembanad lake. Murinjapuzha in an intermediator between Chempu and Kattikkunnu.

Although Chempu is not an island, it is considered as a peninsula the Vembanad and Muvattupuzha river cover Chempu. Murinjapuzha bridge as the bridge which connects Kattikkunnu with Murinjapuzha (Chempu) Its distance from Kottayam is 38.4 km and from Vaikom, 6.5 km.

Distance to Chempu

From Distance(km) Time
Thiruvananthapuram 194 3 hours 55 minutes
Cochin 26.2 34 minutes
Kottayam 38.4 53 minutes
Vaikom 6.5 11 minutes

Topography

Chempu has cool climatic conditions. The presence of the river and lake make the soil more fertile and yielding. The main crops here are coconut, mango, etc. The topography of Brahmamangalam is entirely different from that of Chempu and Kattikkunnu. This area has more resemblance to Kottayam topography. Here the main crop is Rubber.
The average temperature here is around 27 °C and the humidity is 81%. The wind here blows from the west with an average velocity of 6 kmph

Notable people

Notable people from Chempu includes warrior Chempil Arayan, archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil, writer Chempil John, Vinod Narayanan, and the film actor Mammootty.

Notes and References

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