Believed to have been established by the apostle St. Thomas, the St. Thomas Church at Cherpungal was relocated to the southern banks of the Meenachil River with the cooperation of poet Kunchan Nambiar and his family. In 1107, the Valiapalli was built on the original site. Oil poured into lamps and kept before the image of Infant Jesus is the votive offering here - a ritual similar to the devotional practices of Hindus.