Kollam District
About: |
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Kollam district, earlier known as Quilon district, is one among the 14 districts of Kerala state, India. The district is representative of all the natural attributes of Kerala and is endowed with a long coastal region, a major sea port on the Arabian Sea inland in Astamudi lake and was called Tarsish.Plains, mountains, lakes, lagoons and Kerala Backwaters, forests, farm land and rivers. The area had mercantile relationship with Phoenicians and the RomansAbout thirty percent of this district is covered by the Ashtamudi Lake, thereby making it a gateway to the Kerala Backwaters.Thevalakara and Thekkumbagam panchyaths together had made the very ancient korekini(sea pointed inland) kollam port of Tarsish even in 1500 BC. The Kollam district is fairly important for Kerala's trade and commerce and is the center of the country's cashew trading and processing industry.It is also an important nucleus for the State's marine products industry, with the port of Neendakara being the center for trawlers and ice plants. Paced with industrial activity, Kollam is a place where nature can be seen at its best. People from places as far as Persia, Arab, Rome and China traded here in earlier times. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to set up a trading center followed by the Dutch and British. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest backwater cruise in Kerala. The district which is the center of the country's cashew trading and processing industry also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style. The town served as leading spice market in the medieval and modern India. The name of the place that is Kollam, is believed to have been derived from Sanskrit word 'Kollam' meaning pepper. The present town area is believed as having been built by a Syrian merchant, Sapir Iso, in the 9th century A.D.The first foreign community to settle in Kollam were Chinese. Trade relations were established as early as 14th century. The first among the Europeans to land in this prosperous town were Portuguese, followed by Dutch and then British. Kollam in the bygone days was famous for its palaces and the place was sometimes called as the 'City of Palaces'. The region also as a reputation for cashew plantations. The place is historically significant and has many ruins of palaces and forts that are worth visiting. The scenic beaches of Kollam are a treat to those tired eyes and mind. But what truly makes this destination a paradise is the 900-kilometer stretch of the meandering backwaters of the Ashtamudi Lake. The place is known for its cashew industry and is an important center of trade. Though industrialized, the place hasn't lost its natural beauty and is a visual treat for anyone seeking a peaceful vacation. So come to Kollam and see for yourself the best of God's own country. |
Location info: |
| Kollam, located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram |
Climate/Weather of Kollam District: |
| The district has a tropical humid climate, with an oppressive summer and plentiful seasonal rainfall. The hot season, lasting from March to May, is followed by the south west monsoon from June to September. The north east monsoon occurs from October to November. The rest of the year is generally dry. |
History of Kollam District: |
Educational Institutions of Kollam District: |
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Kristraj Higher Seconday School Fatima Matha National College SNTRUSTS CENTRAL SCHOOL TKM College of Engineering Government Boys High School St.Joseph's Convent Sree Narayana College Younis College Of Engineering Govt. Higher Secondary School Koickal Vimala Hridaya HSS St John's High School St.Aloysius HS School Government Girls High School Craven LMS High School Infant Jesus Anglo-Indian Higher Secondary School Amrita Vidyalayam SNPublic School The Oxford School Trinity Lyceum |
Langauge |
| The local language spoken here is Malayalam the mother tongue of the people of Kerala known as keralites or Malayalees |
Culture: |
How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Kollam is an important railhead of the Southern Railways. (Railway enquiry Ph: 131) |
| Nearest Airport:Thiruvananthapuram (71 km) |
| Road Transport:An excellent road network links Kollam to all major towns and cities in Kerala. |
Tourist Attraction of Kollam District |
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Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary Palaruvi Waterfalls Thirumullavaram Beach Ochira Thenmala Jatayupara Mayyanad Kolattupuzha Sasthamkotta Kulathupuzha Thangasseriss Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu Thirumullavaram Beach |
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation in Kollam District: |
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Cambay Palm Lagoon The Beach Orchid Hotel Sudarsan Yatri Nivas Aadithya resorts Lake side Railview Hotel Sea Bee Hotel, Aquaserene Ashtamudi Backwater Retreat,Club Mahindra Beach Orchid Hotel Karthika Hotel Ktdc Yatri Nivas Hotel Nani Hotels, Nila Palace Hotel Fragrant Nature Resort Aquaserene Hotel |
Links |
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| Thangasseri Beach |
| This beach is situated at a distance of about 5 kms from Kollam town. There are many historical sites that you can explore while at the Thangasseri Beach. You can see the ruins of an Old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. One of the major attractions is the Thangasseri Lighthouse, open to all visitors. The Thangasseri Light house was first used in 1902 and is 144 ft tall which used to warn the seafarers about the dangerous reefs in the Thangasseri coastline. It is open to the public from 1530 to 1730. Thangasseri, once favoured by the Portuguese, Dutch and the British has its place in history due to the ruins of their old forts. Other places of interest are the churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri beach stands as a silent spectator of the golden past and the glorious present. This beach envisions the glory of life and ages.....more |
| Thirumullavaram Beach |
| The Thirumullavaram Beach in Kerala is situated at a distance of around 6 kilometers to north of Kollam town, Kollam District. Unexplored and untouched by time, the beach offers unadulterated tranquility and peace of mind. In case you are looking for an ideal way to spend a peaceful and quiet day, far away from the bustling life, in Kollam, Thirumullavaram beach is the place for you. Just lie down on the soft sands while soaking up the sun and relaxing quietly in the lap of nature.The quiet and isolated beach provides plenty of opportunities for not just relaxing, but also other activities like swimming and sun bathing. The waves over here are pretty calm so you can venture out in the sea without much of hindrance. The beach is a favorite haunt among tourists and locals and is easily accessible from anywhere in Kerala. The beach has golden sands and the turquoise blue sea makes it picture perfect.....more |
| Alumkadavu Backwaters |
| The Alumkadavu is in little place in the town of Karunagapally just 23 km from Kollam. Hub of the Kettuvallam building industry, Karunagapally has hundreds of artisans who can be seen busy at work putting together a traditional houseboat like it has been done for hundreds of years.At Alumkadavu,you might get a chance to see a floating conference hall, perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. Designed for 35 persons, it has a dais and a sophisticated public address system. these days working at full capacity to churn out as many houseboats as they can to meet the ever growing demands of the kerala's tourism industry. The boats which were earlier called kettuvallom's were originally intended to carry cargo. but as more and more places gained road and rail access the faster transport through road and rail took over the job from the traditional water transport.....more |
| Kollam City |
| Kollam, located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, is the center of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar Coast, Kollam was once the port of international spice trade. It is interesting to note that about thirty per cent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. The boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most captivating experience on the backwaters of Kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style.....more |
| Fort at Thangassery |
| Thangassery Old Fort is just 5 km from Kollam, Thangassery or Dutch Quilon as it was called was once a British enclave. Meaning is gold village in local parlance, this was the hub of a flourishing trade that used gold as currency. This seaside village of historic importance shelters the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built during the 18th century. The famed lighthouse of Thangasseri which is 144 ft high, constructed in 1519 by the British Thangasseri, a silent sentinal warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of the Thangasseri, since 1902.Thangasseri was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English in succession, as Kollam was one of the oldest and most important port for international cashew trade on the Malabar coast.....more |
| Munroe Island |
| 27 km from Kollam formed by the backwaters of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River, this island is named after Colonel Munroe, the British Resident of erstwhile Travancore State. He is credited with having integrated several backwater regions by digging canals. The discovery of stone age tools and megaliths stand testimony to the antiquity of this islet which shelters a quaint little village.Monroe Island is a private island owned by a local family. It is not open to the public. It has been open to MITA members for many years. If you are a MITA member visiting the island be sure to read up on where to camp and pull up boats. There are absolutely no open fires on the island.....more |
| Ashtamudi Lake |
| Ashtamudi Lake is located in Kollam district, Kerala, South India.The Ashtamudi is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in Kerala State. It is a palm-shaped extensive water body with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. The arms converge into a single outlet at Neendakara near Kollam, to flow into the Arabian sea.The river feeds on the Kallada River, which is formed when the Kulathupuzha, the Chedurni and the Kalthuruthy merge together.t is a palm-shaped extensive water body with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. The arms converge into a single outlet at Neendakara near Kollam, to enter the Lakshadweep sea. This estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries of Kerala with a maximum depth of 6.4 m at the confluence zone.The backdrop of Chinese fishing nets lends an oriental ambience.....more |
| Paravur Kayal |
| Paravur Kayal is located in Paravur , Kollam district, Kerala. Paravoor is located along the Malabar Coast in the district of Kollam.Paravur is stated to have the largest natural backwater lakes (the Paravur Kayal), This in turn has given rise to a number of tourist resorts, with facilities for boating, swimming and surfing.It is a fishing village with traditional coir making factories and coconut palm weaving centers.Although it is small, with an area of only 6.62 km² , it is the end point of the Ithikkara River and part of the system of lakes and canals that make up the Kerala Backwaters. Paravur Kayal is a lake in Paravur, Kerala, India. It has been connected to Edava Kayal and Ashtamudi Kayal as part of the Trivandrum - Shoranur canal system since the late 19th century.Paravoor has it's share of temples and churches.Paravoor has many temples.One of the famous temples is "PUTTINGAL TEMPLE".....more |
| Sasthamkotta Lake |
| Sasthamkotta Lake is located Sasthamcotta, 27 kms. from Kollam Town, Kollam District, Kerala.It is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala, the water in the lake is special in that it does not contain common salt or other minerals and metals. t is a beauty spot, a health resort and a centre of pilgrimage. he place is gifted with natural beauty and is surrounded by hills and vallies. A must visit place in Kollam. The lake and its very setting is an ideal spot to experience some quite moments, occasionally broken by the shrill pitched call of the monkeys in the trees by the lake side.The lake is surrounded by hills on all sides except south where a bund has been constructed separating the lake from the neighbouring rice fields. It is a freshwater lake spread over a huge area of 375 hectares. The highlight of this lake is that it neither gets frozen during the winter season nor does it dries up in the summer.....more |
| Ithikkara River |
| Ithikkara River is a 56 km long river in Kerala, India. It originates in Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram District and flows through Kollam District, finally emptying into Paravur Kayal.10 acres of land having a fertile soil, suitable for plantation, situated near ithikkara river at kaithakuzhy, aadichanelloor in kollam district along with an old bungalow suitable for resort, ayurveda tourism, amusement park etc is available for sale, No brokers.....more |
| Kallada River |
| Kallada River has its origin on the Kulathupuzha hills near Ponmudi in Thiruvananthapuram District. This is 121 km long river traverses the state through Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara and Kollam before draining into the Ashtamudi Lake at Kollam District. kallada is a river whose serenity lies in its stillness, the pythonic pace with which it embraces the muddy riversides.Emanate from here are the rusticsimplicity and emotionality of a village populace, named east kallada.untouched by the onslaught of administrative modernisation,here is an area called uppoodu.The virtues of the word called "kinship", define itself here better than anywhere else.these words are attempted for nothing,but to eulogise the umblical relation between the river kallada and the unique life of rustic magnanimity.The famous Hanging Bridge is built across this river. Palaruvi Waterfalls is another highlight in this river.....more |
| Palaruvi Waterfall |
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Palaruvi waterfalls is 75 Kms away from Kollam on the Kollam-Shenkottai road near Aryankavu. Aryankavu. This waterfall is one of the attractions in Kerala.Palaruvi Waterfalls, Kollam. Palaruvi is one of the most picturesque waterfalls in Kerala that cascade down from the height of 300 feet. Palaruvi is inside thick forests on the high ranges off Thenmala in Kollam district. It is near the Tamil Nadu border, 5 kms from Ariankavu. The waterfalls is from a height of 300 feet. This fall is into a shallow pool and is ideal for swimming. During the rainy season, Palaruvi waterfalls is attarctiveand normally get crowded by thousands of tourists. The water gushing during the monsoon season attracts huge crowds at this waterfalls. The fall gets dry during the summer season and the mansoons bring it to its full glory.....more |