About:

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. The source of water is from the underground sprouts. This lake is an ideal spot for picnic.he lake supports 27 species of freshwater fish including pearl spot and cat fish and two genera of prawns. The lake abounds in 21 species of herring and sardines of the family Cupeidae.

The lake is encircled by hills on three sides and in the south of the lake there is a bund, The Sastha Temple is situated on the banks of the Sathamkotta Lake. In November 2002, the lake was notified as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.t meets the drinking water needs of half million people of the Quilon district and also provides fishing resources. The purity of the lake water for drinking use is attributed to the presence of large population of larva called cavaborus that consumes bacteria in the lake water.A ride on a country boat in this lake early morning or evening is a refreshing experience.

Location info:

Climate/Weather:

History:

Interesting things to do:

Interesting things to Visit:

Kollam Beach:

Its just near Kollam town & Thirumullavaram, 5 kilometres from Kollam, is the best beach spot. The calm Arabian Sea stretches a long way and the tourists can bask in the cool breeze pervading the place. This expansive beach is an ideal spot for swimming and bathing as well.

Adventure Park:

3 kms from the Kollam central bus stand and next to the govt. guesthouse at Asramam, is an Adventure park, which delights children.

Kottarakkara :

Kottarakkara is the origin of the famous classical dance Kadhakali. It was once the capital of Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. Famous Ganapathi temple and Padinjatinkara temple is here.

Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple:

This is Situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam MC Road, Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple is a magnificent masterpiece of Sculptures.

Jatayupara:

Jatayupara is a huge rock at Chadayamangalam. Legends goes that the name Jatayupara is from the mythical bird Jatayu in the epic Ramayana, who is believed to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to thwart Ravana's kidnapping of Sita.

Mount Horeb Sasthamcotta:

Mount Horeb Ashram is situated in Sasthamkotta near the Sasthamkotta lake. It belongs to the Indian Orthodox Church. The tomb of the VIth CATHOLICOS of the Indian Orthodox Church, H.H Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II is in this ashram.

Punnakkad Lake View:

Another view of Sasthamcotta Lake. Located at the Sasthamcotta - Bharanikavu road. Take right turn after Vijaya Castle Hotel. 1KM away from Sasthamcotta Town.

Kunnumpuram Lake:

Beautiful location of Sasthamcotta Lake. A Germen man's house is the main attraction there. Kunnumpuram is like an island. It's another best view of the Lake.

Adithya Resort:

In a quiet village among rolling hills and tropical trees in the backdrop of this lake, covering three acres of gentle slopes, the Aadithyaa Lakeside resort offers a panoramic view of Kerala at its natural best. And the ten spacious cottages, with the largest outdoor space per room in this part of the world, beckons you to experience the bliss of Nirvana ! 5 KM from Sasthamcotta Town, in Sasthamcotta - Chavara road.

Boating (Vallom):

A tourist Boat (Vallom) is available at sasthamcotta lake for domestic and international tourists. It is affordable for any one, starting from Rs. 100. Have a vist at sasthamcotta and enjoy your trip.

Mobile range info:

How to reach?

Nearest Railway Station:

Kollam Railway station and ochira railway station is also connected to Kollam

Nearest Airport:

Thiruvananthapuram International Airport

Road Transport:

Ochira can be reached by bus or taxi from the major cities of Kerala. Some major cities disatnces from Kollam are: Trivandrum (71 kms), Varkala (37 km), Alleppey (85 km), Kottayam (110 km), Trichur (229 km), Calicut (374 km), and Kasaragod (575 km).

Nearest Visiting places:

Ashramam Picnic Village:

Ashramam picnic village is located in the 48acre Guest House complex. The children's traffic and entertainment park, designed by NATPAC is also located in this village. It is the largest traffic park in Kerala. The adventure park located in the village along the shores of the Ashtamudi back waters , is a novel experiment in the country. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, power boats and motor boats are available on hire from the boat jetty near to the adventure Park. A budget hotel for tourists, Yathrinivas, run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is also located in this village. The Govt. Guest House here is 200 years old .

Thangassery:

Thangassery is a place of historical importance a situated 5kms away from the Kollam town. The churches here are pretty old, having been established in the 18th century. The chief attraction of the place is light house, built in 1902. The 144ft high light house stands as a sentinel, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery.

Jatayu Para

Jatayu Para, a huge rock is another attraction in Kollam district. This huge rock is in the Chadayamangalam village on the M.C. Road. The name comes from the epic , Ramayana. It is believed that Jatayu, the giant bird in the epic fell here after falling in its attempt to stop Ravana from taking Sita away. The rock is ideal for trekking by the lovers of adventure.
Krishnapuram Palace Museum

Krishnapuram Palace:

The Krishnapuram Palace is fully restored in March 1999, is a fine example of Keralan Architecture. The palace is well worth a visit . The palace is open 10am to 5pm every day except Monday.

Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple:

A beautiful temple that has been carved out of rocks, this magnificent temple is a must see for all those who like unique architecture.

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary:

Located at a distance of 70 kilometers from Kollam, this beautiful wildlife sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Shendurny River. It a splendid green valley and is home to diverse flora and fauna.

Kollam Police Museum:

India's first and only one police museum. Explores India's police history other attractions are watch tower, meditation hall, garden, traffic guidance.

Adventure Park:

This place is 3 kms from the central bus stand and next to the government guesthouse at Asramam, is an Adventure park, which delights children. The Kollam District Tourist Promotion Council organises backwater cruises from there and during the season conducts cruises to Alappuzha.

Anchal:

Situated 13 kms south of Punalur, Anchal is known for its cattle market held twice a month. The Mudi festival of the Bhagavathy temple here, conducted once every 12 years, attract huge gatherings.

Thirumullavaram Beach:

6 kms north of Kollam town, is the beautiful and quiet little Thirumullavaram Beach, which is a lovely picnic spot and is also ideal for swimming or bathing in the sun .It has frequent bus connections from the town.

Thangasseri Beach:

Situated 5 kms from Kollam Town, this seaside has ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in 18th century.

Vilappuram :

Its a small place, home of the famous Vilappuram Devi Temple (Anandavilasam Bhagavathi Temple). In the same compound there is the famous Anandavilasam library, affiliated to Kerala State Library Council having more than 1000 members and around 10000 books. In the library there is the facilities of computer, internet, telephone etc.

Polachira:

Its a favourite haunt of migratory birds. Now it is a developing zone in tourist concept. Now there is a bridge over polachira which connects road named 'Polachira Bund Across Road'. It is the shortest route from Chathannoor to Varkala. We can go to see elephants in 'Anathavalam' at Chirakkarathazham from here and it is only one km from Polachira.

Chavara:

Chavara is situated 14 kms north of Kollam on the Kollam-Alappuzha road. Thousands of tonnes of mineral sand are exported from Chavara to various countries. The Kovilthottam port is situated within the limits of Chavara Panchayat.

Ariankavu Pilgrimage:

This popular pilgrim center is located at some distance from Kollam, yet is worth the visit. The temple holds its annual festival in December and is a grand spectacle to watch out for.

Thenmala:

A small township amidst rubber plantations and thick forest,located 30km from Punalur, Thenmala is an interesting picnic spot to enjoy the natural scenery.

Ariyankavu:

70km from Kollam, Ariyankavu is the gateway of Tamil nadu. There are five tunnels dug through the mountains for the Southern Railway in this area. The Ariyankavu tunnel constructed in 1904 is the largest. The Sastha temple here is the most important among the Sastha temples.

Kottarakkara:

74km from Trivandrum , Kottarakkara is an important junction town where roads from Kottayam, Punalur, Trivandrum and Kollam meet. Kerala Institute of Rural Development is at Kottarakara.

Thankasseri:

It is about 5km from Kollam and is known for the Colonial building-like churches and bungalows. The 44m tall light house is the special attraction of the town.

Kolattupuzha:

64km from Kollam, Kolathupuzha in situated in the forest range and is famous among devotees for its shrine.

Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary:

Located at a distance of 70 kilometers from Kollam, this beautiful wildlife sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Shendurny River. It a splendid green valley and is home to diverse flora and fauna.

Ashramam Picnic Village:

Ashramam picnic village is located in the 48acre Guest House complex. The children's traffic and entertainment park, designed by NATPAC is also located in this village. It is the largest traffic park in Kerala. The adventure park located in the village along the shores of the Ashtamudi back waters , is a novel experiment in the country. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, power boats and motor boats are available on hire from the boat jetty near to the adventure Park. A budget hotel for tourists, Yathrinivas, run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is also located in this village. The Govt. Guest House here is 200 years old .

Thirumullavaram Beach:

6 kms north of Kollam town, is the beautiful and quiet little Thirumullavaram Beach, which is a lovely picnic spot and is also ideal for swimming or bathing in the sun .It has frequent bus connections from the town.

Alumkadavu:

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.

Sasthamkotta:

This is located in Kollam district. The beautiful town on the right bank of Kallada River is 26km north east of Kollam. It is known for the temple of Lord Sastha and Sasthamkotta Lake , which is the only major fresh water lake in the state. The lake is set amidst scenic surroundings covered by high hills on the three sides.

Ochira:

6km from Kayamkulam on the NH47, Ochira is famous for its Parabrahma temple and the annual temple festival. It is believed that Ochira was the Army Training Centre of the Kayamkulam Rajas. It is also an important handicrafts centre.

Kulathupuzha:

Situated on a forest range on the Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottai road, Kulathupuzha is known for the Sastha temple. The vishu Mahotsavam in April/May is the most important festival. There are frequent buses from Kollam to Kulathupuzha. The Thenmala railway station is just 10 km from here.

Palaruvi Waterfalls:

Located near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, 5 kms from Ariankavu is the lovely waterfalls at Palaruvi, at a height of 300 feet. Being the pristine spot, the waterfalls give the impression of following milk.

Pozhikkara:

Pozhikkara is situated around 2 kms away from Paravur Town. Arabian sea forms the boundary for pozhikkara. Here we can see the blending of Arabian sea and Paravur Lake through a man made canal.

Thekkumbhagom-Kappil:

For those who prefer quiet and calm vacation, the secluded and relatively unexplored Kappil Beach should prove ideal.With its natural sandy beauty, this sun-drenched beach is a perfect getaway after a hectic tour.

Malappuram:

It is really an unexploited gem of Paravur. The place is a hilly area between Thekkumbhagom and Pozhikkara besides Arabian sea. The quiet sea about 40 feet down from here and the high percentage of sunshine and its interesting and varying landscape makes this place a thrilling experience.

Chillackal:

This place is a traditional fishing area where mechanisation and modernisation has not taken over yet. People here are mostly engaged in fishing activities.

Elephant Village:

It is situated around 5 kms away from Paravur on Paravur -Paripplay road. Paravur has roughly around 50 elephants in whole. Every Year this place attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world, particularly during the months of November to March.

Lake Sagar:

Lake Sagar Tourist Resort is one of the prestigious resort to stay and enjoy the beauty of beach and lake in paravur which is located at Kappil.

Aquasserenne Resort:

This eco friendly resort is created by giving a heritage ambience by using wooden paneling, ceilings, doors etc collected from ancient mansions of Kerala and auctions.

Puttingal Temple:

The temple have a ten days celebration ending on Meena Bharani in every year. That is the national celebration for Paravur natives. It is one of the temples which have biggest fire works competition at the end of every annual celebrations.

Nearest Petrol Pump:

Indian Oil Petrol Pump
NH 47, Puthiyakavu
Karunagappally, Kerala.

Petrol Pump
Kayankulam, Kerala.

HP Petrol Pump
Adoor, Kerala.

Sri Krishna Fuels - Petrol Pump
Pathanamthitta, Kerala.

Indianoil Petrol Pump
Mavelikkara, Kerala.

Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation:

Nila Palace Hotel
Cheerancavu, Ezhukone
Kollam, Kerala 691505
Tel: 0474 2529301 – 0474 2529302.

Comfort Regency Hotel
Karunagappally, Kerala.

Vijaya Hotel & Bar
Karunagapalli, Kerala.

Hotel Shah International
Kollam, Kerala
Tel:0474 2742362.

Sudarsan Hotel
Parameswar Nagar
Hospital Road, Quilon
Kerala 691 001
Tel:0474 2744322.

Nila Palace Hotel Kollam (Quilon)
Cheerancavu, Ezhukon
Kollam (Dist), Kerala 691505
Tel:098 95077949 or 0474 252 9302.

Things to carry:

Tips & Suggestions:

Help Line/Phone Number:

Police Station:

Police Station
Karunagappally, Kerala.

Kollam East Police Station
Kollam, Kerala
Tel: 0474 2742072.

Police Station
Kottarakara, Kerala

Kayamkulam Police Station
SH6, Kayankulam, Kerala.

Valathungal police station
Kollam, Kerala.

Mavelikara Police Station
Mavelikkara, Kerala.

Nearest Hospital:

Mynagappally
Mar Thoma Valiya pally
Kerala.

Perl Hospital
Karunagapalli, Kerala

Ideal Clinic and Hospital
Karunagappally, Kerala
0476 2620323.

Dr. Pisharadi's Hospital
Alumkadavu Road
Karunagappally, Kerala.

Dr. Unnikrishna Pillai's Arya Vaidyashala
NH47, Karunagappally

Link:

http://profkurakar.blogspot.com/2009/06/protect-sasthamkotta-lake.html
http://sasthamcottamails.blogspot.com/2008/07/sasthamkotta-lake.html
http://aboutkeralam.blogspot.com/2009/01/sasathamkotta-sasthamcottah.html
http://lizabehrendt.blogspot.com/2008/07/sasthankotta-with-raja-ravi-varma.html
http://godsowncountrykerala1.blogspot.com/2009/04/sasthamkotta-fresh-water-lake_24.html
http://myhandycam.blogspot.com/2009/01/sasthamkotta.html
http://soorajvr.blogspot.com/2009/04/welcome-to-sasthamcotta.html
http://sasthamcottablog.blogspot.com/2008/08/lake-manyara-national-park-tanzania.html