Kollam City Guide
Kollam or Quilon, an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam, the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans.
Kollam or Quilon, an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam, the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five ports , which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th century.
Located 71 Km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports of the Malabar coast. Kollam was once the port of international trade. Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala. The eight hour boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most enchanting experience of the backwaters of Kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style.
Getting There
By Air : The nearest airport 70 km’s away is the Thiruvananthapuram International airport.
By Rail : All trains to Thiruvananthapuram from northern side passes through Kollam and hence Kollam is also connected to other major towns by rail.
By Road : Apart from public and private transporting system auto rickshaw, taxis and tourist coaches are available on hire.
Tourist Attractions
Ochira (34 km north of Kollam town) :
The unique feature of this famous pilgrim centre is that there is no deity or idol at the famous Parabrahma temple dedicated to universal consciousness. Ochira Kali in mid June and the twelve day Panthrandu Vilakku in November/December are the two main annual festivals. Ochira Kali is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors on the padanilam (fighting spot). They perform a martial dance standing in knee-deep water, brandishing swords and shields and splashing water in every direction. There are frequent buses from Kollam and Alappuzha.
Sasthamkotta :
Sasthamkotta is largest freshwater lake in Kerala and is surrounded by hills on three sides except on the south side, where a bund has been constructed separating the lake from the neighbouring rice fields. The ancient Sastha Temple which lends its name to the town, is an important pilgrim centre. A large part of the lake has been reclaimed for agriculture. The source of water is from the underground sprouts.
Jatayupara :
A huge rock at Chadayamangalam takes its name 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.
Thirumullavaram Beach :
Located at a distance of 6 km from the Kollam town, the Thirumullavaram Beach is a beautiful picnic center and has frequent bus connections to the town. Roughly 6km north of Kollam, Thirumullavaram is a beautiful beach that's well linked by road and with good facilities. You can visit this beach on your Kollam tour
Aryankavu :
Aryankavu, situated about 73 km east of Kollam, is an important pilgrim center. The chief attraction of Aryankavu is the shrine dedicated to Lord Sastha. The temple has some fine sculptures and mural paintings. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple during the Mandala puja and Thrikalyanam festivals in December. The place is connected with trains and buses from the city of Quilon. A big waterfall, falling from a height of 300 feet, is situated around 5 km from Aryankavu. The fall is known as Palaruvi, which means river of milk. The scenic beauty, with the hills, valleys and cascades, covered with dense tropical forests, is breathtaking.
Amritapuri :
Amritapuri located at 110 kms from capital of Kerala. It is popularly known as the 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. For reaching here either you can take a bus or train from Kayamkulam (12 km north of Amritapuri) and Karunagappally (10 km south). The two closest airports are in Trivandrum (110 km south of Amritapuri) and in Cochin (140 km north).
