Kollam
One of the leading trade capitals of the Old World, Kollam is the centre of the country’s cashew trading and processing industry. Extolled by Marco Polo and ibn Batuta in glowing terms, this famous port was once part of the international spice 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 on the backwaters of Kerala. The momentous decision to introduce a new Malayalam era was convened at Kollam and hence the Malayalam calendar came to be known as a Kollavarsham.
How to Reach
Telephone access code +91 – 474
Air: Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (71km)
Rail: Kollam is an important Railhead of the southern railways.
Railway enquiry ph : 131
Road: KSRTC Central Bus Station Ph : 2752008
Ferry Service : The ferry station is adjacent to the central bus station (3km from the railway station)
Tourist information offices : DTPC Tourist Information Centre, KSRTC Bus Stand Ph : 2745625
DTPC Tourist Office, KSWTD, Boat Jetty, Ph : 2745625, 2750170, Email : info@dtpckollam.com Web:www.dtpckollam.com
Department of Tourism District Office, Govt. guest house, Ph : 2743620
Thenmala Eco Tourism Promotion Society Ph: 0475 2344800, www.thenmalaecotourism .com
Place to Visit
Ashtamudi backwaters: So called because of its 8 arms or channels, Ashtamudi Lake is the gateway to the backwaters. This 16 km long lake is the second largest in Kerala, finding its way into the sea through the Neendakara estuary. The Kollam Boat Club provides boat rides as well as house boat cruises. The trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is one of the most popular and longest backwater cruises in Kerala. The eight-hour journey will give you an intimate experience of the famed waterways.
Thenmala Ecotourism Centre (66 km east of Kollam): India’s first planned ecotourism destination, Thenmala, or the hills that flow with honey, is the nerve. Centre of a chain of ten satellite ecotourism destinations. A natural habitat of diverse flora and fauna, this unique place harbours a fragile ecosystem. The rugged terrains of the land packs plenty of adventure activities. Covered by dense forests, rubber and tea plantations, Thenmala were selected by the World Tourism Organisation as one of the world’s best eco-friendly projects. It has a leisure zone with winding pathways, a sway bridge, a sculpture garden and boardwalk; a culture zone with an amphitheatre, a musical fountain as well as a Nakshatravanam (a nursery of trees considered sacred to the 27 constellations, where visitors can take back a sapling of the tree relevant to their birth star); and an adventure zone that includes activities like trekking, bird watching, mountain biking, rock climbing, rappelling and river crossing. In addition, there is the Deer Rehabilitation Centre (06.00-05.00 hrs) as well as the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary. Only short visits are permitted to the interior of the reserve. Boating is a major attraction in the Shenduruney Reservior. For details, contact: Ph: 0471-2329770 Fax: 2337037 Email: info@thenmalacecotourism.com www.thenmalaecotourism.com. For trained local guides, contact: Ph: 0475-2344800
Thirumullavaram Beach: (6km north of Kollam. Open 05.00-11.30 hrs, 04.00-08.30 hrs) This secluded beach is a beautiful picnic centre. About one and a half kilometre into the sea is the Nyarazhcha Para, literally the Sunday Rock that can be seen from the shore at low tide. And near the beach is a Maha Vishnu Temple.
Palaruvi Waterfalls: (75 km from Kollam. Open 0800-1800hrs) Palaruvi, which means stream of milk, makes its way down the rocks from a height of 300ft. A sought-after picnic spot, the scenic beauty of this place is enhanced by hills, valleys and waterfalls. The PWD inspection Bungalow and the KTDC Motel offers comfortable accommodation. Trekking to the waterfalls and bathing in the river are popular activities here.
Jatayupara : (48km from Kollam) The 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.
Special Attractions
Alumkadavu: This is where the first houseboats in India were built. Here you can spend an entire day watching the crafting of Kettuvalloms at the houseboat building yard. Alumkadavu is also a coir manufacturing centre, making Kollam famous for its coir products.
Kulathupuzha: (64km from Kollam) Situated on a forest range on the Thiruvananthapuram Shenkottai Road, Kulathupuzha is known for the Sastha Temple. The Vishnu 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.
Kollam Beach: (3 km south of Kollam) An array of beach activities attract thousands of tourists throughout the year to this perfect beach setting offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea. A port city and one time active habour for Chinese ships and trade, Kollam is home to Chinese fishing nets, Chinese water pots and sampan-like boats seen even to day.
Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple: (11 km from Chadayamangalam) Situated on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kottayam MC Road, this temple is a fine example of rock cut temple architecture.
Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu: (14 km from Alumkadavu, 38 km from Kollam) The residence and headquarters of Matha Amrithanandamayi is situated at Amrithapuri near Vallikavu, where she was born. Called Amma by devotees all over the world, she is recognised as an extraordinary spiritual leader by the United Nations and was honoured with the Gandhi-King Award for non-violence in 2002. Accessible both by road and boat, the five-acre ashram holds a self-contained township where food and accommodation is free. Ph: 0476-2897578
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. DTPC canal cruise packages: 09.00 hrs and 02.00 hrs. Fare: Rs. 400 per head.
Picnic Village: (1km from the city. Open 10.00-06.00 hrs) Located in the sprawling 200 year old Guest House campus where Lord Munroe once stayed, this tourist village at Ashramam, along the backwater front, is the main centre for recreational activities in Kollam. The centre has a boat club, a children’s traffic park and a Yatri Nivas, in addition to an adventure park. The Paaramparya Museum in the same premises displays paintings from different parts of the country, like Warli, Kalamkari and Madhubani, as well as Kerala Mural art. Ph: 0474-2750322.
Neendakara: (8 km from Kollam) A famous fishing harbour, you can see the Ashtamudi Lake joining the sea from the Neendakara Bride and also the Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sky.
Police Museum: (Open 09.00 - 06.00 hrs on all days) The only such establishment in the country, it traces the history and development of the police force. On display are police arms of the 18th and 19th centuries and various other exhibits. The star attraction of the museum is the Martyr’s Gallery.
Thangasseri: (5 km from Kollam) Thangasseri or ‘Dutch Quilon’ as it was called, was once a British enclave. Meaning ‘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 was built in 1902 and stands 144 ft high. The beacon can be seen up to 13 miles out at sea. Check out the lighthouse at Thangasseri which is open to visitors from 1530-1730 hrs. Get to see the sun setting and the moon rising simultaneously at Thangasseri on the drive down the lighthouse Road, which gives you a breathtaking view of the sea as well.
Places of Worship
Achankovil: One of the main temples of Lord Ayyappa, it is believed that the idol here is consecrated by Lord Parasurama himself. This temple is similar to the famous shrine at Sabarimala. The Manalar Falls and the Kumbuvurutty Falls, which also has a Nature Interaction Centre, are on the way to this temple.
Ariankavu: (70km from Kollam) Situated on the Kollam-Shenkottai Road, Ariankavu is famous for the shrine dedicated to Sree Sastha. Mandala Pooja and Trikalyanam, celebrated in the month of December, are the main festivals here.
Cheriazheekal Temple: (Open 04.00-11.30 hrs, 05.00 – 08.30 hrs) Known for its twin temples, Cheriazheekal is steeped in legends. The Sri Kashi Vishwanatha Temple is also known as the Deccan Kashi Temple, after the legend of the priest who installed in this temple, the Sivalingam that he found in the Ganges. But it is also believed that the place housed a temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, built some 2,000 years ago. So today, it is a temple for both Siva and Vishnu, and Maha Sivaratri is celebrated annually for 10 days as grandly as the festivities that surround Sree Krishna Jayanthi.
Malanada Duryodhana Temple: (27 km from Alumkadavu) This unique temple is dedicated to the infamous Duryodhana- the anti-hero in the epic Mahabharatha. As the legend goes, Duryodhana, who went in pursuit of the Pandavas, was given food and shelter by the Kuravas- a community of people. To this day, the priest at this temple hails from the Kurava community.
Mayyanad: (10 km south of Kollam) Mayyanad is noted for its shrines and temples. The most important of the nine temples here is the Subramanya Temple at Umayanallor. The shrine is said to have been consecrated by the great Hindu philosopher Sree Sankaracharya
Ochira: (34 km north of Kollam) The famous Parabrahma Temple, dedicated to the Universal Consciousness can be found here. The unique feature of this famous pilgrim centre is that it has no deity or idol here. Also considered a Siva Kshetra, colourfully decorated Ochira bulls that symbolise Nandi- Siva’s Vehicle, are given as offerings at this temple. Ochirakali in mid-June and the twelve-day Panthrandu Vilakku (twelve lamps) festival in November/December are the two main annual festivals. Ochirakali is a mock fight enacted between groups of men dressed as warriors on the padanilam (battle field), commemorating the historic battle fought between the Kayamkulam and Chempakasseri soldiers.
Rameshwara Temple: This temple which shows a Pandyan influence in its design has inscriptions in Tamil, dating from the 12th to the 16th centuries. The Vyala monster sculptures in this temple give one the impression that the creatures are animate and are actually climbing up the stairs with outstretched paws.
Sasthamkotta: (29 km from Kollam town) The ancient Sastha temple which lends its name to the town, is an important pilgrim centre. The monkeys of Sasthamkotta that colonise the towering trees are believed to be the loyal followers of the ruling deity, the Dhama Sastha. Surrounded by hills on three sides in the vast fresh water lake of Sasthamkotta, the largest of its kind in Kerala. Accommodation is available at the PWD Rest House.
St. Mary’s Orthodox Church: (30 km from Kollam. Open 07.00-07.00hrs) This church at Kallada dates back several centuries. A beam of wood, believed to be 700 years old, has a Muslim crescent, a Hindu symbol and the sign of the cross on it.
