Kollam
Kollam town, the headquarters of Kollam district and Kollam taluk, has a
hoary past. It was an international emporium of trade and even now it is
a prosperous commercial centre. It is situated about 71 Kms. north of
Thiruvavanathapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport.
The town edges with the famous Ashtamudi lake. Many a
foreign traveler has visited Kollam in early medieval period. It was one
of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. It is said that the
present town of Kollam was built by the Syrian Merchant; Sapir Iso, in the 9th
Century A.D. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time
honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need home any more. Kollam
is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre. It is also the
headquarters of Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation.
The 144 ft. Thangassery Light House, built in 1902, is a centre of
attraction. The Ananda Valleswaram Temple here, attracts people on almost
all days. There are several Churches and Mosques in and around
Kollam. The Pullichira Church was established in 1700 A.D. One of
the oldest and most important Mosques in the Chinnakkada Palli. The
Thangal Kunju Musliar College of Engineering, the first of its kind in the
private sector in the state, is at Kilikolloor, about 7 Kms. east of
Kollam town.
Mahatma Gandhi beach & park at Kochupilamoodu, Thirumullavaram
beach and Ashramam picnic Village, are some of the important spots of local
sight seeing, Mahatma Gandhi beach lies just 2 Kms. from the town. It
is fascinating place for an evening. Thirumullawaram Beach is 5 kms.
from the town. The sea here is ideal for swimming and bathing.
Asramam picnic village is located in the 48 acre Guest House Complex.
This is the centre of various tourism development activities of the district.
The Government Guest House here is 200 years old. It stands
along Ashtamudi lake and is a major attraction for its elegance rates. The
adventure park, located in the shores of the Ashtamudi backwaters, 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, Yatri
Nivas, run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, is also located in this
village. The village is just 2 kms. away from the town.
Achencoil
Situated about 80 kms from Punalur is an important pilgrim center.
The Sastha temple here, situated amidst dense forest. The idol of Sastha is
supposed to have been installed several centuries before the Christian Era. The
two important festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja (December-January) and
the festival held at 'Revathi'(January-February). The two notable features of
the festival are the Therotam (chariot festival) and Pushpabhishekam (offering
of flowers). In no other temple of the South India are flowers offered to the
deity so lavishly as at Achencoil.
Alumkadavu
Alumkadavu located at 26 Kms from Kollam City and on the lakeside
of Kollam-Alappuzha National Water Way. The "Green Channel Back Water
Resort" at Alumkadavu makes itself a tranquil location for both foreign
and Indian Tourists. The scenic beauty of blue green stretches of serene back
water and rambling gardens of hundreds of coconut palms give the Green Channel
Resort an incomparable beauty.
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.
Aryankavu
Situated about 73 kms east of Kollam is one of the important
pilgrim centers of the district. From very early days, it was an important
trade route for merchants from either sides of western Ghats. The chief
attraction of Aryankavu is the shrine dedication of Lord Sastha. The temple has
some fine sculptures and mural paintings. Thousands of pilgrims flocks of this
temple during the Mandala Pooja in December. All trains towards Shencottah have
a stop at Aryankavu. About 5 kms away from Aryankavu there is a big waterfall
known as Palaravi meaning river of milk. It is one of the well-known waterfalls
in the south India, falling from a height of 300 feet. It is situated 66kms
from Kollam on Kollam-Shencottah road.
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. Four major industrial establishments 1.Indian Rare Earths 2.The
kerala Premo Pipe factory 3.Kerala Mineral and Metal factory 4.Titanium Complex
are in Chavara.
Jetayu Para
Jetayu 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 after failing in its attempt to spot Ravana from taking sita
away. The rock is ideal for trekking by the lovers of adventure. The rock can
be seen from the Chadayamangalam junction. itself.
Karunagappally
Karunagappally is situated 27 kms north of Kollam. It is
linked with Kollam by rail and road. There is a mini civil station at
Karunagappally .Padanayarkulangara, which forms part of the town, was once the
military station at Kayamkulam Rajas. An idol of Buddha, recovered from a local
tank here, is now preserved in the Krishnapuram palace the headquarters of
Kayamkulam Rajas situated north of Oachira. The town has a temple dedicated to
Lord Siva, two old mosques and a mar Thomas Church.
Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara is the headquarters of Kottarakkara Taluk. It is
linked by both rail and road, a distance of 27 kms. It was once the capital of
Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal
Family. The internationally famous dance drama-Kath kali had its small
beginning in this town and it flourished under the patronage of Raja of
Kottarakkara.
Kulathupuzha
Kulathupuzha is situated on the Thiruvannathapuram - Sencottah
road and is 10 kms south of Tenmala railway station. It is and important forest
range, well known for its elephants. Reed, an essential raw materials for paper
manufacture at Punalur Paper mill, is partly supplied from Kulathupuzha valley.
Kundara
Kundara is linked with Kollam by rail and road, a distance of 18
kms. Large deposit of china clay discovered here, helped in the establishment
of the Government Ceramics.
Kunnicode
The main attraction of Kunnicode, situated 10 kms west pf Punalur
,is Pachilakunnu a small hillock where a Muslim saint is said to have breathed
his last.
Mayyanad
Mayyanadu,10 kms south of Kollam is noted for its shrines and
temples. The most important temple is the one at Umayanallor, dedicated to Lord
Subramanian. The shrine is said to have been consecrated by Shri. Sankaracharya
of Kaladi. Besides the temples, there are three churches and a Mosque. Cotton
weaving and oil pressing are the main occupation in the village.
Neendakara
Situated about 8 kms north of Kollam , Neendakara is the
Headquarters of the Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Community project, which was established
in 1953.The important institutions under this project are the boat building
yard at Sakthikulangara the Fisherman's Training Institute, the ice factory and
the refrigeration Plant. Neendakara Port, the hub of fishing activities is here.
Oachira
Situated ,32 kms north of Kollam on the Kollam Alappuzha National
Highway and on the boundary of Kollam district, Oachira is a unique pilgrim
center. The peculiarity of the temple here is that there is no temple building
as such nor is there any idol. All classes of people workship the presiding
deity the parabrahmam. Oachira draws thousands of Pilgrims for Oachirakkali, a
festival held annually in June. It is also an important handicraft center where
fancy articles of screw pine mats are manufactured.
Palaruvi Water Falls
The famous waterfall in Kollam District is situated at Palaruvi
near Aryankavu, Kollam - Sencottah NH 208. Season to visit the places is from
June to January.
Paravur
Pathanapuram
An important trading center on the banks of the Kallada river,
Pathanapuram is 13 kms away from Punalur. The Chandanakkudam mahotsavam of the
mosque there, celebrated every year in February-March atrtacts thousands of
devotees.
Pattazhi
Pattazi is the seat of an ancient temple, dedicated to Bhagavathy.
The Mudi is the major festival of this temple.
Punalur
Punalur is one of the important industrial centers of kerala. It
is 45 kms from Kollam on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line and is also linked
with Kollam by road. The Suspension bridge accross the Kallada river erected in
1877,is the only one of its kind in south India and it is 400 ft long. A
concrete bridge has been constructed near by and now the suspension bridge is only
of archaeological interest. Punalur is the head Quarters of Pathanapuram Taluk.
Sasthamcotta Lake
Sasthamcottah is an attractive village situated about 19 kms. from
Kollam Town. It is a beauty spot, a health resort and a centre of
pilgrimage. The extensive freshwater lake here, is said to be the biggest
of its kind in Kerala. Water supply to the Kollam town is met by purifying
the water from this lake. Buses are frequently operated to Sasthamcottah,
which can truly be called as Queen of Lakes.
The Sasthamkotta lake the largest freshwater lake in Kerala is
surrounded by hills on all sides except south where a bund has been constructed
separating the lake from the neighbouring rice fields. A large part of the lake
has been reclaimed for agriculture. The source of water is from the underground
sprouts. The lake has a capacity to hold 22390 million litres of water and
serves as the source of drinking water for half a million people of Kollam
district.
Thangassery
Thangassery is a place of historical importance situated 5 kms.
away from Kollam town. The churches here are pretty old, having been
established in the 18th century. The chief attraction of the place is the
light house, built in 1902. The 144 ft. light house stands as a
sentinel, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery. The
construction of a fishing harbour is in progress. Thangassery was an
enclave of the Portuguese, Dutch and British in succession. The remnants
of the Portuguese and Dutch forts still exits.
Thazhava
Thazhava in Oachira block is an important center of screw
pine mat industry. An Image of Buddha, discovered from a tank known as
Pallikkulam near Maruthoorkulangra is one of the interesting archaeological
relics, associated with Kollam district
Thenmala
Thenmala is the meeting point of Kollam-Shencottah road and Trivandrum-Shencottah road, surrounded by dense forest, 66 kms east of Kollam. There are a large number of rubber and tea plantations in Thenmala. Timber of all varieties are exported from here to all parts of the country. Themala Dam site is open for tourists. Eco tourists center is situated at Thenmala. All buses passing through Kollam-Shencottah road stop at Tenmala. There is also a Railway Station here