Your Tour 
Kollam (old popular name - Quilon)
Location
Kollam is a small and beautiful town situated on the Ashtamudi Lake, some
71 km from Kerala’s capital Thiruvananthapuram. It is sandwiched between
Ashtamudi Lake and the Lakeshwadeep Sea. Lying towards the south of the
state, Kollam shares its eastern borders with the state of Tamil Nadu. On
the northern side, it is bounded by Pathanamthitta, on the southern side
by Thiruvananthapuram and towards its west lies the stretched out Lakshadweep
sea.Kollam is gifted with the natural features - sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, vast green fields and tropical crop of every variety both food crop and cash crop. It is also throbbing with industrial activity. The country's cashew trading and processing industry is located in Kollam. It is also an important hub for Kerala’s marine products industry, with the port of Neendakara being the centre for trawlers and ice plants.
How to Reach
By air: The nearest airport at Thiruvananthapuram is 72 km away.By rail: Kollam is connected by rail with several important cities.
By road: Kollam is connected by road with many tourist centres in India.
Tourist Attractions
Ashtamudi Lake: A great place to hang around, the serene Ashtamudi Lake is famous for its house boat trips and boat cruises. The boat cruise to Munroe Islands is a wonderful experience. Other popular cruises are Kayal Pradkashina Cruise and Sayanthanam Sunset Cruise. Chavara: Situated 14 km north of Kollam on the Kollam-Alappuzha road, Chavara is famous for its mineral sand and mineral industries. Thousands of tonnes of mineral sand are exported from here. The Koilthottam port is situated within the limits of Chavara panchayat. Four major industrial establishments - Indian Rare Earths, Kerala Premopipe Factory, Kerala Minerals and Metals and Titanium complex - are located at Chavara. The Kottamkulangara temple of Chavara is famous for its annual (March-April) festival Thalappoli Mahotsavom - offerings of lighted lamps in decorated small pans. An interesting feature of the festival is that the men dress as women and carry lamps.Quilon: The Dutch Quilon as it was called used to be a British Enclave. The place is also popular as Thangasseri. The 144-foot lighthouse built at Quilon by the British in 1902 is visible as far as 13 miles into the sea. The picturesque view of the sea from the place where lighthouse stands is breathtaking. In the vicinity lies the Portuguese Fort built in 1517. Today only a wall represents the fort that has been ravaged by the time.
Punalur: About 10 km south of Kollam town, Mayyanad is famous for its nine temples, the most important being the Subramanya Temple at Umayanallor. The temple is said to have been consecrated by the great Hindu philosopher Sree Sankaracharya.
Sasthamcotta: This small town, located about 19 km from Kollam, is a very beautiful place and an acknowledged picnic spot. The fresh water lake at Sasthamcotta is one of the largest in Kerala.
Thirullavaram Beach: This secluded beach, 6 km north of Kollam town, is a beautiful picnic center, ideal for swimming or bathing in the sun. It is connected to Kollam town by bus.
