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Flanked by the Sahya Mountains at the eastern frontier and Arabian Sea at the west,
Kollam district
has for long been associated with history. The Malayalam Era is based on the founding of Kollam in the 9th
century. The revenue division of the ancient Travancore province, its later history is interwoven with the
Portuguese, Dutch etc. The beauty of the place lies in the fact that it is renowned for not just a single
aspect. The industrial center that is well known for its Titanium, mineral sands and china clay, is also
the birthplace of legendary art form 'Ramanattam Kathakali'. The magnificent Cave temple at Kottukal, the
Indo Norwegian Fisheries Community Project at Neendakara, the natural mineral water lake at Sasthakshertam, and
the brilliant celebration during the festival of 'Ochirakali and 12 Vilakkukalum' at the Parama Brahma Temple
are chief attractions of the district that offer it a charm of its own. Another fascination of Kollam that
enthralled all who visited, including the U.S. Ambassdor, Robert Blackwill, is the cruise along the
picturesque Ashtamudi Lake on House boats.
::::::::::: Places to see in and around :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kollam Town - 71 kms north of Thiruvananthapuram
This headquarters of Kollam district was an important center of trade
during the ancient days. It has astonishingly maintained the stand and continues to be a prosperous
commercial center of Kerala. The historical importance of the place also stems from the fact that the
township was designed and built by Syrians, and is one of the instances of foreign influence on Kerala.
The most famous of the beaches is the Thirumullavaram beach. With clear
water and friendly waves, the sea along the sandy expanse is perfect for swimming and bathing. There is
also a resort, complete with all facilities and amenities.
Mahatma Gandhi Beach - 2 kms from the town
This is another ideal tourist getaway. There is also a park just next
to the beach. A glimpse of the setting sun as you relax on the golden sand here, marks the beginning
of a splendid evening.
Paravur Beach - 13 kms south of Kollam
This is another well known beach in Kollam. Another notable
feature of this spot is that Paravur is connected with Kollam town not only by road but also
by rail, making it easily accessible to all.
Kochupilamoodu is yet another beach in this district.
Ashramam Picnic Village - 2 kms away from the town
Ashramam village is an ideal spot to relax especially with family and
children. The well known picnic area encompasses a guest house complex and is also famous for the specially
designed amusement park and the unique traffic park. The Ashtamudi backwaters flows along the park, adding
to the scenic splendor. Visitors can also make the most of the various kinds of boats like luxury cruise
boats, power boats and motor boats, that can be hired from the jetty.
Sasthamcottah
earns much of its fame from the Sasthamcottah lake, the biggest fresh water lake in Kerala. The lake and
surroundings lined with array of lush coconut palms form a picturesque location. The charming village of
Sathamcottah is also a health resorts. Exotic ayurveda treatment and special massages are available at
some of the resorts, health centers and spas. It is also well known as a centre of pilgrimage.
Thangassery - 5 kms away from the Kollam town
This particular place in Kollam could well be considered an antique
showroom. Many of the buildings and most of the churches here are monuments dating back to the 18th
century and bear testimony of ancient architecture. A 144ft high colossal lighthouse erected in 1902 is
the most famous attraction here. There are also remains of magnificent forts that were built during
colonialization and used by foreigners.
Krishnapuram Palace Museum
The Krishnapuram Palace is one of the monuments that can rightfully be
called the pride of Kerala. The building has been carefully restored to give visitors the feel of how it
looked during the early days. It is a fine example of Kerala Architecture. The palace gates are opened
for visitors from 10am to 5pm IST everyday except Mondays.
Thenmala - 66 kms east of Kollam and 72 kms from Thiruvananthapuram
Thenmala literally translated as 'honey hills', is a small beautiful
village at the foot of the sahyadri ranges. The thriving forests and the acres of rubber and tea plantations
at Thenmala is home to myriads of plant and animal varieties. The 100 sq. km Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary
here is well known as an ecotourism resource and is a beautiful place to visit and so is the open air Musical
Dancing Fountain and the splendidly constructed Thenmala dam. There is even a Children's eco-park here. The
place also produces the best quality honey. One can spend time with family at the tree top huts at the deer
rehabilitation center and observe species like the Spotted deer, Sambar deer, Barking deer etc at close
quarters . There are also ample opportunities to go on night camps and riverside trekking.
Alumkadavu - 23 kms from Kollam, two hours from Thiruvananthapuram
This is a beautiful backwater village whose early inhabitants were adept
at constructing special boats called 'Kettuvallams'. These were huge vessels used to transport cargo
rather than people. Kettuvallams today are modified versions of the old one. They are luxury houseboats fully
furnished and complete with living and dining rooms, toilet and even balcony. Alumkadavu still continues
to be a renowned boat-building center and is a perfect spot to observe the construction of these special
boats and also to take off on a beautiful backwater cruise.
Palaruvi - 75 kms from Kollam
This famous location sports a breathtakingly beautiful waterfall. The
marvelous sight of gallons of clear gushing water down great heights compels one to agree that there
could be no better name than palaruvi or stream of milk. Dense evergreen forest, cradle of the magnificent
falls. Palaruvi is a popular picnic spot, a few minutes under the cascade is an exhilarating experience
and could even prove to be medically advantageous.
Ochira 
is a celebrated center of pilgrimage. Of the many places of worship here, the most famous one is the
Parabrahma temple.What sets this temple apart is that it is a place dedicated for Universal
Consciousness rather than to a particular deity.
Ochira is also a popular spot to witness the splendor of
Kalaripayattu, Kerala's very own martial art form. The sight of trained men armed with swords and
shields, showcasing their well honed skills standing in knee-deep water, is a sight worth witnessing.
Thazhava
Thazhava is a small village in the Oachria block. This place is famous for
its mat making industry. People here are adept at preparing mats that are specifically from the leaves of
screw-pine, and also in making variety articles using these mats. There is also an archeologically important
spot called Maruthookulangara. It was from Pallikkulam, a tank there, that an ancient idol of the
Buddhawas excavated.
Mannarssala - 15 kms north of Krishnapuram Palace, and 32 kms before Alappuzha
Mannarssala has a sacred place among those who believe in the powers of
Nagaraja or the serpent king. It is also faintly mentioned in the great epic, the Mahabharata.. The temple
here is one of the most revered sites for snake worship in Kerala. Some families even today worship the
snake god and perform special rituals for them.
The temple complex encompasses many shrines, each built in typical
Kerala style; and there are numerous skillfully crafted idols of different snakes, the snake king and his queen.
The annual festival in the month of Thulam (October/ November), the
related preparation and grand celebrations all present a vibrant picture. The majestic processions, the
offerings and special prayers are feast for the eye. There is also 'vedikketu' or fireworks that add
to the life and vividness of the festivity.
Transport Facility
Air : Nearest Airport: Thiruvananthapuram (71 kms from Kollam).
Rail : Kollam has a railway station of its own and it is
an important railhead of the Southern Railways.
Road : An excellent road network links Kollam to all major
towns and cities in Kerala.
Ferry services : The ferry station is adjacent to the central
bus station (3 kms from the railway station).
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