Kollam District, Kerela

Location: South Kerela, India. It shares border with Alappuzha district on the north, Pathanamthitta district on the north east, Thiruvananthapuram district on the south, Thirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu in the east and Arabian sea on the west.

District Headquarter: Kollam

Distance: 72 km Trivandrum, 150 km from Cochin, 160 km from Kanyakumari, 765 km from Bangalore

Journey time: 9 and 1/2 hrs by road

How to reach there: By KSRTC bus, KRTC bus, private bus, train and flight.

Route:

1. Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Karur – Dindugal- Madurai – Rajapalayam – Shenkottai – Punalur – Kottarakara – Kollam

2. Bangalore – Hosur – Krishnagiri – Dharmapuri – Salem – Bhavani – Erode – Avinashi – Coimbatore – Palaghat – Thirissur – Ernakulam – Alleppey – Kollam

Route 2 is longer.

Where to stay:

1. Nila Palace
Cheerancavu, Ezhukone,
Kollam – 691505
Kerala
Ph: +91 474 252 9301 / 02 / 03 / 04
Fax: +91 474 252 9300
Email: reservation@nilapalace.com
Website: http://www.nilapalace.com/

2. Aadithya Resort Lakeside
+91 476 3252190, 2837190
+91 476 2836190
aadithyaalakeside@yahoo.com
Website: www.lakeside.in

3. Aquaserene
+91 476 2512410 -17
+91 476 2512104
aqserene@md3.vsnl.net.in
www.aquasereneindia.com

4. Club Mahindra Ashtamudi Resorts
+91 476 2882310
+91 476 2882470
reservation.ashtamudi@clubmahindra.com
www.clubmahindra.com

5. The Vijaya Castle
+91 476 2831348,2835348
+91 476 2835350
www.vijayacastle.com
mail@vijayacastle.com

6. The Beach Orchid
+91 474 2769999
+91 474 2749009
edp@thebeachorchidhotel.com
www.thebeachorchidhotel.com

Budget:

1. Hotel Comfort Regency
+91 476 2623888, 2624088
+91 476 2625088
stay@hotelcomfortregency.com
www.hotelcomfortregency.com

2. Hotel Sudarshan
+91 476 2744322
+91 476 2740480
comfort@md4.vsnl.net.in
www.hotelsudarsan.com

3. Tamarind KTDC Easy Hotel
+91 474 2745538
tamarindkollam@ktdc.com
www.ktdc.com

4. Kollam Beach Retreat
+91 474 2763793
info@kollambeachretreat.com
www.kollambeachretreat.com

Where to eat:

1. Dharani Vegetarian Restaurant

2. Hotel Mini

3. Nef World Resaurant

Language spoken: Malayalam. Hindi and English is spoken or understood to an extent.

Kollam was known as Quilon during the British era. It is an important port and center of commerce since the medieval times. Located on the cost of Arabian sea and Ashtamudi lake, Kollam is bestowed with amazing beauty. It is also called God’s own capital because it features starting from hills, sea, plains, backwater, streams, rivers, forest etc.

What to See:

1. Thangassery Light House: Thangassery Light House located in Thangassery around 5 km from Kollam town. It was built in 1902 and stands 144 ft. Earlier it was a Portuguese and dutch enclave followed by British. So you can still find remnants of Portuguese and Dutch forts.

2. Mahatma Gandhi beach & park: This beach cum park is located at Kochupilamoodu around 2 km from Kollam town.

3. Thirumullavaram beach: Thirumullavaram beach is around 6 km from Kollam town. It is a beautiful picnic spot and ideal bathing beach popular with tourists and locals.

4. Ashramam picnic Village: Ashramam Picnic Village is located around 2 km from Kollam town in the 48 acre government guest house complex. Various parks and entertainment centers are located along with a hotel run by kerela tourism department on the banks of Ashtamudi back waters.

5. Alumkadavu: Alumkadavu located at 26 Kms from Kollam City and on the lakeside of Kollam-Alappuzha National Water Way. You can make the best of this place by staying at Green Channel back Water Resort, ph – 0476 – 2628134. It offers various facilities like back water cruise, canal tour, ayurveda, fishing etc.

6. Amritapuri: Matha Amritanandamayi Asramam at Amritapuri is located 4 km from Alumkadavu, 100 km from Trivandrum and 140 km from Cochin.
Website: www.amritapuri.org

7. Aryankavu: Aryankavu is located around 73 km from the town of Kollam and things to watch here is the temple of Lord Sastha which has nice sculpture and mural paintings. You can also see the Palaravi (meaning river of milk) water falls around 5 km from Aryankavu. This is a beautiful water falls dropping from a height of 300 feet on Kollam-Shencottah road around 66 km from Kollam.

8. Jetayu Para: Jetayu Para is rock in Chadayamangalam on M.C road. It is related to the legend of Jetayu of Ramayana epic. It is good for trekking.

9. Kulathupuzha: Kulathupuzha situated on the Thiruvannathapuram – Sencottah road is a forest range and is 10 kms south of Tenmala railway station. One can see here especially Elephants along with other animals.

10. 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.

11. Neendakara: Neendakara located around 8 km from Kollam is famous for fishing activity. It also houses the Indo-Norwegian Fisheries Community project. One can also see here boat building at Sakthikulangara.

12. Oachira: Oachira is an important religious center located around 32 km from Kollam town on the Kollam Alappuzha National Highway. The uniqueness of this temple is there is no particular temple building or idol. The presiding deity here is parabrahmam.

13. Punalur: Punalur located around 45 km from Kollam town is an important industrial center on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line. The 400 feet suspension bridge on Kallada river built in 1877 is sight seeing interest.

14. Sasthamcotta Lake: Sasthamcotta lake located in Sasthamcottah village is the largest fresh water lake in Kerela. Water to Kollam town is served from here. Sasthamcottah is located around 19 km from Kollam town and is beautiful picnic spot. The lake is surrounded by hills on all side except the southern part where paddy field can be spotted.

15. Thenmala: It is located around 66 km from Kollam and is popular for eco tourism center.

If you have time, you can also check some other places as follows:
Chavara, Karunagappally, Kottarakkara, Kunnicode, Paravur and Pattazhi.