Kollam
KEEN KOLLAM
Kollam has been known by different names at various times. If the Arabs called it “Kaulam”, it was “Coilum” for the 13th century Venetian traveller Marco polo. Kollam or Quilon was an old sea port town on the Arabian coast. The Ashtamudi Lake, known as the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala, covers about 30 percent of Kollam. It is also known as “The Land of Cashewnuts”.
The district has enormous tourism potential as it is blessed by nature’s reward of sun-dried beaches and backwaters, straggling verdant valleys, wild forests, fertile plains with vast green fields producing tropical crops. It also has historic monuments and numerous temples built in the traditional architectural style. The district has about 37.3 km long coastline and has a good network of backwaters and canals. It also has fairly developed coir and bamboo industry. It has handicrafts, fancy goods, cane, paddy and wood carving.
There are two beautiful rivers which flow through this state, they are Kallada and Ithikkara. The Sasthamkotta Lake, the one & only major fresh water lake in the State or rather in India, is here. Two other major lakes are the Ashtamudi Lake and the Paravur Lake. Edava and Nadayara ponds partly lie in this district.
Placid Backwaters
The visitor can spend an entire day at Alumkadavu because it is worth a visit. Alumkadavu is situated 28 kms north of Kollam town on the northern backwaters of Kollam. You can have a glimpse through the making of the traditional houseboats at the Houseboat Building Yard. Since a long time, Alumkadavu has been a centre of boat building. The village of Alumkadavu is filled with the earthy fragrance of coir and wood on water. You can observe how the coir- rope is made with the hard and rough coconut – shells.
A 40 minute drive from the cashew factories will take us to Munroe Island, with its village, a quaint little place tucked away in the backwaters of Kollam. Munroe Island is wonderland with its village, a quaint little place tucked away in the backwaters of Kollam. Formed by the backwaters of Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River, this island is named after Colonel Munroe, the British Resident of the earlier Travancore State. Cruise in a typical country craft for the three hours criss-crossing the intricate canals, drinking in the scenic charm and experience the simple lives of the villagers. You can Book DTPC canal cruise packages for the trip.
The trip between Kollam and Alapuzha is one of the most popular backwater cruises in Kerala as the eight hour trip gives you an intimate experience of the famed waterways. You can visit Alumkadavu to see the skills of the artisans fabricate kettuvalloms at the boat building yard, Ayiramthengu to visit the coir village, then Kayakulam Lake, Kuttanad region and the coir village of Thrikunnapuzha, where you will find a locking system below the bridge to separate fresh water and salt water. At Karumadi you will see the statue of Buddha of 11th century. After that you will enter at Punnamada, the venue of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race and then you are treated to a spectacular view of the sunset on the Vembanad Lake.
The one day cruise in Ashtamudi Lake will take you to Panama Beach, Alumkadavu and various other places. You can also go for an overnight stay in a houseboat with a Kathakali performance.