Kollam is a name that can also be substituted by cashew, the reason being that India's cashew trading and processing industry is located in Kollam. Quilon is the other name by which Kollam is known. The place also has a large marine products industry. It is one of the rare places of India that is an industrial hub and yet has an abundance of natural beauty.



It is situated about 71 kms. north of Thiruvananthapuram and is linked by rail, road and backwater transport. Kollam has a tropical humid climate, with an oppressive summer and plentiful seasonal rainfall. As is the case with other places of Kerala, winter is the best time to visit the place. Today, Kollam is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre. It is also the headquarters of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation.

Accommodation and Connectivity :

The nearest airport from Kollam is Thiruvananthapuram at a distance of 72 kms. However, Kollam is connected by both rail and road with most towns and cities of Kerala and outside. To cash in on the tourism boom, hotel infrastructure is fast developing in the place.

The most popular activity in Kollam is a cruise in her magnificent backwaters. One can experience the picturesque backwaters and village life of the place from close circles. An eight hour boat ride from Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest and the most thrilling backwater cruise amongst all the backwater destinations in Kerala.

Tourist Attractions

Fortunately or unfortunately, most of the tourism attractions here are located some distance away from the place.


Thangassery

Thangassery, some five kilometers away from Kollam has the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and also a few churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri lighthouse is another major attraction here.

Thirumullavaram

Thirumullavaram on the outskirts of Kollam has a beautiful beach filled with coconut palms. The beach has very good bathing facilities.

Oachira

Oachira at a distance of 32 kms from Quilon can be regarded as an unique pilgrim centre as there are no temple buildings or idols here. People worship the presiding deity- Parabrahmam. Thousands of pilgrims come to Oachirakkali for a festival held annually in June.

Mayyanad

Mayyanad is a place popular for its shrines and temples. The most important of the temples is Subramanya Temple. Rameshwara Temple with its magnificent architecture is another big hit among the tourists.

Jatayupara

Jatayupara is another nearby place where Jatayu,the mythical bird in the epic Ramayana is believed to have collapsed. There is a large rock here. Sasthamkotta, 29 kms from Kollam is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala.


Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram

Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram at a few kilometers from Kollam is a spiritual hub where the followers of Amrithanandamayi Devi come in large numbers all throughout the year.

Needless to say that the various industrial sites of Kollam are also a great learning experience for the visitors in so far as the industrial processes followed there are concerned.