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Eulogised by travellers such as Marco Polo and Ibn Batuta (who called it one of the leading trade capitals of the Old World), Kollam is where the famed network of waterways begins. The Ashtamudi Lake, known as the gateway to the backwaters, covers about 30 per cent of Kollam. From here, a 130 km long system of interlinked canals and lakes snakes up all the way to the north. |
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Kollam is also regarded as the hub of cashew processiftg and the centre of the fisheries industry in Kerala. Moreover, over 2,000 factories and industrial units churning out products as diverse as coir, chemicals, ceramics, minerals and seafood make it the most industrialised district of the State. |
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| Essential Information |
Area
Population
Taluks
Villages
Blocks
Telephone Code
Pincode
Vehicle Regn. Code
When To Go |
: 2491 Sq.km
: 25,84,118
: Karunagappally, Kunnathur, Pathanapuram, Kottarakara, Kollam
: Kollam(west), Kollam(east), Thrukkadavoor, Thrukkaruva, Kilikolloor, Sakthikulangara, Mangadu, Vadakevila, Mundaykal, eravipuram, Mayyanadu, Parvoor, Poothakkulam, Meenadu, Kalluvathukkal, Athichanalloor, Paripplli, Kottappuram, Chirakkara, Plliman, Nedumpana, Thrukkovilvattam, Thazhuthala, Panayam, Kottamkara, Ilamballoor, Mullavana, Perinadu, Kizhakei kallada, Mntrothuruthu, Ezhukon, Neduvathoor, Pavithreswaram, Kulakada, Mylam, Kottarakara, Puthur, Kalayapuram, Melila, Vettikkavala, Ummannoor, Veliyam, Pooyappally, Kripra, Odanavttam, Chakkuvaraykal, Valakam, Velinalloor, Ilamadu, Kadaykal, Chithara, Chadayamangalam, Mangodu, Kumil, Kottukkal, Nilamel, Ittiva, Punaloor, Karavaloor, Idamulaykal, Araykal, Anjal, Valakkodu, Alayaman, Eroor, Kulathuppuzha, Thingalkariykam, Channapetta, Ayiranelloor, Pattazhi, Thalavoor, Vilakkudi, Pathanapuram, Pidavoor, Pattazhi Vadakku, Idaman, Piravanthoor, Aryangavu, Poonthala, Thenmala, Neendakara, Thekkum bhagam, Chavara, Panmala, Karunagapalli, Thevalakkara, Vadakumthala, Ayinivelikkulam, Kallelibhagam, Athinadu, Ochira, Alappattu, Thodiyoor, Kulasegarapuram, Thazhava, Clappana, Pavumba, Mynagappally, Padinjare kallada, Sasthamkotta, Poruvazhy, Kunnathur, Sooranadu north, Sooranadu south,
: Ochira, Karunagappally, Sasthamkotta, Vettikkavala, Pathanapuram, Anjal, Kottarakara, Chittumala, Chavara, Anjalumoodu, Mugathala, Ethikkara, Chadayamangalam,
: +91 0474
: 691 XXX
: KL-02, KL–23, KL-24, KL-25
: August to March-end
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Adventure Park
Located in the midst of the backwaters of Ashramam, this village has an adventure park, boating club, children's traffic park and a Yatri Nivas, all in its sprawling campus. The stately 200-year-old residence, once used by Lord Munroe, is now a government guest house. The Paaramparya Museum in the premises is also worth a look. On display are paintings from different parts of the country.
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Alumkadavu Boat Building Yard
Located on the northern backwaters of Kollam, near Karunagappally, the famous kettuvalloms, or houseboats, are crafted here. Known as a boat-building and repairing centre, Alumkadavu is also popular as the ideal location to watch coir being made.
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Ashtamudi Backwaters
The many cruises organised by DTPC is the finest way to explore these backwaters. The highlights of a one-day houseboat trip could include visits to Panmana Beach, a coir-making unit, and the houseboat-building yard at Alumkadavu. A day-night cruise entails a night stay on the Ashtamudi Lake.
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Houseboats
in Kerala, houseboats are known as kettuvalloms. Boats in a variety of shapes and sizes have traditionally been the chief mode of transport in the backwaters for men and material since olden days. Thatched roof covers over wooden hulls, 100 ft in length, provided protection from the elements. Over time, simple facilities were added to the boats used exclusively for travel. For the royalty, these boats even became comfortable living quarters. Later, tourism provided the necessary fillip in transforming the age-old kettuvalloms into veritable floating cottages with all the modern amenities. A day's trip for a family with lunch and snacks would cost about Rs 3,000.
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Mata Amritanandamayi Ashram
Vallikavu, the birthplace of the famous spiritual guru, Mata Amritanandamayi, is now known as Amritapuri and is a beehive of activity as the headquarters of the
Mata Amritanandamayi Trust. The 5-
acre plot holds a self-contained township that includes a post office, bank, library and charitable dispensary.
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Munroe island
This green, palm-covered little island is tucked away in the backwaters of Kollam. The Stone Age tools and megaliths
discovered here prove the island's antiquity. Formed by the backwaters of the Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada River, it has been named after Colonel Munroe, the British resident of the erstwhile Travancore State. He is credited with having integrated several backwater regions through the construction of canals.
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Neyyar
Through only 32 kms. from the city Neyyar is luxuriant with natural beauty. We enjoyed the boating in the blue lake created by teh dam across river Neyyar with all our senses. rare medicinal plants of various kinds are found in this area. Neyyar dam froms a part of the Neyyar wilodlife sanctuary. This santuary is the habitat of hundreds of rare wild animals and we were lucky to see a few of them, courtesy to the forest of ficials who arranged the visit to the interior of the forest. We had the feel of adventure when we came face to face with wild elephants on more than one occasion. We had the rare opportunity to see crocodiles also which are abundant in the dam.
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Palaruvi
On our return journey to Kollam by road we turned left after Aryankavu and rode under the canopy of greenery to reach the famous Palaruvi water falls. Though there are several waterfalls in the mountainous region of Kollam District Palaruvi is the most elegant of all. It is surrounded by a mysterious aura. The water gushes down from a high rock with a milky spray. The speed and power makes the flow milky and hence the name Palaruvi (milky stream); the waterfall has two steps. First step is its origin from a rock and the steady stream falls downward s on to a rocky pool and reemerges from there spread wide. teh total height of the fall is 300 mts. This waterfall attracted the Travancore Kings, and there were several stone mandapas built by the King, around this place. A mandapa is located high on a rock facing the water fall itself. The king used this place as a retreat from his administrative paraphermalia, it is said
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Thangasseri
Located south of Kollam, Thangasseri, or 'gold village', was once the hub of a flourishing trade that used gold as currency, thanks to the early European traders. This picturesque settlement has a chequered history, dating back to the 14th century. The town's 144-ft lighthouse, built by the British, dates back to 1519. Thangasseri celebrated its 500th anniversary in 1999
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Thenmala
The marvelous beauty of Thenmala, which lies at an altitude of 1640 feet above sea level, is beyond words. We spend one full day at Thenmala enjoying th ediversified natural beauty in its full bloom. rated as one of the 64 wonderful eco-friendly places by the WTO (World Tourism Organisation) it is envisaged as an Eco-friendly Tourism project, first of this kind in India. Thenmala Eco Tourism Project located 21 kms. away from Punalur town consists of four regions. It is planed to attract travellers with different tastes. There is a Cultural zone with an amphitheatre, Musical dance fountain and stalls selling forest goods and handicrafts, operated by women’s self service societies. Another attraction is the Adventure zone where we enjoyed the adventurous mountain biking and rock climbing (even though the rock climbing was tedious all of us took the pain of it out of sheer sportsman spirit). A Leisure zone with winding forest tracks, a hanging bridge made up of coir and a sculpture garden are enjoyable not only to kids but to elders also. Apart from thsi there is a deer rehabilitation zone and a butterfly garden in Thenmala.
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Thevally Palace
Standing on a promontory in central Kollam, this palace overlooks the scenic Ashtamudi Lake and is best viewed from the lake itself. Built during the reign of Gauri Parvathi Bai, between 1811 and 1819, it was the residence of the erstwhile Maharaja during his visits to Kollam to meet the British Resident.
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Places to Visit |
Thiruvananthapuram |
Aakulam Tourist Complex, Agasthayarkoodam, Anjengo Fort, Ammachiplavu, Ananthapuri, Beemapalli, Kanyakumari, Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, Kovalam Beach, Maruthwamala, Napier Museum, Neyyar, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Priyadarshini Planetarium, Puthen Malika, Shankhumugham Beach, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Sree Chithra Enclave, Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, Sucheendram temple, The Zoo and Museum Complex, Thriparappu waterfalls, Varkala, Vattakkotta, Veli, Vivekanandappara, Vyloppilly Sanskrithi Bhavan, |
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Pathanamthitta |
Aranmula boat race, Ashtamudi Backwaters, Kakki Reservoir, Kaviyoor, Konni, Mannadi, Maramon, Perumthenaruvi Falls, Sabarimala, Thiruvalla, Vastu Vidya Gurukulam, Vijnana Kala vedi Cultural Centre, |
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Alappuzha |
Ambalappuzha Sree Krishna Temple, Bhagavathi Temple, Chakkulathukavu Bhagavathi Temple, Chavara Bhavan, Karumadi Kuttan, Krishnapuram Palace Museum, Kuttanad, Mannarassala Snake Temple, Pathiramanal Island, R Block,, St George Orthodox Syrian Church, St Mary's Church, Champakulam, Subrahmanya Temple. |
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Idukki |
Blossom international Park, Cheriyapalli, CSl Church (St George's Church), Devikulam Lake, Eagle Rock or Parunthumpara, Idukki Arch Dam, Kalvary Mount, Kolukkumalai, Kundala, Kurisumala Ashram, Kurisumala, Malanadu Development Society (MDS), Mampara Grasslands, Mangaladevi Temple, Marayoor, Mattupetty, Mount Carmel Church, Munnar, Murugan Para, Nelliyampathy, Orange and Vegetable Farm,Panchalimedu, Peermede, Pine Forests, Pothundy, Rajamalai, Seetharkundu,Summer Palace, Tea Museum, Thekkady, Thommankuthu, Thrisangu Hills, Top Station, Vagamon, Viewpoints, Waterfalls of Munnar, |
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Kottayam |
Ayyampara hills, Cheriyapalli, Erumely, Ganapathiyar Kovil, Good Shepherd Church, Ilaveezhapoonchira, Kanjirapally, Kayyoor Temple, Krishnapuram Palace Museum, Malanadu Development Society (MDS), Pala, Poonjar Palace, Shrine of our Lady of immaculate Conception, St Dominic's Cathedral, St George Church, St Mary's Church, St Mary's Church Bharananganam, St Mary's Forane Church, St Thomas Benedictine Abbey, Thirunakkara Temple, Vagamon, Valiyapalli, Kumarakom, Driftwood Museum, Bird Sanctuary, Midlands. |
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Ernakulam |
Antique Shops in Jew Street, Bhoothathankettu, Bishop's House/indo-Portuguese Museum, Broadway, Cherai Beach, Chottanikkara Temple, Clock tower, Dutch Cemetery, Fort Kochi Beach, Hill Palace Museum, Kerala Lalitha Kala Akademi, Kochi, Kumbalangi, M.G.Road, Marine Drive, Maritime Museum, Museum of Kerala History, Pardesi Synagogue, Santa Cruz Basilica, Shiva Temple, SNC Maritime Museum, Spice Market, St Francis Church, Thirumala Devaswom Temple, Willingdon Island, Chendamangalam. |
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Thrissur |
Athirappally and Vazhachal water falls, Ayyappa and Edathedathu Kavil Bhagavathy, Basilica of Our Lady of Dolores, Cheraman Perumal Juma Masjid, Cheruthuruthy, The land of Arts, Guruvayur, Irinjalakkuda, The land of Bharatha, Juma Masjid,Kodungallur, Koodalmanik, Yam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Kurumba Bhagavathi Temple, Lourdes Cathedral,Mar Thoma Pontifical Shrine, Martha Mariyam Chaldean Church, Palayur Church,Punnathoor Kotta, Sakthan Thampuran Palace, Shiva Temple,Sree Rama Temple, Thriprayar,The Cheraman Perumal who embraced Islam, The State Museum and Zoo,The Swaraj Roudn the heart of Thrissur,Vadakkumnathan Temple, |
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Malappuram |
Kadalundi Nagaram, Kondotty, Kottakkal(Centre of Ayurveda), Kottapadi, Malappuram, Manjeri, Nilambur(Forest area), Perinthalmanna, Perumpadappu, Ponnani, Tanur, Teak Museum,Tirur,Tirurangadi, |
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Kozhikode |
Beypore and its ‘Urus’, Beach Road, CSI Church, Kallai, Lokanarkavu of Vadakkanpattu, Mananchira Square, Mishkal Mosque, Mother of God Cathedral, Muchundipalli, Pazhassiraja Museum and Art Gallery, Planetarium and Science Centre, Tali Temple,Valayanadu Devi Kshetram, |
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Wayanad |
Mananthavady, Brahamagiri, Chembra Peak, Edakkal Caves,Jain Temple, Karalad Lake, Kerala Kalamandalam, Kuruva Dweep, Lakkidi's Chain Tree, Mahe, Meenmutty Falls,Muthanga,The jungle of secrets, Pakshipathalam,Pazhassi Museum,Pookot Lake,River Nila,Soochipara and Kanthampara Falls, The tree of Karimthandan,Thirunelly Temple,Thrissiteri Temple,Wayanad Heritage Museum, |
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Kannur |
Alluring Beaches, Cheruvathur Kota Palli, Delightful Backwaters, Ezhimalai, Fort St Angelo,Kanhirode weaving Co-operative, Kerala Folklore Academy, Kottiyoor Shiva Temple, Mahalingeshwara Temple, Nileswaram, Parassini Kadavu Temple, Payyambalam Beach,Rajarajeshwara Temple,Thalassery,The tree of Karimthandan,Ummichipoyil and Varikulam,Valiyaparamba Backwaters, |
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Kasargode |
Anandashram, Ananthapura Temple, Bekal Fort, Chandragiri Fort, Kanhangad Hosdurg Fort,Kanwatheertha Beach, Kappil Beach, Kodagu, Kottanchery, Malik Ibn Dinar Mosque, Possadi Gumpe, Ranipuram. |
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