Welcome to Kollam

Kollam or Quilon, an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam , the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five ports , which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th century.

The rulers of Kollam (Desinganadu) and China , exchange embassies and there was flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia ( 9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India , touched by the huge Chinese junks , on his way from Carton of Persian Gulf. Marco Polo, the great Venician traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublahan in 1275, visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center at Kollam in 1502. Then came the Dutch followed by the British in 1795. A British garrison was stationed at Kollam in pursuance of a treaty between Travancore and the British.

Velu Thampi Dalawa of Travancore, did much for the improvement of the Kollam town. He build new bazaars and invited merchants from Madras and Thirunelveli to settle here. Kollam later became the capital of the enlightened and liberal rulers of Desinganad.

Once a city of palaces, Kollam has been known to the outside world, by the time honoured proverb, "Once you have seen Kollam you would no more need your illam (Home)" The history of the district as an administrative unit can be traced back to 1835,when the Travancore state consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam. At the time of the integrating of Travancore and Cochin in 1949,Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions in the state. These three revenue divisions were converted into districts. Shencottah taluk was merged with Madras state consequent on the implementation of the state Reorganisation Act of 1956.

When Alappuzha district was formed in 1957, Cherthala, Ambalapuzha, Mavelikkara, Karthikappally. Chenganuur and Thiruvalla Taluks were united to the new district. When Pathanamthitta district was formed on 1st July 1983, the entire Pathanamthitta Taluk and nine villages of Kunnathur Taluk of the district were also removed. Now the district has a single revenue division with headquarters at Kollam. Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam are the five taluks in the district.

Kollam District is situated on the South west coast of kerala. The District is bound on the north by Alappuzha and north east by Pathanamthitta Districts on the east by Thirunelveli District of Tamilnadu, on the South by the Thiruvavanathapuram District and on the west by Arabian sea. Two rivers Kallada and Ithikkara flows through this District. The Sasthamcotta lake, the only major fresh water lake in the state is in Kollam District. The Soil of the District may be classified as sandy loams, larerite and forest soil. The costal belt has sandy loams and the forest soil is found in the eastern forest belt. The rest of the district is laterite soil.

Climate

The District has a tropical humid climate with an oppressive summer and plentiful seasonal rainfall. The hot season., lasting from March to May is followed by the South West Monsoon from June to September. The rest of the year is generally dry.

Kollam, 71 km away from Trivandrum is fairly important for the State's trade and commerce and is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. It is also an important hub for the State's marine products industry, with the port of Neendakara being the centre for trawlers and ice plants.

Kollam District has a large area under forest. Pathanapuram, Anchal, Kottarakkara and Chadayamangalam are blocks having large areas of forest. The forest divisions are at Thenmala and Punalur. For all its natural gifts of wide rivers, dominant hills and forest, lakes and plains, there is the throb of a vibrant industrial activity that combines with equanimity the wonders of the modern age with the traces of a bygone era. The total population of the district is 25.84 Lakhs. In population, the district ranks sixth in the state. The density of population of the district has increased from 961 persons per Sq.kms in 1991 to 1037 in 2001. Sex Ratio( defined as the number of females per 1000 males) shows a fluctuating trends from decades to decades. Taking the population in the district as a whole in 1941,1971,1981,1991 and 2001,females outnumbered males.In all other decades there was a ponderance of males over females. According to the 2001 census there are 1070 females for every 1000 males, while it was 1035 in 1991 census.

FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Crafts Festival (December - January)

The craft festival is held annually during December-January. This festival features the work of craftsmen from all over the country.
Kerala Tourism Boat Races (January)

The Boat Race is conducted on 19th January every year to coincide with the great elephant march which is held on 17-20 January.

Kollam Pooram (April)

A colourful 10 day Vishnu festival which takes place in Ashram temple. It includes procession and fire works.

Ashtami Rohini (August - September)

Vadayattukotta Temple celebrates 5 day Ashtami Rohini festival. There are various amusements and festivities which are held in connection with festivals in temples.

Muharam is also observed in this month with processions at the town mosque.

Oachirakali (June)

The mock swork-fight Oachirakkali is one of the most important of such festivals. Oachira has been famous for long as one of the sacred places of Kerala. Historically too this place is very famous, for, it was on the plains of Oachira that the much famed battle in the history of Travancore, the battle of Kayamkulam, was fought between Marthandavarma, the Maharaja of Travancore and the Raja of Kayamkulam. In commemoration of this historic battle Ochirakkali is conducted on the first and second of Mithunam (June-July) every year. On this occasion, the young and the old, drawn from the two Karas lying east and west of Oachira, from themselves into two groups, reach the Padanilam (the place for fighting) and conduct the age-old fencing exercise under the leadership of the elder kalari asan.

Kottamkulangara Temple (Vilakkeduppu)

In Kottamkulangara Temple in Chavara, there is a peculiar custom of men dressing up as women and carry lighted lamps (Thalappoli). The Uriyadi is a typical festival associated with Krishna Temple. The annual Uriyadi festival held at Vadayattukotta temple in connection with Ashtami Rohini deserves mention. The Kettukazhcha (exhibition of effigies) festival held at Mahadevar Temple, Thrikkadavur in February-March every year is one of the colorful festival of the district. There are similar festivals in the temples of Sasthamcotta, Velinallur, Chathannur, Chirakkara etc..

Important Religious Centres
Kollam district has a number of pilgrim centers. The temples dedicated to the Sastha at Achencoil, Aryankavu and Kulathupuzha are visited by a large number of pilgrims. The festivals, Therottam and pushpabhishekam of Achenciol Temple fall during December - January and January - February respectively. The Mandala Pooja of Aryankavu Temple, is in December and the Vishumahotsavam of Kulathupuzha in April.

Temples

The Oachira Temple, dedicated to Parabrahamam attracts a large number of pilgrims, particularly during the festival called Oachirakkali in June-July. The Panthranduvilakku Mhotsavam (November-December) of this temple is also very famous, Vishu Mahotsavam (April) of SreeKrishna Swami Temple, Ashramam, Navarathri Mahostsavam (October) of Mahadeva Temple, Mukhathala, Ustavam of Mahadeva Temple, Thrikkadavur and Bhagavathi Temp-le, Kottamkulangara, Sivarathri Festival (March) of Shiva Temple, Chittadeeswaram and Chenamathu Temple, Chathannoor, Festival (September-October) of Veera Bhadra Nada, Astamudi, renowned for the 'Urul Nercha', Sivarathri Mahotsavam (March) of Kashi Viswanathan at Cheriazheekal (Karunagappally Taluk) Thiruvathira Mahotsavam (April) of Shri. Mahaganapathi Temple, Kottarakkara Attam Mahotsavam (March) of SreeBhoothanada Temple, Chathannoor are some of the important festivals connected with temples. The Ashtami Rohini Festival at Vadayattukotta Sree Krishna Temple also attracts huge crowds from neighbouring places. In addition to these temples, there are Churches and Mosques which have their own festivals attracting huge crowds, irrespective of their religious affiliation.

Churches

Some of the important Churches are St. Casmir's church, Kadavur, Velankanni Matha Shrine, Tuyyam; St. Francis Church, Koduvila (kallada), Amalotbhava Matha Church, Pullichira (Kottiyam), St. John Brotto Church, Sakthikulangara; St. Sebastian Church, Needakkara: St. Thomas C.S.I. Church, Pattathanam and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Sastri Junction.

Mosques

Valiyapalli, Janakappuram, Juma-Atrh-Palli, Kolluvila, Jumma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala, NMuslim Jumma-Ath-Palli, Karuva: Kalamala Palli, Kalamala: Muthirapparambu Palli, Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli, Kilikolloor are the most important mosques. "

Amritapuri located at 110 kms from capital of Kerala. By bus or train: Kayamkulam (12 km north of Amritapuri) and Karunagappally (10 km south) are the major cities to reach. By air and taxi: The two closest airports are in Trivandrum (110 km south of Amritapuri) and in Cochin (140 km north).

Attractions in Kollam

Adventure Park
3 kms from the central bus stand and next to the government guesthouse at Asramam, is an Adventure park, which delights children. The Kollam District Tourist Promotion Council organises backwater cruises from there and during the season conducts cruises to Alappuzha.
Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara is the origin of the famous classical dance has originated from Kottarakkara Taluk. It was once the capital of Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family.
Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple
Situated on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam MC Road, Kottukal Rock Cut Cave Temple is a magnificent masterpiece of Sculptures.

Jatayupara
Jatayupara is a huge rock at Chadayamangalam. Legends goes that the name Jatayupara is from the mythical bird Jatayu in the epic Ramayana, who is believed to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to thwart Ravana's kidnapping of Sita. The Crafts Festival is held annually during December-January, featuring the work of craftsmen from all over the country

Palaruvi Waterfalls
Located near the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border, 5 kms from Ariankavu is the lovely waterfalls at Palaruvi, at a height of 300 feet. Being the pristine spot, the waterfalls give the impression of following milk, which falls steeply down into a small shallow pool which is ideal for swimming nearby there are also smaller cascades, which gives a beautiful sight.

Ashtamudi Lake
Kollam is situated on the banks of scenic and calm Ashtamudi Lake. Lake Ashtamudi is one of the biggest Backwaters of Kerala.
Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary
70 kms from Kollam on the Kollam -Shencotta Road is the Shendurni Wildlife Sanctuary. The sanctuary is situated on the banks of the River Shenduny.
Sasthamkotta (Fresh Water Lake)
29 kms from Kollam, on the bank of River Kallada, is a small town called Sasthamkotta, which is famous for Kerala's largest freshwater lake. In this town there is also a temple dedicated to ford Sastha.

Thangassery (Fort and Lighthouse)
Located 5 kms from Kollam town, is Thangassery, a seaside village of historic importance, which has the ruins of an Old Portuguese fort and a church, built in 18th century. The beautiful beach nearby has the lighthouse of 144 feet high.
Thirumullavaram Beach
6 kms north of Kollam town, is the beautiful and quiet little Thirumullavaram Beach, which is a lovely picnic spot and is also ideal for swimming or bathing in the sun .It has frequent bus connections from the town.

Thangasseri Beach
Situated 5 kms from Kollam Town, this seaside has ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in 18th century.