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Kollam is an old seaport town on the Arabian coast. It lies 71 Kilometres north of the state capital Thiruvanathapuram (Trivandrum). Kollam district attracts tourists with its sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, vast green fields and tropical crop of every variety both food crop and cash crop. The town is very famous for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. Kollam is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. It is the southern gateway to the backwaters of Kerala, and thus, a prominent tourist destination. Kollam was formerly called "Desinganadu". During the rule of the Travancore kingdom in southern Kerala, Kollam was the focal point of trade.

Kollam also has one of the oldest ports on the Malabar Coast, it was once the centre of international spice trade. The Ashtamudi Lake covers about thirty per cent of Kollam. Facilities are provided for boat trips between Kollam and Alappuzha. It is an 8-hour trip and is the longest and amusing one. The main areas of interest here are Thirumullavaram beach, Palaruvi, Picnic Village, Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary Green adventure, Thangasseri, The Cave Temple, Rameshwara Temple, Mayyanad, Ochira Temple, Sasthamkotta fresh water lake, Thenmala, Jatayupara, Kulathupuzha etc.

Places to Visit

Thirumullavaram Beach

Thirumullavaram beach is located 6 kms north of Kollam. This secluded beach is a beautiful picnic centre. About one and a half kilometre into the sea is the Nyarazhcha Para, literally Sunday Rock that can be seen from the shore at low tide. There is a Mahavishnu Temple near the beach. This quiet and isolated beach provides plenty of opportunities for relaxing, swimming and sun bathing. It is a favourite tourist spot and the beach has golden sands and the turquoise blue sea that makes it picture perfect.

Ashtamudi Lake

Ashtamudi Lake is an important lake in Kerala, and it lies in Kollam district. Ashtamudi is one of the largest wetland ecosystems in Kerala. It is called Ashtamudi because it has eight 'mudis' (channels). It has a length of 16 Kms. Kalladayar is an important river that flows into this lake. Through the Neendakara estuary Ashtamudi Lake finds its way into the sea. Wetland supports around 43 marshy and mangrove species, 57 species of birds, 97 species of fishes and some unique copepod species. More than 20,000 waterfowl visit the lake annually.
Wetland supports some 97 species of fishes.

Palaruvi

Palaruvi is a famous tourist spot. The area has evergreen forests and temples of Lord Ayyappa. In kulathupuzha the fresh water swamps, harbouring fishes, are ideal bathing ghats. The temple at Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, and Achencoil, attracts many devotees. The perennial waterfall at Palaruvi, near Aryankavu attracts a lot of visitors. Palaruvi - literally, stream of milk - is one of Kerala's most picturesque waterfalls, cascading down a height of 300 feet. The journey to Palaruvi through the dense tropical forest is a spellbinding experience.  The surrounding mist-clad blue hills and green valleys form a stunning backdrop to the milk white burst of foam that resounds through the otherwise tranquil virgin forest. Visitors love the cool shower. Ayurvedic physicians sometimes prescribe a bath in the waters of Palaruvi.