Kollam, Satellite Map

Kollam (Malayalam:കൊല്ലം ) (known to the Portuguese as Quilon, pronounced koy-lon) is a city and a municipal corporation in Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies 71 Kilometres north of the state capital Thiruvanathapuram(Trivandrum). It is also the headquarters of the Kollam District, one among the 14 districts in the state of Kerala. It is bound on the south by Thiruvananthapuram district, on the north by Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha, on the east by Tamil Nadu and on the west by the Arabian Sea. The town is very famous for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. 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. The start of the Malayalam era(ME) is associated with Kollam. It is believed that the era was started by Nestorian Christian merchants who settled in KorukeNi kollam, near to the present Kollam. The ME is also referred as Kollavarsham.

Places of Interest

Most of the sights in Kollam are situated within a radius of 8-10 km from the city centre. Places close to city centre include the calm and scenic Thirummulavaram and Tangasseri beaches. Another picturesque beach worth visit is the semilunar Kochupilamood Beach (Kollam beach). The light house at Tangaseeri Kollam stands 144 ft (44 m) tall. The Tangasseri Light House was built in 1902. Thirumullavaram, approximately 6 km away from the city centre is popular for its calm and serene beach.

Boating facilities on Ashtamudi Lake are available at the Local boat jetty beside the main Bus depot popularly known as Civil station. House boats can be hired from the boat jetty or arranged through the tourist guides or by the local hotels.

The Kayal (Lake) Pradakshina Cruise operated by local boat owner is available till the Munroe Island, formed by the backwaters of Ashtamudi and Kallada River. The backwater trip from Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest cruise in the state and takes around 8 hours.

Tourist spots such as Thenmala, Residency Palace Ashramom, Adventure Park, Jetayu para, and Palaruvi water falls are popular attractions.

A place in Kollam district that every tourist has to visit is the maruthimala. Maruthimala is situated in Kottarakara Taluk of Kollam district.

Must visit , Kumarakom,cluster of scenic little islands

kottages in Kumarakom

kumarakom backwaters

resort in kumarakom

a house boat near to kumarakom

distant view of a house boat in kumarakom>

nice evening near kumarakom

sunset in backwaters

house boat in kumarakom backwaters







The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of little islands on the Vembanad Lake in Kerala, a state in India.

Environment

Kumarakom is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is a noted bird sanctuary where many species of migratory birds visit. The Vembanad Lake, the largest backwater in Kerala, is habitat for many marine species and it teems with 'Karimeen' (Pearl Spotted Fish), shrimp (chemmeen in local language) and prawns. The bird sanctuary extends over 14 acres (57,000 m²), and came into existence following preservation efforts from the government. It is a major tourist attraction.

Economy

Agriculture and tourism are the major economic activities. The place has expanses of mangrove forests, paddy fields and coconut groves. This rich agricultural environment is mainly irrigated using interspersed waterways and canals. Kumarakom's perfectly balanced tropical climate is conducive to cultivation.

Modes of access

One can access Kumarakom by many means:

* By air: via Cochin International Airport and the Trivandrum International Airport
* By rail: via Kottayam (16 kilometres)
* By boat: From Muhamma (near Alappuzha) to Kumarakom Jetty.
* By road: Buses and taxis are easily available at all times of the day from Kottayam.

Tourism

There are several activities for visitors, depending on how much time, money and local language skills they have.

The Bird Sanctuary can be visited by boat, which can be arranged with local fishermen at the entrance to the sanctuary. A two-hour rowing boat trip may cost about INR 200-250, and is best undertaken in the evening or early morning to avoid the afternoon sun.



Kerala Tourism Corporation conducts nice tours to all these places. Apart from them several other tour operators are providing group tour packages covering all these places.Some resorts provides other travel facilities for small number of peoples.

Here locates some resorts which rents house boat to spend exotic night in boats.House boats or speed boats can cover longer distances but cost more for hire.

God of Small Things

Arundhati Roy's The God of Small Things is set in Ayemenem village, which adjoins Kumarakom. The explosive success of this novel has given some added touristic impetus to this area. The Taj Garden Retreat hotel complex is centered around a building that is called "History House" in the novel; it was built by British missionary Alfred George Baker, whom the locals called "Kari Saipu" (possibly an elided form of "Baker Sahib"), as in the novel. Four generations of Bakers lived in the house until 1962, speaking Malayalam, and even wearing the mundu. It is in ruins in the novel, but has been restored by the Taj group. The Ayemenem house, where Arundhati Roy spent part of her childhood (like the twins in the story), can also be visited in the village, which can be reached by boat along the Meenachal river that figures prominently in the story.

Notable persons owned to Kumarakom

* Bishop Mar Alexander Choolaparampil (1877-1951), second bishop of the Knanaya Kottayam Archdiocese

* John Abraham Illikkalam (1929 - 1988) - was a Known Agriculturist at Kumarakom, and made a study & writings about Environmental & Ecological issues of Kuttanadu Region.

Kovalam Beach, Images, Satellite map

kovalam lighthouse view


kovalam lighthouse at night


kovalam north beach view


kovalam seaside


kovalam evening


kovalam view from top of nearby hill


location of Kovalam


kovalam beach, a nice glimpse


kovalam south of light house


kovalam view from top of light house


kovalam another angle

Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala, a state in south India. It is located around 16 km outside Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) City in the Thiruvananthapuram district. There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from Europe and Israel. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

There are three beaches at Kovalam, separated by outcrops jutting out to the sea. The larger one is called Light House Beach for its 30 odd metre high light house. The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. Topfree bathing and parading is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts. Visitors frequent these two beaches. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism parlance. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite. The normal tourist season is from September to May.

How to reach Kovalam

* The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport.
* Nearest Metropolitan City is Trivandrum - 16 km
o Regular buses ply to Kovalam from the City Bus Stand at 'East Fort', Trivandrum.
* Trivandrum Central Bus Station is 14 km away.
* The nearest railhead Trivandrum Central in Thampanoor is 14 kms away and it is just opposite the Trivandrum Central Bus Station.