Kollam Beach

 Kollam district, earlier known as Quilon district, is one of the fourteen districts in Kerala, India. The district is representative of all the natural properties in Kerala and has a long coastal region, a major port on the Arabian Sea Astamudi inland lake and was called Tarsish. Kollam is the capital of trade and cashew processing industry in Kerala. Kollam is also known as God's own funds.

           Kollam district has five administrative divisions (taluk): Punalur, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam. District Collector, a key leader of the government, heads of district administration and exercises great power and responsibility. He or she plays a dual role. A security agent for the government and others as chief administrator of the district, under the state government. 

Among other tasks, policing a priority for the District Collector. District Collector is also the head of the Department of land revenue for the district. The District Collector of Kollam now is Devendra Kumar Dhodawat. IAS. The district has a single revenue division with headquarters at Quilon. For administrative reasons, Kollam district is divided into 5 thaluks, 13 blocks, 69 Panchayats, 1 Company 2 communes and 104 villages.

Location: Only 2.5 Km from Kollam. 

Jadayu Rock

                                                                              Chadayamangalam" or "Jadayumangalam" is historically an important place.  It's a beautiful village lying   between Kilimanoor and Kottarakara, 14km away from   Kilimanoor and 21km from Kottarakara. It is situated   on the South East side of  Kottarakkara Taluk and this place is enriched with huge Black Rocks which attracts and fascinates everyone who looks upon them. 

Neighbouring village is Ayoor which is 3 km   from Chadayamangalam Junction. This is  one    among  the  large block in the district with an area   of 249.03 sq.kms. Paddy, Coconut, Rubber, Tapioca, Pepper, Cashew   Nut, Banana, Areca Nuts etc. are  the major crops   under cultivation in the block. Two industrial estate   and five industrial co-operative Institutions are   functioning here. Population is of 22,213. Panchayat   includes Chithra, Chadayamangalam, Kadakkal,    Ittiva, Velinalloor, Elamadu & Nilamel.            

Jatayu is the son of Aruna and nephew of Garuda who   has the form of a vulture. When Ravana was on his way to Lanka on his flying chariot after abducting Sita,   he encountered Jatayu. This noble souled bird could not bear to hear poor Sita's cry for help and got into a   fight with the mighty Ravana. Ravana cut off Jatayu's wings and he collapsed. Jadayu Para is well known   as a tourist destination and a place of pilgrimage. Right on top the rock the building of a huge functional   sculpture of the Great Bird Jatayu is under way. An 18ft high Statue of Lord Shri Rama Chandra is been   constructed at the top of Jadayu Mountain.

Location: Only 30km from Kollam town.

Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary

                                                                                The Shenduruny forest - declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1984 gets its name from an endemic species of tree called Chenkurunji (Gluta travancorica). In the central region of this moist, mixed deciduous forest, spread over hilly terrain of over 100 sq km, is the 26 sq km artificial lake formed by the Parappara dam built across the Shenduruny and Kulathupuzha rivers.

But beautiful surroundings guaranteed to give those exhausted batteries a recharge is not all what Shenduruny is famous for. According to some recent archaeological discoveries, a rock shelter has been found here which contains a few pre-historic rock engravings believed to be from the Mesolithic period (5210 - 4420BC).

For company, you may have some die-hard party animals - elephants, tigers, leopards, bisons, sambar, wild boar, lion-tailed macaques, nilgiri langur, deer and many of the other inhabitants of a west coast tropical evergreen forest.

Location:  Only 66 km from Kollam town on the Kollam-Shencotta Road, in Pathanapuram taluk of Kollam district.

Nearest railway station: Thenmala connected with Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi and Kashmir.

Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport 72 km away.

Details:  The Wildlife Warden

Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary

Thenmala Dam P.O.

Kollam district.

Phone: + 91 475 344600

Taj Mahal Mazjid

          About 400 years back there lived in Malabar (now North Kerala) a famous Muslim cleric. He had a disciple called Ali Hassan who was a mystic. With the blessings of the cleric Ali Hassan set out on a trip to the south.

He first reached Oachira and from there a place called Puthiyakavu.The area was covered with dense forests and was believed to have been the preserve of a deadly black serpent. Fearing the serpent, people stayed away from the place. But Ali Hassan approached the king and requested that he be given some land here. The king gave him the area occupied by the black serpent.

 As Hassan was clearing the forests, the black serpent appeared but he skilfully caged it and took it to the king. The serpent escaped from the cage causing panic in the royal circles but Hassan again managed to cage it and took it back to the forest where he set it free. That was the last anyone had seen the serpent. A happy king allowed Hassan to build a mosque (Palli) at the place. Thus the place got the name Karunagappally.

 The karunagappally Taj Mahal Mazjid is known as the Taj Mahal of kerala. It is designed like Taj Mahal. It is a holy place of Muslim pilgrimage. The mosque is also known as Sheikh Mazjid.

Location: Only 26 km north from Kollam city. Only 3 km north to Karunagappally town.

Ashtamudi Lake

                                                                               Ashtamudi Lake in the Kollam District of Kerala, India, is the second largest and deepest wetland ecosystem, a palm-shaped (also called octopus-shaped) large water body, next only to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight coned'(Ashta = 'eight'; mudi = 'coned') in the local language of Malayalam. This name is indicative of the lake's topography: a lake with multiple branches. The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. 

Along both banks of the lake and its backwater canals, coconut groves and palm trees interspersed with towns and villages are seen. Quilon is an important historic port city located on the right bank of the lake and boat cruises are operated by the Kollam Boat Club from Quilon to Alappuzha providing transport access to many other towns and villages along this route, apart from the luxury “house boats” which also operate in the lake. The boat journey is an 8 hour trip, winds through lakes, canals and water bound villages, and gives a complete exposure to the beauty of the backwaters of Ashtamudi Lake.Chinese fishing nets, called cheena vala in the Malayalam language, are used by local fisherman and are a common sight along the waterway.

The lake and the life on its shores have inspired many artists and writers.It has been the subject of many poems of renowned poet Thirunalloor Karunakaran who was born and brought up on its banks. Back Water Tourism is one of the most attractive activity in Ashtamudi lake, Accommodation in Resorts and Houseboats are a memorable thing. 

Location:  Only 63km north to Thiruvananthapuram.

Thenmala Eco-tourism

 Thenmala is the meeting point of Kollam-Shencottah road and Trivandrum-Shencottah road, surrounded by dense forest, 66 kms east of Kollam. Thenmala is a tourist place near Punalur town, Kollam district in KeralaThere are a large number of rubber and tea plantations in Thenmala. Timber of all varieties are exported from here to all parts of the country.

Themala Dam site is open for tourists. Eco tourists center is situated at Thenmala.. Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism destination in India. The Thenmala dam was built across Kallada River. Thenmala is famous for being the shooting location in Malayalam and Tamil movies.

Thenmala attracts foreign and domestic tourists with a host of attractions. Boating on the lake, a rope bridge, trekking, mountaineering, biking and a musical fountain. Thenmala is approachable both from Trivandrum and Punalur by road. The waterfall called Palaruvi is a prime attraction nearby. Also nearby is a deer rehabilitation center where visitors can see deer in a forest setting and have a peep into a traditional tree house used by forest dwellers to escape harm from wild animals. Other places near Thenmala are Kulathupuzha, Anchal, Punalur, Kamukumchery and Shenkottah in Tirunelveli district(Tamil Nadu).

Location: Themala is 72 km from Thiruvanathapuram and 16 km from Palaruvi Falls. Only 66 km east to Kollam.

Punalur

                                                                                Punalur is one of the important industrial centers of kerala. Punalur suspension bridge is very famous. The Suspension bridge accross the Kallada river is the only one of its kind in south India and it is 400 ft long. A  concrete bridge has been constructed near by and now the suspension bridge is only of archaeological interest. 

Punalur suspension bridge crossing the river is the only suspended-deck type in south India. Built in 1877 by Albert Henry across the this huge bridge was suspended by three spans and was used for vehicular movement. Construction took more than six years. It is said that after completion of the bridge people hesitated to walk through the bridge. In order to prove the strength of the bridge the engineer and his family passed under the bridge in a country boat while six elephants were walking through the bridge. Now the bridge is only of archeological interest.

 Punalur is the head Quarters of Pathanapuram Taluk. This place is the gateway to Western Ghats and it is connected to the towns of Tamil Nadu like Tenkasi. This place was famous since in 19th century due to the paper mill which operated near to the town. Later a plywood factory was also set up at Punalur. By 2000, both of the industries which had contributed significantly to the growth of Punalur became nonoperational. Right now paper mill has been renovated and would become operational by Jan 2011. The plywood factory is being taken over by KINFRA (Kerala industrial infrastructure Development Corporation) to set up the biggest KINFRA initiative.

Location: It is situated 45 km north-east of Kollam and 75 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. It is 45 kms from Kollam on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line and is also linked with Kollam by road.

Amruthapuri

 This place is noted for tourist attraction. The place is famous in the name of Matha Amruthanandamayi. The area has a smooth geographical feature. Backwaters and sea are present here. It is also known as Amruthapuri (in the name of Matha Aruthanandamayi). Amritapuri is the realisation of the ancient Indian ideal "the whole world is one family" (vasudhaiva kutumbakam).

Here we can see the traditional way of fishing like chinese fishing net. The area is calm and quiet. Hundreads of foreign visitors come to this place daily. Moreover, “Matha Amruthanandamayi Math” is situated here. Engineering college and Ayurveda College under Matha Amruthanandamayi trust is also present here.

Location: Amritapuri located at 110 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala. Only 35 km from kollam city.

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).

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot. Lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, Neyyar Dam has a scenic lake. Neyyar dam is situated at Kallikkad Panchayath of Neyyattinkara Taluk.

The peak Agasthya kooodam is very near to Neyyar dam. The dam was built for irrigation purposes. One canal of Neyyar flows to western districts of Tamil Nadu The main river Neyyar flows through Kallikkadu, Ottasekharamangalam, Aryancode, Kezaroor, Marayamuttom, Neyyattinkara and Poovar and ends at the Arabian SeaA crocodile farm was set up in 1977. It also includes a habitat for otters near the administrative complex.

The Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre in Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary were named initially by the Kerala government after the late naturalist Steve Irwin as Steve Irwin National Park. You can travel there by air, the nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (38 km) and the nearest railway station is at Thiruvananthapuram (30 km).

Location: Only 32 km from the Neyyar Dam. One can also come via the International Thiruvananthapuram Airport to Neyyar Dam, which is just 38 km away.

Sasthamkotta Lake

                   It is also categorized as a wetland, is the largest fresh water lake in Kerala. The lake is named after the ancient Sastha temple (a pilgrimage center) located on its bank. It is surrounded by hills on all sides except south where a bund has been constructed separating the lake from the neighboring rice fields. The present area of the lake is 375 ha since large part of the lake is occupied for agriculture. The lake is used for fishing. The source of water is from the underground sprouts.

The lake has a capacity to hold 22390 million litres of water and serves as the source of drinking water for half a million people of Kollam district. The purity of the lake water for drinking use is attributed to the presence of large population of larva called cavaborus that consumes bacteria in the lake water. The wetland supports 27 species of freshwater fishes and two genera of prawns. The lake is a designated wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention since November 2002.

The lake is slowly dying owing to many reasons, including alarming decrease in water level and pollution of the lake water. It is seen that large tracts of land around the lake have been cleared off trees and people are undertaking paddy, plantain and tapioca cultivation over here. Illegal sand mining in West Kallada River flowing very near the lake is one of the causes for the fall in the lake's water level. A recent investigation by the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) had revealed that the lake was losing its water level at an alarming rate of 1 cm per day. Agricultural and domestic wastes from surrounding areas entering the lake cause lake pollution. Other major threats include reclamation of the land adjacent to the lake for agricultural purpose. 

Location: Only 25 km from Kollam city. Only 15 km from Karunagappally town.

Palaruvi Waterfalls

                                                                               Palaruvi – literally means stream of milk - is one of Kerala's most picturesque waterfalls, cascading down a height of 300 feet. It is a favourite picnic spot for visitors from all over south India. 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 whose muffled roar resounds through the otherwise tranquil virgin forest.

Location: About 72 km from Kollam town.   

Nearest railway station : Kollam about 75 km. 

Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

Details:  Best season to visit the places is from June to January.