Kollam
Kollam town in Southern Kerala is steeped in rich history. It is a treasure trove waiting to be discovered for its natural scenic locales, cultural treasures and majestic wonders of history and art. An ancient sea-port of yore, the city has imprints of ancient Romans, the Chinese, Arabs, Portuguese, the Dutch and finally the British. They all had their fill of spices, cashew and timber offered by the then Kingdoms.
Kollam is still renowned for the best hand-beaten cashew kernels in the world, fetching the most premium price in auctions.
The city, straddling its glorious past and the modernity of today in equal measures, sits deftly on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake. The city is graced with many historic temples, churches and mosques. The serene backwaters offer an opportunity to go on a boat ride on Kettuvallams, the modified traditional rice boats.
Kollam town buzzes with hectic activity but the facilities, the connectivity and hospitality of the people make a visit here most enjoyable. Add to it good weather, delicious food and enchanting views and you are sure to have a wonderful time.
Thangasseri, about 5 km from Kollam has ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. You can visit the hangasseri Lighthouse between 3:30 pm and 5:30 pm. The Rameshwara Temple is another nice place to visit. It is a historic temple which displays ancient Pandyan influence in its architectural design. The temple has inscriptions in Tamil which are believed to dating from the 12th to the 16th century. Thenmala, about 66 km east of Kollam is covered by rich forests. The locality abounds in rubber and tea plantations, making it an ideal place for a nature visit. You can also enjoy sights of the Thenmala dam.
Another must see destination close to Kollam is the Ariankavu famed for its Lord Sastha shrine. Also not to be missed is the Palaruvi Waterfalls, so called for its milk like sight of water gushing over rocks. It is a beautiful wooded site perfect for picnics. You could also fit in the Thirumullavaram Beach which is rather pristine and unspoiled.
