Kollam

Kollam is a city in the state of Kerala, India. It is also the headquarters of a district by the same name, one among the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. 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. It has one of the largest fresh water lakes. It is a very beautiful place to visit. The district is very famous for cashew processing and coir manufacturing.

About thirty per cent of this district is covered by the Ashtamudi Lake, thereby making it a gateway to the Kerala Backwaters. India’s most popular English magazine 'India Today' has rated Kollam as the best district in the country in terms of law and order and social harmony. The second tallest light house in India (144 ft or 44 m) stands tall at Tangasseri in Kollam. Tourist spots such as Thenmala, Jetayu para, and Palaruvi falls are popular attractions.

During the rule of the Travancore kingdom in southern Kerala, Kollam was the focal point of their trade. The metre gauge railway administered by Indian Railways terminates at Kollam, making the Kollam Railway station a junction station. The district is well connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the National Highways 47, 206, and 101 and by the railway network.

The Apostle Thomas is said to have founded one of his "seven and a half churches" in Kollam. From these seven and a half churches, including the one in Kollam, have multiplied thousands of churches, hospitals, orphanages and other Christian charities that cover India today.

The Mata Amritanandamayi Math is situated in Amritapuri in this district, about 30 km from the Kollam town.

Achencoil

Situated about 80 km from Punalur, Achencoil is an important pilgrim centre. The Sastha temple here, is situated amidst dense forests. The idol of Sastha is supposed to have been installed several centuries before the Christian Era. The two important festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja (December-January) and the festival held at 'Ravathi' (January-February). The two notable features of the festival are the Therotam (Chariot festival) and Pushpabhishekam (offering of flowers). In no other temple of South India are flowers offered to the deity so lavishly as at Achencoil.

Anchal

Situated 13 km south of Punalur, Anchal is known for its cattle market twice a month. The Mudi festival of the Bhagavathy temple here, conducted once every 12 years, attract huge gatherings.

Aryankavu

Situated about 73 km east of Kollam, Aryankavu is one of the important pilgrim centres of the district. From every early days, it was an important trade route for merchants from either sides of the Western Ghats. The chief attraction of Aryankavu is the Shrine dedicated to Lord Sastha. The temple has some fine sculptures and mural paintings. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple during the mandala pooja and Thrikalyanam festivals in December. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. Buses plying between Kollam & Shencottah, also pass through this place. About 5 kms. away from Aryankavu there is a big waterfall known as palaruvi meaning river of milk. It is one of the well-known waterfalls in south India, falling from a height of 300 feet. It is sittuated 66 kms. from Kollam on Kollam-Shancottah road. The scenic beauty, with the hills, valleys and cascades, covered with dense tropical forests, is breath taking. Season to visit the place is June-January.

Chavara

Chavara is situated 14 km north of Kollam om the Kollam-Alappuzha road. Thousands of tonnes of mineral sand are exported from Chavara to various countries. The Koilthottam port is situated within the limits of Chavara panchayat. Four major industrial establishments - Indian Rare Earths, The Kerala Premopipe factory, Kerala Minerals and Metals and the Titanium complex - are at Chavara. The Thalappoli Mahotsavom - offerings of lighted lamps in decorated small pans - in the Kottamkulangara temple here is very famous. It falls in March - April. The interesting features of the festival is that men dress themselves as women and carry lamps. This is a time honoured custom.

Karunagappally

Karunagappally is situated 27 km north of Kollam. It is linked with Kollam by rail and road. There is a mini civil station at Karunagappally. Padayanarkulangara, which forms part of the town, was once the military station of the Kayamkulam Rajas. An idol of Buddha, recovered from a local tank here, is now preserved in the Krishnapuram Palace, situated north of Oachira. The town has a temple dedicated to Lord Siva, two old mosques and a Mar Thoma Church.

Kottarakkara

Kottarakkara is the headquarters of Kottarakkara Taluk. It is linked with Kollam, both by road and rail, a distance of 27 km. It was once the capital of Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. The internationally famous dance drama Kathakali had its small beginning in this town and it flourished under the patronage of Raja of Kottarakkara who lived in the first half of the 19th century. Kottarakkara has a very old temple dedicated to Lord Ganapathy and a church belonging to Mar Thomas. This church is 700 years old.

Kulathuppuzha

Kulathuppuzha is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram_Shancottah road and is 10 km south of Thenmala Railway Station. Kulathuppuzha is an important forest range, well known for its elephants. Reed, an essential raw material for paper manufacture at Punalur Paper Mill, is partly supplied from Kulathuppuzha Valley. One of the renowned shrines dedicated to Lord Sastha, is found here and large crowds of pilgrims come for worship during festival seasons. The Vishnu Mahotsava in April-May is the most important festival here. Besides this shrine, there are also three mosques.

Kundara

Kundara is linked with Kollam by rail and road; a distance of 14 km large deposits of China clay discovered here, helped in the establishment of the Government ceramics concerns. The Aluminium Industries (ALIND) is one of the leading Indian firms manufacturing Aluminium cables. Kundara is famous in history, for, it was from here that Veluthampi Dalawa issued the famous Kundara Vilambaram in 1809.

Kunnicode

The main attraction of Kunnicode, situated 10 km west of Punalur, is Pachilakunnu is small where a Muslim saint is said to have breathed his last.

Mayyanad

Mayyanad, 10 km south of Kollam, is noted for its Shrines and temples. The most important temple is the one at Unayanalloor, dedicated to Lord Subramoniya. The shrine is said to have been consecrated by Shree Snakaracharya of Kaladi. Besides the temples, there are three churches and a mosque. Cotton weaving and oil pressing are the main occupations in the village. Mayyanad is the birth place of C.V. Kunjuraman, one of the leading literary, social and political figures of modern Kerala.

Neendakara

Situated about 8 km north of Kollam, Neendakara is the headquarters of the Indo-Norweigian Fisheries Community Project, which was established in 1953. The important institutions under this project are the boat building yard at Sakthikulangara, the Fisherman's Training Institute, the ice factory and the refrigeration plant. Improvements have been made to Neendakara Port, which has been thrown open to traffic.

Oachira

Situated 32 km north of Kollam-Alappuzha National Highway and on the boundary of Kollam district, Oachira is a unique pilgrim centre. The peculiarity of the template here is that there is no temple building as such nor is there any idol. All classes of people worship the presiding deity the Parabrahmam. Oachira drawns thousands of pilgrims for Oachirakkali, a festival held annually in June. Another festival held here is Panthrandu Vilakku in November-December, which lasts for 12 days. The festival is also followed by a fair which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all walks of life. Oachira is also an important handicraft centre where fancy articles of screwpine mats are manufactured. Known also as Dekshina Kasi, buses passing through NH 47 stop at Oachira. Passenger trains stop at Oachira Railway Station.

Paravur

Paravur is an important fishing and coir production centre. It is situated 13 km south of Kollam and is connected with Kollam town by road and rail. It is the birthplace of K.C. Kesava Pillai (1865-1913) and Kesava Asan (1869-1917), two leading literary men of eminence.

Pathanapuram

An important trading centre on the banks of the Kallada river, Pathanapuram is 13 km away from Punalur. The Chandanakkudam mahotsava of the mosque there, celebrated every year in February-March, attracts thousands of devotees.

Pattazhi

Pattazhi is the seat of an ancient temple, dedicated to Bhagavathy. The Mudi is the major festival of this temple.

Punalur

Punalur is one of the important industrial centres of Kerala. It is 45 km from Kollam on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line and is also linked with Kollam by road. The Punalur Paper Mills, started as early as 1885, is one of the main factories. The suspension bridge across the Kallada river, erected in 1877, is the only one of its kind in south India and it is 400 ft. long. A concrete bridge has been constructed nearby and now the suspension bridge is only of archaeological interest. The temple here, dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, Lord Krishna, Lord Siva and Goddess Bhagavathy, attract huge gatherings during festival season. There are two Roman Catholic Churches too, at Punalur. The chief commodities of export here are the hill produces, pineapple, pepper products, plywood and timber, Punalur is the head quarters of Pathanapuram taluk.

Kottarakara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram - situated at Kottarakara, 30 km from Kollam. The famous temple dedicated to Lord Vigneswara is located in this place. The famous Hindu pilgrimage centre Sabarimala was in Kollam District, before the formation of Pathanamthitta District. Sasthamkotta Ayyappa Temple, Kundara Elapmalloor Devi Temple, Paravur Puttingal Devi Temple are among the important Hindu temples in Kollam. Kollam is the birth place for Sadguru Mata Amritanadamayi.

Some of the important churches are St. Casimir's Church, Kadavur; Velankanni Matha Shrine, Tuyyam; Infant Jesus Shrine, Vadi; St. Joseph Shrine, Perinad; St. Francis Church, Koduvila (Kallada); Amalotbhava Matha Church, Pullichira (Kottiyam), St. John Britto Church, Sakthikulangara; St. Sebastian's Church, Neendakara; St. Thomas C.S.I. Church, Pattathanam and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Sastri Junction.

Valiyapalli, Jonakappuram, Juma-Ath-Palli, Kolluvila; Juma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala; Muslim Juma-Ath-Palli, Karuva; Kalamala Palli, Kalamala; Muthirapparambu Palli, Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli, Kililolloor are the most important mosques.