Such was the fame of Kollam once as a trade centre that everyone from the Romans, Arabs, Chinese, the Portuguese, Dutch, and British traders were clamouring to get their hands on the spices and the cashew crops of the region. Today, it is famous as the southern entrance to Kerala’s backwaters with over a third of its surface covered by the Ashtamudi Lake. Jump on board a boathouse for an eight-hour ride to Alleppey, one of the most beautiful and coveted rides in the whole of Kerala or simply explore the plethora of sites that Kollam has to offer that range from traditional ornate temples to hanging out on the beaches. Here are the best tourist attractions and places to visit in Kollam.
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This is the second largest lake in Kerala and also the gateway to the backwater tourism of Kerala. Famous for its scenic views of coconut groves and palm trees on the shores, boating facilities and houseboat rides are available here. There are many resorts also along the shores that offer a variety of water sports. The Chinese fishing nets on sight here are also a good draw for photography enthusiasts.
Palaruvi literally translates to “milky streams” and this mesmerizing waterfall is located on the Kollam-Shencottah Road and is a two and half hour ride from Kollam. The water falls from a height of 300-feet and is supposed to have Ayurvedic properties. A popular picnic spot, the ideal time to visit this place is from June to January.
This colonial two storey building, right in the heart of Kollam, was built by Col. John Munro and has touches of Indian, European, and Tuscan architecture to it. The building is famous for its murals and artistic flourishes. The Edward Rose Garden and the clock tower are the other notable landmarks within the grounds of this building.
Centrally located and just 2 kilometres from the Kollam Railway Station, Kollam Beach is also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach and Kochupilamodu Beach offers beautiful views of the sunset and is ideal for a leisurely day out with family and friends. The waves near the shore are not high and the place is ideal for swimming. This is definitely one of the best tourist attractions in Kollam.
Arguably, the second most popular beach in Kollam after Kollam Beach, this beach is full of coconut palms, which makes it a shady and silent place. The beach is ideal for morning and evening walks with a beautiful sight of the setting sun. Picnics, swimming, and sunbathing are the ideal activities here as there are no danger zones here. A popular attraction here is the Maha Vishnu Temple. Another popular attraction here is the rocky platform that extends out to the sea known as the Sunday Rock. During low tide, this platform can be seen extending out to the sea for around 1.5 kilometres. According to a survey, the beach is one of the 16 best-maintained beaches in India. It is at a distance of 5.5 kilometres from the Kollam Railway Station.
Completing the trio of beaches in Kollam is the Thangasseri Beach and Lighthouse, which is a historical beach where beauty and history come together. The beach has a history of rolling into the hands of settlers one after the other from the Portuguese to the Dutch and finally to the British. The remains of these exchanges are still here. At the north-east end of the beach are the ruins of the Thangasseri Fort, a relic from the 18-century. Another monument connected to the beach is the Lighthouse built in 1902 and is 144-feet in height. The Lighthouse is open to the public between 3:20 pm and 5:30 pm on all days. The best time to visit the beach is between November and February. This is one of the best places to see in Kerala.
Named after the British resident of Travancore, Colonel Munroe, Munroe Island is at a distance of 26 kilometres from Kollam and the island is at the intersection of the Astamudi Lake and the Kallada River. Canoe tours are one of the best ways to experience this island and see the life of the riverine population here. Stone age tools discovered here has meant that this is an important historical destination now. Boat cruises are operated to the island twice daily.
Rameshwaram Temple is one of the oldest temples in this region and according to local history, this is one of the four Siva temples built by the Natukotta Chettiar, a prominent mercantile caste who were worshippers of Lord Shiva.
The temple was built in the 12-century and is reflective of the Pandyan style of architecture with beautiful sculptures. There are several inscriptions here written in Tamil, which date between the12-century and 16-century. An annual temple festival is celebrated here every year between January and February.
In the Ramayana, Jatayu is the name of the bird who fights with the demon king Ravana to rescue Sita, the consort of Lord Rama. Jatayupara takes its name from the place where Jatayu apparently fell after its wing was cut off by Ravana.
Today, a massive sculpture of Jatayu, the world’s largest bird sculpture ((200 feet (61 m) long, 150 feet (46 m) broad, 70 feet (21 m) in height and having 15,000 square feet (1,400 m2) of floor area) is the main attraction at Jatayupara Nature Park, which is at a height of 1200-feet above sea level and at a distance of 38 kilometres from Kollam. There is a nature park around the sculpture. This place is a unique combination of culture, mythology, technology, and art. Apart from the awe-inspiring sculpture, the virtual reality museum here tells the story of Jatayu to visitors. The Jatayu Adventure Centre here also offers all the modern fun amenities with adventure activities such as zip lining, trekking, rappelling, wall climbing, bouldering, valley crossing, and paintball shooting. The climbing activities are built into the natural rock formations on the hill here.
The Siddha Cave Healing Centre here ensures that you get a complete experience here. This is one of the best tourist attractions in Kollam that should not be missed at any cost.
At a distance of 2.5 kilometres from the Kollam Railway Station, is the Sri Krishna Temple, which becomes the site of the Kollam Pooram Festival in April every year. The 10-day festival begins with the hoisting of a flag and the deities of the nearby temples are brought to the Krishna Temple atop beautifully decorated elephants to pay homage to Lord Krishna. Different rituals and ceremonies take place throughout the 10 days and thousands of devotees gather in the temple compound to witness this colourful extravaganza.
Another favourite for backwater trips, Paravur gives you a heady concoction of the sea, backwater lakes, rivers, and vast stripes of greenery. Swimming and surfing are the most popular activities at Paravur followed by fishing that requires permission from the local authorities. Apart from the waters, the nearby Puttingal Temple and Puthenkulam Elephant Village are the other attractions here.
The St. Andrews Church at Kovilthottam is one of the most famous landmarks for Christian pilgrims to Kollam. Built in 1398 originally, the present day structure dates backs to 1779 and this picturesque church with its antique sculpture is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and the T.S. Canal on the east. The church is at a distance of 17 kilometres from Kollam.
Situated on the banks of the Astamudi Lake and 7 kilometres from the Kollam Railway Station this is a Shiva Temple where two important festivals are held every year. The annual Srattu Festival is held every year in February and attracts thousands of devotees. The highlight during this festival is the eight artificial horses that represent the eight areas around the temple. Another famous festival here is the Kettukazhcha festival, which is a festival celebrated in the months of December to January.
If you want to head to a beach outside Kollam, Kappil Beach might just be your correct choice. Sprawling across 25 acres of land, swimming, water sports, sun-bathing, and boating are the big draws on this beach. Additionally, the sight of dolphins on this beach gives it its USP. Kappil Beach is well-connected by road and bus service from Kollam.
This 2000-year-old temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Hanuman and is at a distance of around 26 kilometres from Kollam in the coastal town of Varkala. This temple is famous for conducting ‘Pithrutharpanam’, the ceremony where the departed ancestors are worshipped. Only Hindus are allowed in the garbhagriha or inner sanctum of the temple and photography is not allowed inside.
The Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum pays tribute to the police forces of Kerala and also traces their history and development. It is a prominent landmark of Kollam and was started by former Inspector General of Police, B Sandhya.
One of the most famous landmarks here is the Martyrs Gallery, which includes police arms and ammunition used in the 18-century and 19-century. Along with this, there are other important artefacts, which display information related to fingerprinting, DNA tests, photos of police dogs and medals.
Another popular section is the natural calamity section, which houses tragic images from the Tsunami in Kollam and images of the Malanada Fire Works incident. The museum is open on all days except for Sundays between 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.
Punalur is at a distance of about 38 kilometres from Kollam and derives its name from two words in Tamil and Malayalam. ‘Punal’ in Tamil means water and the Malayalam word’ ooru’ means place, which combined together give the name Punalur or ‘place of water’. This is more than true as the river Kallada gushes through the heart of the city. Apart from the river, there is plenty of flora to be seen here in the form of forests full of pineapples, pepper, cinnamon, and other spices. For those with an adventurous spirit, the Thenmala Ecotourism Park is the perfect spot.
Since the town is in the middle of the Western Ghats, the town is also a good connecting point for further activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and adventure sports. Some of the tourist attractions to head to from here can be the Shenthruni Forest, Palruvi, and Courtallam Waterfalls and the age old Pattazhi Devi Temple. This is another one of the best places to see in Kollam.
These, in a nutshell, are the places to visit and tourist attractions in Kollam. If you want a slice of the famed backwater tourism of Kerala, do not think twice but simply head to Kollam. Due to the good connectivity by road, there is very little to plan as such because there are buses available to all major destinations. Figure out your itinerary before visiting this place to ensure maximum use of available time. The best time to visit Kollam is between November and March when it is not too rainy or not too hot.
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