[edit] Kollam District
Area: 2579 sq.km Population: 2,584,118 Altitude: Sea Level
Kollam’s east borders TamilNadu, south Thiruvanthapuram, west Arabian Sea and north Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts. Kollam town is a commercial hub. The capital of cashew trade and industry in Kerala is Kollam.
Ammachiveedu Muhurthi Temple: In the town. 10 days festival in December/January.
Puthiyakavu Bhagawathi Temple: In the town. 8 days festival in March/April.
Uma Maheshwari Temple: In the town. Festival in May/June.
Chinnakada Market: In the town. Very old and historic.
English Church Cemetery: In the town. 19th century tomb stones still in good form.
Residency Bungalow: In the town. Now known as Government Guest House. Blend of Kerala and European architecture.
Chathannur: In the town. Shivapriya Ayurveda Hospital.
Kollam Town: R S N Sarma (Astrologer).
Velinalloor: Near Kollam town. Ganapathy Potti (Astrologer).
Krishnapuram: Near Kollam town. Krishnapuram Unni (Astrologer).
Mulamkadakom: Near Kollam town. Moolamkadakom G Rajagopalan (Astrologer).
Mukhathala: Near Kollam town. Neelamana V R Namboodiri (Astrologer).
Kadavoor: Distance from Kollam. S Girish Warrior (Astrologer).
Vavvakkav: Distance from Kollam. P S Rajendran Pillai (Astrologer).
Pattazhi: Distance from Kollam. Mudipurayil Sasidharan (Astrologer).
Anchalmmodu: Distance from Kollam. Mythriyan (Astrologer).
Thankasseri: 4 km from Kollam town. Once a British enclave. Great draw of people.
Ashtamudi Kayal (Backwaters): Near Kollam town. Sprawling backwaters with tributary canals.
Thevally Palace: Sighted from Ashtamudi Lake and little away from town. Heritage structure.
Thevally: Location of Thevally Palace. T R Saradadevi (Astrologer).
Neendakara: 8 km from Kollam.
(1) Fishing harbour. Chinese Fishing Nets silhouetting.
(2) Starmom R Pillai (Astrologer).
Chavara: 5 km from Neendakara. Chavara Sridharji (Astrologer).
Sasthamkotta: 10 km from Neendakara. Dharmasastha Temple.
Karunagapilly: 15 km from Sasathamkotta. Brahmashree S Sulapani Tantrikal (Astrologer). Ogle at the many traditional 'kettuvallams' or tied boats, which are long cargo boats built without any nails. Coir ropes and traditional adhesives are used to hold together the wooden planks. With careful maintenence these boats last for many generations.
Kundara: 15 km from Kollam. Sreesankaran Gopalakrishnan (Astrologer).
Paripally: 22 km north of Kollam town. Kodimootil Sri Bhagawathi Temple. 10 days festival in February/March.
Manapally: Few km from Paripally. Parambathukulangara Sri Mahakshetram.
Azheekal: Distance from Kollam town. Long stretched Beach.
Amruthapuri: 32 km from Kollam town. Spiritual leader Matha Amrithananthamayi’s headquarter. Located in the village of Vallikkavu, this ashram attarcts thousands of vistors from far and wide. From January to April and August to mid November, Mata Amrithananthamayi would be halting here, offering blessings to her devotees. Free accommodation and vegetarian meals are also offered for those wishing to stay here.
Cheriazheekal: Near and west to Amruthapuri. Twin Temples.
(1) Sri Kashi Vishwanathar Temple.
(2) Sreekrishna Temple.
Vadekkenadayil Temple: Just opposite to Twin Temples.
Alumkadavu: 5 km from Amruthapuri. Houseboat building centre.
Malanadu Duryodhana Temple: Near Alumkadavu. Idol-less Temple. Dedicated to notorious Kaurava. First in India.
Kallada: St Mary’s Orthodox Church. Church with symbols of three religions – Christian, Hindu, Muslim.
Thenmala: 73 km east of Kollam and 73 km north east of Thiruvananthapuram. India’s first planned eco-tourism project. Here man, matter and nature celebrated.
Senduruney: In Thenmala. Senduruney Wildlife Sanctuary.
Adventure Zone: In Senduruney. Nature walk, mountain biking, elevated walkways, recreational rock-climbing, rappelling, river crossing etc.
Deer Rehabilitation Centre: In Senduruney.
Kulathupuzha: 12 km from Thenmala. Sri Dharmasastha Temple.
Aryankavu: Away from Kollam town on Kollam Shencotta Road. Sri Ayyappa Temple.
Palaruvi: 4 km from Aryankavu. Palaruvi Waterfalls.
Punalur: 22 km east of Thenmala.
(1) Hanging Bridge.
(2) Daivanjan N K Namboodiri (Astrologer).
(3) Ettumanoor Hari Namboodiri (Astrologer).
Achankovil: Few km from Punalur. Parasurama Temple.
Kottarakkara: En-route to Punalur from Kollam.
(1) Mahaganapathy Temple.
(2) Amrutha Ayurveda Hospital.
(3) N Sreenivasan (Astrologer).
Kottarakkara Thampuran’s Museum of Classical Arts: 1.5 km from Mahaganapathy Temple.
Veluthambi Smarakam: In Mannady, near Kottarakkara.
(1) Memorial for the great warrior Veluthambi.
(2) Devi Temple.
Thevalakkara: 14 km from Alumkadavu. Devi Temple.
Ochira: 17 km north-west of Kollam town. Ochira Temple.
