Kollam district which is a snapshot of Kerala is gifted with unique feature like the sea, the lakes, the plains, the mountains, the rivers, the streams, the backwaters, the forest, the vast green fields and the tropical crop of every variety including both food crop and cash crop. One of the oldest ports on the malabar coast, kollam was one the port of international spice trade. Thirty percent of this historic tous is covered by the renowned asthamudi lake, making it the gateway to magnificent backwaters of kerala.
The eight hour boat trip between kollam and allappuzha is the longest and most enchanting experience on the backwaters of kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style.
Palaruvi through the dense tropical forest is a spellbinding experience.
Thenmala
Location : 66 Kms from Kollam,
72 Kms From Trivandrum
Thenmala is a small village at the foothills of Western Ghats and predominantly a forest area.
The famous Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary is the most important ecotourism resource of Thenmala Ecotourism. This Wildlife Sanctuary is of about 100 sq. km. and harbors large varieties of flora and fauna.
More Information :
visit thenmala
Shendurney Wildlife Santuary
Location : 70 Kms from Kollam , on the Kollam-Shencotta Road, Near Palaruvi.
You can visit the Sanctuary by boat from Thenmala. A battery powered van will take you to the boarding point from the information centre of Thenmala Ecotourism Project. Trekking is allowed in some parts of the buffer area.
The park is rich in flora and fauna and is a haven to a variety of animals such as Elephants, Gaurs, Barking Deers, Cobra, Viper, Python and the Indian Porcupine.
Location : 70 Kms from Kollam , on the Kollam-Shencotta Road, Near Palaruvi.
You can visit the Sanctuary by boat from Thenmala. A battery powered van will take you to the boarding point from the information centre of Thenmala Ecotourism Project. Trekking is allowed in some parts of the buffer area.
The park is rich in flora and fauna and is a haven to a variety of animals such as Elephants, Gaurs, Barking Deers, Cobra, Viper, Python and the Indian Porcupine.
Thirumullavaram Beach
Location : 6 Kms towards north from kollam, easily accessible using local bus services.
Regarded as one of the most charming beaches of sount India, for its features like shallow near the shore and cool water, Thrimullavaram is one of the most sought after tourist destination.
This beautiful beach, filled with coconut palms is ideal for early morning walks, when you can see the fisherman venture into the sea for their catch of the day.
Thangasseri
Location : 5 Kms from the city
The churches here are pretty old, having been established in the 18th century.
The chief attraction of the place is the light house, built in 1902.
The 144 ft. light house stands as a sentinel, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery. Thangassery was an enclave of the Portuguese, Dutch and British in succession. The remnants of the Portuguese and Dutch forts still exits.
Light House is open to vistors from 15:30 to 17:30 Hrs IST every day
Alumkadavu
Location : 23 Kms from Kollam, near Karunagapally, on route to Alappuzha from Kollam
Famous for backwater cruising.This is the village where the famous house boats (kettuvallams) of Kerala are Constructed. 
As you glide through the calm and serene backwaters you see a Kerala which has been preserved through the ages yet having progressed with the times.
Entire village is filled with the scent of coir and wood in water.
Alumkadavu also has a floating conference hall which can seat 35 persons. Houseboat cruise from Alappuzha to Alumkadavu is will leave an everlasting memory of the God's Own Country in your mind.
More on House Boat packages
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Jatayu Para (Jatayu Rock)
Location : 21 Kms from Kottarakara, 13 Kms from Kilimanoor
This place is enriched with huge Black Rocks which attracts and fascinates everyone who looks upon them.
A huge sculpture of a mythological bird from the Indian epic Ramayana is under construction at the top a Rock. The sculpture will house a historical museum, a mini theatre, an open area and also washrooms inside. The 200-foot long, 150-foot wide and 50-foot tall 'functional' sculpture of Jatayu will be built on a 1,000-foot tall rock at Chadayamangalam.
This rock is ideal for trecking for adventure seekers
More Info
Chadayamangalam
Jatayu Rock
Krishnapuram Palace
Location : 39 Kms from Kollam,on Kollam - Alappuzha Road, near Kayamkulam.
Nearest Railway Station : Kayamkulam
The Krishnapuram Palace is a rare specimen of the Kerala style of architecture - complete with gabled roofs, narrow corridors and dormer windows. Residence of the rulers of Kayamkulam kingdom, the age of the palace is unknown.
Renovated some time in the 18th century, the palace is today a protected monument under the Archaeology department. Recently it has been again renovated according to the scientific techniques prescribed for the protection of heritage buildings.
Today the palace is an archaeological museum, and the most fascinating exhibit here is the 49 sq.m - Gajendra Moksham - the largest single band of mural painting so far discovered in Kerala. Literally, the salvation ( Moksha) of the elephant king (Gajendra), the theme of the mural is mythological and depicts an elephant saluting Lord Vishnu in devotion while the other gods, goddesses and saints look on. It is said that Lord Vishnu was the family deity of the Kayamkulam rajas. This mural was placed at the entrance to the palace from the pond to enable the rajas to worship the deity after their bath.
Other attractions here are the beautifully landscaped garden in the palace compound where you have a variety of flora typical of Kerala, and a newly erected Buddha mandapam, where a recently recovered statue of the Buddha is housed.
Other collections at the museum include rare antique bronze sculptures and paintings.
Ashramam Picnic Village
Location : 3 Kms from Kollam city.
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam
Located in the sprawling 200-year-old Guest House campus where Lord Munroe once stayed, this tourist village at Ashramam along
the backwater front, is the main centre for recreational activities in Kollam. The place has a boat club, a children’s traffic park and Yatri Nivas in addition to an adventure park. The Paaramparya Museum in the same premises has on display paintings from different parts of the country including Warli, Kalamkari and Madhubani as well as Kerala mural art.
Visiting Time : 10:00 hrs - 18:00 hrs
Amritapuri
Location : 24 Kms From Kollam, near Karunagapally.
Nearest Railway Station : Karunagapally, Kayamkulam, Kollam
Amritapuri is the main asram of Mata Amrithanandamayi. Amritapuri is the realization of the ancient Indian ideal and i.e. `the whole world is one family` or vasudhaiva kutumbakam.
This place can be reached by bus or train. Kayamkulam, which is 12 km north of Amritapuri, and Karunagappally, which is 10 km south, are also the major cities reachable by bus or train. The two closest airports, which are to be reached by air and taxi, are Trivandrum that is 110 km south of Amritapuri and in Cochin that is at 140 km north.
More Info
www.amritapuri.org
Neendakara
Location : 8 Kms from Kollam city, in Kollam - Alappuzha road. Easily accesible using local bus service
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam
A famous fishing harbour, you can see the Ashtamudi Lake joining the sea from the Neendakara Bridge and also the Chinese fishing nets silhouetted against the sky.Neendakara Port serves as the intermediary port of Kollam District and acts as an important hub of fishing activities.
Achencoil
Location : 80 kms. from Punalur
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam 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.
Aryankavu
Location : 73 kms. 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.
Kottarakkara
Location : 27 Kms from Kollam
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam
Kottarakkara 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
Location : 10 Kms south of Thenmala in Thiruvananthapuram - Shenkottah road
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam
Kulathuppuzha is an importane 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.
Oachira
Location : 32 Kms north of Kollam in Kollam - Alappuzha road
Nearest Railway Station : Oachira, Kayamkulam
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 annualy 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 walk 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 N.H. 47 stop at Oachira. Passenger trains stop at Oachira Railway Station.
Punalur
Location : 45 kms. from Kollam on the Kollam-Shencotta road
Nearest Railway Station : Kollam
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 arachaeological 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.
Sasthamcottah
Location : 19 kms. from Kollam town.
Nearest Railway Station : Sasthamcottah, Kollam
Sasthamcottah is an attractive village. It is a beauty spot, a health resort and a centre of pilgrimage. The extensive fresh
water lake here, is said to be the biggest of its kind in Kerala, which can truely be called as Queen of Lakes.
Sasthamcottah has found a place on the eco-tourism map of Kerala. The Forest department will adopt and develop the village in to an eco-tourism destination.
