Welcome To Kollam
Kollam or Quilon – The Old port town situating on the coast of Arabian Sea is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry was once a famous port of International spice trade, Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi lake- The second largest lake in kerala, Making it the gateway city to the magnificent backwaters of kerala.
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Kollam is 71 km away from Trivandrum is fairly important for the State's trade and commerce. Cashew processing and coir production are the major industrial vocations of the district. Handloom industry, Match box Industry, Clay, Jute and wood based industries also contribute to the industrial advancement of the region. It is also an important hub for the State's marine products industry, with the port of Neendakara being the centre for trawlers and ice plants. The district has a prominent place in the field of agriculture. The total extent of land under cultivation is 2, 18,267 hectares. The principal crops are paddy, coconut, rubber, pepper, banana, tapioca, and cashew. About 70 per cent of the work force is engaged in agriculture. The district is immensely rich in mineral resources. The beach sands of the district have concentrations of heavy minerals like Ilmenite, Rutile, Monazite and Zircon which offer scope of exploitation for industrial purpose. Besides large deposits of China clay, there are also lime shell deposits in Ashtamudi Lake.
Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of south India. The dance from of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit.
Kollam is also a land of Poorams and processions with decorated elephants is a common sight in the Temple festivals conducting between Dec and May, Is a spectacular experience for tourists, The pageant of decorated elephants will enthrall you as they move in a majestic procession, with trumpets and drum beats work up a frenzy. For all its natural gifts of Lakes, rivers, Canals, Beaches, dominant hills, forests, makes kollam as an important tourist destination in ‘Gods Own country’.
Accessing Kollam (Quilon) Kollam has well established rail and road links with major cities of India. Kollam is connected by good motorable roads to all parts of Kerala and Tamilnadu. The nearest airport is situated at Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala .
Transportation
Air : The nearest Airport is Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) International airport (TRV). 71km to Kollam, Trivandrum International Airport has direct flights to many international cities like Kuwait,Dubai Singapore, Male, Colombo, Sharjah, Muscat, Bahrain, Qatar, Jeddah and Abudhabi. It is linked with Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Goa and Bangalore by domestic flights.
Rail : Kollam Railway station (QLN) is 1 Km from City centre http://www.indianrail.gov.in/src_dest_trns.html
Road: Kollam Bus station is 1 Km from City centre, frequent buses available from Trivandrum, Alleppey and Cochin (Ernakulam)
Road Distance from major tourist places:
Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of south India. Leelethilakam and Unnuneeli Sandesam, two outstanding literacy works of historical importance, is contributions o0f 14th century Kollam. The dance from of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit.
Paravoor K.C.Kesava Pillai, a gifted poet, prose writer, dramatist and Scholar, originated the musical play in Malayalam through his work Sadarama. His Kesaveeyam, a Mahakavyam, is of outstanding literary importance. In the history of Malayalam music, he has a prominent place as a gifted composer of songs. Paravoor Kesavan Asan, the founder editor of Sujananandini, another prominent literacy figure, was a journalist and a prose writer of eloquence. His Saratchadrika is a contribution to the study of Ayurvedic system of medicine. E.V.Krishna Pillai, another literacy celebrity has etched his name in the field of humor and satire. C.V.Kunjuraman, editor of Kerala Kaumudi and Malayalarajayam was a poet, literacy critic, prose writer and journalist of outstanding distinction.
Coming to modern times, Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai and Sooranadu Kunjan Pillai, noted literary luminaries hailing from this district. Oyoor Kochu Govinda Pillai, the Katha Kali artist, Paris Viswanathan and Jayapala Panicker the renowned artists also belong to this district. Leaders like T.M.Varghese, C.Kesavan and Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai, were the architects of freedom movement in Kollam. R.Shanker, who played a prominent role as an educationalist and social reformist, hails from Kolam. The district gave birth to well known freedom fighters like Chandiran Kali ambi (Kadakkal Manthri) and Franco Raghavan Pillai.