Kollam calling - unwind and relax in the lap of mother nature

Author: Sandeep Kumar

Take a tour to an alluring slice of Kerala. Kollam is a beautiful city situated in the south of the state. It is an ideal place to refresh your soul. Here is a brief description of the place.

Holidaying amidst the lush greenery and backwaters is always a great idea. Beaches, backwaters, lagoons and spicy fish curry define Kollam. Kerala is always very charming and so do the cities of this state. Kollam is situated in the south-west direction from Kerala. It is an old seaport city on the banks of the Laccadive sea. With a strong commercial past, Kollam is now an enchanting slice of God's own country. The town today has tourists pouring from across the world. For a rejuvenating holiday in South India very few places can beat Kollam.

Kollam tourism has a lot to offer to the tourists making it a romantic destination as well. With greens all over, it is a treat to the travellers. The nature lovers would go crazy and surely fall in love with the picturesque environment of Kollam. Being one of the oldest port of the country, the city saw the Arab, Roman, Chinese, Later Portuguese, Dutch and the British traders. They were all eager to hold on the spices and the cashew of the region. The city centre is a bustling one but the surroundings are calm and quiet. The Ashtamudi Lake, the lines of Coconut trees, cashew plantations make Kollam a beautiful place to cherish.

Thenmala is the first planned eco-tourism spot in India. It is a popular place for Tamil and Malayalam films shooting. The lush green surroundings are the best place for trekking and mountaineering. The Hanging Bridge with the Thenmala Dam is a prominent spot. Thevally Palace, constructed between 1811 and 1819 was the residence of the former King of Travancore. The British, Dutch and the Portuguese style inspired the architecture of the Palace. You will find a deity of Lord Sastha here. The very attractive horsetail Palaruvi Waterfalls is 91 m long. The name of the falls means ' a stream of milk'. It is a perfect place to absorb nature and relax your body. The misty mountains are an added beauty. Thangassery holds a clean and pleasant beach and the 44 m tall lighthouse makes it a more picturesque place. You can see some churches and structures that belong to Dutch and the Portuguese era. Shenduruny is another place to enjoy the flora and fauna of the region. Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1984, is now home to a plethora of animal, birds and some archaeological sites dating back to the Stone Age.

Several lakes, villages, spice plantations and backwaters make it a special destination of the state. Thiruvananthapuram is the nearest International Airport which is 65 km from Kollam and Kochi Airport is 129 km away. Flights are available from other major cities of the country. Kollam has its own railway station and regular trains connect the stations with other parts of the country. The roadway to Kollam is alluring. Besides, it is well-connected through NH 66 and NH 744 with other cities of the state. Kollam tourism has taken care of every little aspect to make the city a great tourist destination.