The little town of Sasthamkotta is situated about 29 km north east of Kollam on the banks of the Kallada river. It is a beauty spot, a health resort and a centre of pilgrimage. The ancient Sree Dharmasastha Temple which lends its name to the town, is an important pilgrim centre. The temple is home to a tribe of peaceful monkeys while the nearby market is populated by a mischievous tribe.

Known as ‘Queen of lakes’ Sasthamkotta is the largest fresh water lake of kerala, surrounded by hills on three sides. The beautiful lake has a capacity of holding 22390 million litres of water and serves as the source of drinking water for the people of Kollam as it does not contain common salt or other minerals and metals. The large part of the lake is domesticated for agricultural purposes. It is home to 27 species of freshwater fish including pearl spot and cat fish and two genera of prawns. A country boat cruise through the lake is a rich experience. Accommodation is available at the PWD Rest House in the town. There are frequent buses from Kollam (Quilon) which takes about one hour to reach.