The quite and peaceful village of Chavara is situated 14 km north of Kollam on Kollam-Alappuzha road. It is an industrial village having four major industrial establishments; i.e the Indian Rare Earths, The Kerala Premopipe factory, Kerala Minerals and metals and Titanium complex. Thousands of tonnes of mineral sand, mainly titanium are exported from Chavara to various countries. The notable Malayalam poet O.N.V Kurup belongs to Chavara. Kovilthottam beach and light house, sinking islands in Ashtamudi lake, St.Andrews church, Kottamkulangara temple are some of the tourist places in Chavara. Kovilthottam, a good tourist spot and pilgrim center, is a strip of land located in between Chavara TS canal and the Arabian Sea, having only a width of 100 meters. Thalappoli Mahotsavom- offerings of lighted lamps in decorated small pans - in the Kottamkulangara temple here, which falls in March - April is very famous. The interesting feature of the festival is that men dress themselves as women and carry lamps. This is a time-honoured custom. The 66ft tall lighthouse tower, painted with black and white horizontal bands, has been provided to serve the port of Neendakara situated at the entrance to Ashtamudi Back waters.