Situated at a distance of 10 km south of Kollam town, Mayyanad is a beautiful village on the banks of Paravur Lake. 'Mayyam' means middle and the place got its name because of its location in the middle of the erstwhile Venadu. Another description says that the land was named after ‘Mayyanad Ellam’ who were the rulers of this place during the eighteenth century. The place is famous for its shrines, temples, churches and mosques. Subrahmanya Temple at Umayanallor which is said to have been consecrated by the great Hindu philosopher Sree Sankaracharya and Valiyavila Madan Nada temple are the most important among the nine temples of this area. This village is the birth place of well known personalities like C V Kunjuraman, C Kesavan and K Sukumaran. Mayyanad is also the hometown of one of the leading Malayalam daily, Kerala Kaumudi which started its publication from the year 1911. One could reach Mayyanad by Kollam – Thiruvananthapuram local train and also by frequent buses as the National Highway and railways pass through this village.