Kollam Clock Tower
Standing high in the heart of the town, the Clock tower is a landmark of Kollam city. Located at Chinnakada, close to the Kollam Junction Railway Station, this quadrangular tower was constructed in the year 1944 by the natives as a tribute to the former chairman of Kollam municipality, Unichakam Veedu K G Parameshwaran Pillai. Being the first clock tower of the erstwhile Travancore state, it has now become a sort of non- official emblem of Kollam District. Though the four big clocks that is placed on the sides of the tower were brought from Kolkata, its origin can be traced to Britain.

Picnic Village
Picnic Village, the main center of leisure activities is located at Ashramam, two kilometers away from Kollam town, on the backwater front in 48 acres of land. The main attraction of the village is a 200-year-old Government Guest House noted for its elegance and architectural beauty. Besides the guest house, the vast tourist complex houses an adventure park, a tourist boat club, a children's traffic park and a Yatri nivas. The Children’s traffic park which is supposed to be the largest traffic park in Kerala and the adventure park on the shores of Ashtamudi backwaters provide a refreshing experience. Both the parks are designed by NATPAC. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, power boats and motor boats are available on hire from the boat jetty near the adventure Park. The District Tourism Promotion Council conducts regular backwater cruises in motor boats and house boats from the boat club.
Contact Address :
Tourist Office, Guest House Complex, Asramam,
Phone: 91-474-2750170

District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC)
Near KSRTC Bus Stand Kollam - 1
Ph: 0474-2745625, 2750170, 2750322
Fax: 0474-2750170
E-mail : Contact I , Contact II

Thangasseri
Thangasseri, situated 5kms from Kollam town was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English. Literally meaning 'gold village', this seaside village sprawling over an area of 99 acres, has the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches belonging to the 18th century. The Portuguese fort is believed to be built in 1517 and only one wall of this fort remains now. The major attraction of Thangasseri is the lighthouse, built in the year 1902. The 144 ft. lighthouse stands as a sentinel, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery. Tourist are permitted to visit the lighthouse between 3.30pm and 5.30pm and one could have a picturesque view of the sea from there. February to November is the best time to visit Thangasseri. Kollam railway station is the nearest station to Thangasseri village and it is well connected to town by road also.

Mayyanad
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.

Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram, Vallikavu
Mata Amritanandamayi Math, is situated at Amritapuri in Vallickavu, a small fishing village at a distance of about 30 km from Kollam town. The ashram which houses more than 2,500 disciples and householders as full-time residents is located at the site of the birth place and childhood home of Mata Amrithanandamayi or Amma or Ammichi as she is popularly known. Thousands of people around the world come to experience her unique 'darshan', in which she holds each devotee in her arms like a mother embracing a child. There are frequent buses from Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram to Kayamkulam from where there are local buses to Vallikavu. Read More

Chavara
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.

Paravur
Paravur, an important fishing and coir production centre in Kollam is located at a distance of 13kms south of the town. The place holds a history of 1000 years and was an important trade centre at that time. Bordered by the Arabian sea on the west, this coastal resort town is an ideal tourist spot gifted with unique representative features like sea, lakes, plains, rivers, backwaters and vast green fields. The largest natural backwater lake (i.e the Paravur Kayal) in South Asia is located here. A number of tourist resort are available at Paravur which offers comfortable accommodation with facilities for boating, surfing and fishing.

Jatayupara
The huge, rocky hillock Jatayupara is located at Chadayamangalam, 30 kms from Kollam, on Thiruvananthapuram -Kottayam Main Central road. Legends goes that the name is derived from the mythical bird Jatayu in the epic Ramayana who is believed to have collapsed on the rock after failing in his attempts to prevent Ravanna’s kidnapping of Sita. There is a small temple atop of the hill that can be reached only by climbing steep steps. An annual crafts mela is held each winter and local villagers gather at the temple on festive occasions. Jatayupara is an ideal place for those who love adventure as the path leading to the top of the hill is partially motorable and strenuous. It is also a good place for trekking.

Punalur
One of the important industrial centers of Kerala, Punalur is situated 45km from Kollam on the western edge of Agasthymalai Biospere Reserve. Tourist attractions here are the suspension bridge, Punalur Paper Mill, the ancient temples of Punalur Bharanikavu and Pattazhi Devi Temple at Pattazhi and Matherumannu. The Paper mill, built in 1888, is a notable landmark of Punalur. The 400ft long suspension bridge, now only of archaeological interest, was built across the Kallada river during the year 1877. A concrete bridge has been constructed near the suspension bridge. Commodities such as hill produces, pineapple, pepper products, plywood, timber etc. are exported from Punalur.