| 
Kollam also known as Quilon, located 72 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, is
the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One
of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast, Kollam was once the port of
international spice trade. Kollam came into prominence in the 9th century
AD. As cited by some historians, the Malayalam era - called the Kollam
era - was established by Marthanda Varma, the ruler of Kollam in 825 AD.
This beautiful land is gifted with Kerala's very representative features
- sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest,
vast green fields and tropical crop of every variety both food crop and
cash crop. The eight-hour boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is a
most enchanting experience on the backwaters of Kerala. The climate is
of tropical humid type with an oppressive summer and plenty of seasonal
rainfall. Best time to visit this place is October to March. |
