Kerala Villages >Kollam

Welcome to The Dreamland of Kerala – Kollam !

Kollam, also known as Quilon or Desinganadu, is the place which takes the credit for being the hub of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. Affording an impeccable blend of scenic surroundings, tradition and hospitality, Kollam is often referred to as the dreamland of Kerala.Kollam is considered as one of the oldest ports on the Malabar Coast and has long been drawing attraction worldwide.The town served as the leading spice market in medieval and modern times.It is a town famous for its antiquity.Kollam in the bygone days was famous for its palaces and the place was sometimes called as the City of Palaces . The region also has a reputation for cashew plantations.

Kollam is an old sea port town on the Arabian coast, standing on the Ashtamudi lake.It is the gateway to Kerala's beautiful backwaters and is blessed with unique representative features - sea, lakes, plains, mountains, rivers, streams, backwaters, forest, vast green fields and tropical crops of every variety, both food crop and cash crop.The eight hour boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most enchanting experience on the backwaters of Kerala.

The capital of a powerful kingdom called "Venad", 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.Kollam also has some notable importance in Indian history during the British Raj - it was the nerve centre of the rebellion organised by freedom fighter Veluthampi Dalava.Speaking of culture, it was in Kollam where Ramanattam - the dance form of Kathakali originated.