Kollom (Quilon)

Kollam , an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam , the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five ports , which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th century.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center at Kollam in 1502. Then came the Dutch followed by the British in 1795. A British garrison was stationed at Kollam in pursuance of a treaty between Travancore and the British. Velu Thampi Dalawa of Travancore, did much for the improvement of the Kollam town. He build new bazaars and invited merchants from Madras and Thirunelveli to settle here. Kollam later became the capital of the enlightened and liberal rulers of Desinganad. It was also the nerve center for the rebellion organized by Velu Thampi against the British. Once a city of palaces, Kollam has been known to the outside world, by the time honoured proverb, "Once you have seen Kollam you would no more need your illam (Home)"

Today, this town, 71 km from Thiruvananthapuram, is fairly important for the state's trade and commerce and is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. It is also an important hub for the state's marine produce industry, with the port of Neendakara (/neeNdakara/) being the centre for trawlers and ice plants. A particularly picturesque town standing on the banks of the Ashtamudi (/aShTamudi/) Lake, the lake with eight creeks, Kollam's primary reason for fame now is as the gateway to Kerala's exceedingly beautiful backwaters. The 8-hour-long boat cruise from Kollam to Alappuzha is the best and most comprehensive introduction tothe delights of Kerala's backwaters, as the journey meanders through lakes, canals, and waterbound villages. The famous `Cheena Vala' or Chinese fishing nets dot the waterway all along the trip.

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