For the district with the same name, see
Kollam District .
, (known to the
Portuguese as '''Quilon'''), is a city in the state of
Kerala , India. It is also the headquarters of a district by the same name, one among the 14
Districts In The State Of Kerala ,
India . It is bound on the south by
Thiruvananthapuram district, on the north by
Pathanamthitta and
Alappuzha , on the east by
Tamil Nadu and on the west by the
Arabian Sea . It has one of the largest fresh water lakes. It is a very beautiful place to visit. The district is very famous for
Cashew processing and
Coir manufacturing.
About thirty per cent of this district is covered by the
Ashtamudi Lake , thereby making it a gateway to the
Kerala Backwaters . India’s most popular English magazine ''
India Today '' has rated Kollam as the best district in the country in terms of law and order and social harmony. The second tallest light house in India (144 ft or 44 m) stands tall at Tangasseri in Kollam. Tourist spots such as Thenmala, Jetayu para, and Palaruvi falls are popular attractions.
During the rule of the
Travancore Kingdom in southern Kerala, Kollam was the focal point of their trade. The
Metre Gauge railway administered by
Indian Railways terminates at Kollam, making the Kollam Railway station a junction station. The district is well connected to other parts of Kerala and India through the
National Highway s 47, 206, and 101 and by the railway network.
The
Apostle Thomas founded one of his "
Seven And A Half Churches " in Kollam. From these seven and a half churches, including the one in Kollam, have multiplied thousands of churches, hospitals, orphanages and other Christian charities that cover India today.
The
Mata Amritanandamayi Math is situated in
Amritapuri in this district, about 30 km from the Kollam town.
Kottarakara Sree Mahaganapathy Kshethram - situated at
Kottarakara , 30 km from Kollam. The famous temple dedicated to Lord
Vignewara is located in this place.
Some of the important churches are St. Casimir's Church, Kadavur; Velankanni Matha Shrine, Tuyyam; Infant Jesus Shrine, Vadi; St. Joseph Shrine, Perinad; St. Francis Church, Koduvila (Kallada); Amalotbhava Matha Church, Pullichira (Kottiyam), St. John Britto Church, Sakthikulangara; St. Sebastians Church, Neendakara; St. Thomas C.S.I. Church, Pattathanam and St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Sastri Junction.
Valiyapalli, Jonakappuram, Juma-Ath-Palli, Kolluvila; Juma-Ath-Masjid, Thattamala; Muslim Juma-Ath-Palli, Karuva; Kalamala Palli, Kalamala; Muthirapparambu Palli, Muthirapparambu and Siyavathummodu Palli, Kililolloor are the most important mosques.
''Main article:
Kollam District ''
Kollam has got two branches of YMCA,one at Chinnakkada near public library,and another one at Karickode.It has also got a student's wing of YMCA which is called Uni-y.
Kollam was formerly called as Desinganadu.
