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Quilon |
Quilon was an
international emporium of trade and even now it is a prosperous commercial
centre. Quilon edges with the famous Astamudi lake. Many a foreign traveller has
visited Quilon in the early midieval period. Quilon was one of the early centres
of Christian activity in Kerala. The popularity of Quilon has been established
by the time- honoured proverb once you see Quilon, you will not need your home
any more. Quilon has several tourist attractions.
An ancient port dating back to the 9th century, Kollam has given its name to the
Malayalam era Kollavarsham, which began in 825 AD, and is said to be calculated
from the date of the founding of this town. In that year, Persian immigrants set
up a township in Kollam and built a town here, having received a charter of
privileges from the Raja of Venad. According to one historical view, in that
year, King Udaya Marthanda Varma of Venad convened at Kollam a grand assembly of
Kerala's learned men in order to introduce a new era which the assembly resolved
would be adopted from the first Chingam (Malayalam month) of the year. In
Kollam, over the centuries, merchants from all over the world gathered and
contributed to the city's reputation as a centre of a flourishing mercantile
community. This is borne out by the testimonies of Arab, Chinese, Jewish, and
European travelers (Marco Polo, among others). It was also in Kollam that in
1330 AD Friar Jordams was consecrated Bishop of the first Roman Catholic in
India. The town's commercial importance led the Portuguese to set up a factory
here in 1502. This passed into the hands of the Dutch in 1661 and later, in
1795, to the British. Today the red-tiled roofs that dot the low skyline of
Kollam are a reminder of the architectural influences of the Dutch and British
villas. Further, the Chinese fishing nets along the Ashtamudi Lake bear
testimony to the trade links with China. 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 being the centre for trawlers and ice plants. A particularly
picturesque town standing on the banks of the 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 to the delights of
Kerala's backwaters, as the journey meanders through lakes, canals, and
water-bound villages. The famous `Cheena Vala' or Chinese fishing nets dot the
waterway all along the trip. As a typical southern Kerala town, Kollam offers a
tranquil, rural atmosphere, punctuated by the bustle of trade and commerce in
its many busy and crowded market streets and junctions. On the outskirts of the
town are cashew nut processing factories. Next to the Government Guest House at
Ashramom, 3 km away from the Central Bus Stand, is an Adventure Park which
delights children and adults alike. The Quilon District Tourism Promotion
Council organizes backwater cruises from here and during the tourist season
conducts cruises to Alappuzha. There is a beach with a small park at Kollam,
popular as an evening retreat for locals. On the route to Shenkottah, 70 km from
Kollam, is Ariankavu, which holds a shrine devoted to Lord Sastha, Ayyappan).
The main festival of this temple is in December. Five km from Ariankavu is the
waterfalls at Palaruvi with a height of 300 feet. There are frequent buses to
Ariankavu and to Palaruvi. There is a PWD Inspection Bungalow where rooms are
available. On the same route, 64 km from Kollam, Kulathupuzha is in the forest
range and is famous for a similar shrine. The most important temple festival is
the Vishnu Mahotsava in April/May. Mayyanad, a small town about 10 km north of
Kollam, is known for its nine temples, the most famous of which is the shrine of
Lord Subramanyan, said to have been consecrated by Sankaracharya. An important
pilgrimage centre 34 km north of Kollam, Oachira is famous for its `Oachira
Kali' festival in mid-June. Sasthamkotta is 29 km from Kollam and on the right
bank of the Kallada river. This is a small town with a temple dedicated to Lord
Sastha. An hour's ride from Kollam, Sasthamkotta has a PWD Rest House where
accomodation is available. Five km and a 15-minute bus ride from Kollam town
lies Thangassery. A historically important town, it contains ruins of a
Portugese/Dutch fort as well as an 18th c. church. The 3-km-long beach has a
lighthouse which is open to visitors between 3:30 and 5:30 pm. Thirumullavaram,
just 6 km north of the town centre and easily reachable by bus, is a beautiful
and quiet little beach, ideal for swimming or just soaking up the sun. The
Quilon District Tourism Promotion Council, which functions from the Government
Guest House at Asramam, arranges on request a one-day city tour by coach for a
group of ten or more persons. For larger groups, the Council will arrange a
backwater cruise to Alappuzha.
Distance from various towns: Bangalore 657 Kms. Coimbatore 364 Kms.
Idukki 239 Kms. Kanyakumari 160 Kms. Kochi 150 Kms. Kodaikanal 331 Kms. Kottayam
106 Kms. Kozhikode 372 Kms. Madras 663 Kms. Mysore 574 Kms. Ooty 449 Kms.
Sabarimala 177 Kms. Thiruvananthapuram 71 Kms.
Quilon - Location
Quilon or Kollam is situated in the southwest corner of India in the state of
Kerala. The district is encircled by Alappuzha in the north, Pathanamthitta in
the northeast, Thiruvananthapuram in the south, Tirunelveli (Tamilnadu) in the
east, and the Arabian Sea in the west. It extends latitude 9°28' and longitude
76°17' north.
Quilon - Climate
The climate is of tropical humid type with an oppressive summer and plenty of
seasonal rainfall. The summer, lasting from March to May, is followed by the
southwest monsoon from June to September. The northeast monsoon occurs from
October to November. The rest of the year is generally dry.
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