Kollam has been known by different names at various times. If the Arabs called it “Kaulam”, it was “Coilum” for the 13th century Venetian traveller Marcopolo, and “Desingnadu” for its rullers of Kollam. It is known that the Chinese established a trading settlement here as far back as 9th century and there was exchange of embassies during the time of Kublahan Khan. The first foreign community to settle in Kollam were Chinese. The founding of Kollam started to the beginning of a new era in Kerala, called the “Kolla Varsham” or the Malayalam era. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala. Kollam has its name from Sanskrit word Kollam means Pepper. Kollam town is believed to have founded by a wealthy Syrian merchant Sapier Isho in 9th centuary A.D ,hence Kollam is also one o the ancient cradles of Christianity in India.
Kollam, in Kerala is the nerve center of the country’s cashew trading and processing industry. It was one of the oldest sea ports on the Arabian coast. Thirty percent of this district is covered by the Astamudi lake, making it the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. The district has enormous tourism potential as it is blessed by nature’s bounty. It has beautiful beaches and backwaters, meandering verdant valleys, lush forests, fertile plains with vast green fields producing tropical crops. Kollam also has some historic monuments and numerous temples built in the traditional architectural style. The district has about 37.3 km long coastline and has a good network of backwaters and interlinked canals. The district has numerous industrial and factory units, which produce products as diverse as coir, bamboo, handicrafts products, seafood, minerals etc.
More on Kollam
Kollam Attractions
Famous Personalities from Kollam
