KOLLAM

Spread across 65 acres of land, Jatayu Earth's Centre is a rock-themed park built to promote mythology and adventure. The world’s largest bird sculpture is the main attraction at Jatayupara Nature Park and is one among the several Kollam famous places. It has a 6D theatre, a digital audio-visual room, cable car and the Siddha Cave Healing Centre. The virtual reality museum here tells the story of Jatayu to visitors. It is also home to umpteen adventure activities including paintball, laser tag, archery, bouldering, rock climbing, air-rifle shooting, zip lining, trekking, rappelling, valley crossing, etc.

The incredible beauty of Kerala, Ashtamudi Lake, it’s name has been derived from two words 'Ashta' meaning eight and 'Mudi' meaning branch, thereby stating the fact that lake has eight branches. It’s the second largest lake in Kerala. Thick coconut groves and palm trees can be seen all along the banks of the lake. The banks of the lake are also famous for the Chinese fishing nets. Backwater cruises are also available in the lake, between Kollam and Alappuzha. The boat cruise to Munroe Islands is a wonderful experience. There are many resorts along the lake that offer variety of water sports.

One of the most surreal tourist spot in Kollam is Punalur that offers a rejuvenating experience and an Old World Charm. Punalur derives its name from two words in Tamil and Malayalam. ‘Punal’ in Tamil means water and the Malayalam word’ ooru’ means place, which combined together give the name Punalur or ‘place of water. Indeed Kallada flows right through the heart of the city with the famous suspension bridge hanging over it. Panalur is known as "Pepper Village of Kerala". Some of the tourist attractions are Shenthruni Forest, Palruvi and Courtallam Waterfalls, and the age-old Pattazhi Devi Temple.

An ancient temple in Kollam, this temple dates back to the 12th Century believed to be established in the Pandian style of architecture. This is one of the four Shiva temples built by the Natukotta Chettiar, a prominent mercantile caste who were worshippers of Lord Shiva. One fascinating feature of this temple is the sculpture of Vyala, the mythological monster. There are several inscriptions here written in Tamil, which date between the12-century and 16-century. The annual temple festival is celebrated in Jan/Feb every year. This is probably one of the best tourist spots in Kollam!

Nestled amidst the pretty pristine woods of Shenduruney forests, Rosemala is a well-kept secret of Kerala. Located in the Aryanvaku in the Kollam district, the valley appears the unfurling petals of a rose, hence the name. The highlight of the place is that it can only be reached by a 10 km long trek through the jungle. Boasting of gorgeous surroundings, the major attractions here are a lake and a watchtower. It indeed is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Kollam. The beautiful valley abounds in the bounty of nature and is a mesmerizing place to visit. Kollam is well-known for its scenic beauty and all you have to do is take a look at the above list of Kollam tourist places in order to plan your itinerary. Explore Kollam like you have never before and know about many hidden gems of the place. If you want a slice of the famed backwater tourism of Kerala and want to escape from the monotonous urban life, do not think twice but simply head to Kollam with great discounts on flight booking via EaseMyTrip. The best time to visit Kollam is between November and March when it is not too rainy or not too hot.

The Clock Tower is situated in Chinnakada and it is a major landmark in the town of Kollam. It is considered as the heart of the city Kollam. The tower faces four directions of the city with clocks on all sides, and the fascinating architectural design of the colonial era attracts the tourist to visit here. The clock tower has become a non-official symbol of Kollam and is the busiest part of the city where roads from Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, Downtown, Sengottai, Ashramam, Kollam Beach, and the City bus stand meet.

The center of leisure activities for people with no age limit. A must-go-to place for luxurious boating, picnic, and the art museum among other tourist places in Kollam. The park encloses a place possessing numerous rides and impressive scenery that makes it ideal for a family picnic. With the alluring backwaters, travelers can enjoy houseboat cruises, deluxe boats, and speedboats in the midst of serene waters. Apart from the boat club, children’s park, this place covers enticements such as a 200-year-old government guest house and Yatri Nivas. Also, on the establishment is the art museum, where painting lovers seizes a chance to admire exhibit paintings collected from different parts of the country. And the fun doesn’t end here, a nature dweller can visit the mangroves close to the park to spot endangered species of bushes.

Mayyanad has gained its popularity due to its iconic looks and wonderful scenery that the destination offers. Mayyanad is one of the best villages in the city and overlooks beautiful sights. So plan your next trip to Kollam and do include this one of a kind attraction. There are many shrines and temples in the village that you should not miss.

Located in the Western Ghats in the Kollam district of Kerala, the Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area that serves as the natural habitat for a myriad of plants, birds and animals, and provides them with a safe reclusive spot, far away from the dust and dirt of city life. The sanctuary was established on 25 August in 1984 and is presently under the control of the Agasthyamalai Biosphere Reserve. This majestic site is like a treasure trove for all nature lovers, photographers, archaeologists and biologists since the place is home to endless flowering plants, birds and trees. The vast floral and faunal variety that is found here is what attracts tourists from all across the country, and lures them to come and spend a day in silence and tranquillity. Spread over an area of 172 square kilometres, the sanctuary also boasts of being home to an artificial lake that is around 18 square kilometres in size and is surrounded by the reservoir of the Thenmala Dam. According to specific archaeological studies that were recently conducted here, the wildlife sanctuary has been home to some of the oldest and earliest river valley civilisations of the country, some of which were even older than the Indus Valley civilisation. These findings have now also added an archaeological aspect to the site, and the popularity of the sanctuary has now doubled. Interestingly, the first eco-tourism project in India, known as the Thenmala Eco-tourism Project, was also formulated in and around the Shenduruney Wildlife Sanctuary.

A small magnificent island popularly known as the island of crows, it is a prime attraction for bird watchers. The beauty of the island enhanced by coconut trees and paddy fields is breathtaking and doesn’t miss a chance of enticing travelers, be it nature or food lovers. Speaking of food, the place serves a variety of food ranging from Kerala cuisine to seafood such as karimeen, crabs, and shrimp. Furthermore, tourists enjoy the view of the setting sun and watching the sky hues, shifting its color from pale blue to crystal clear blue. The sole place in Kerala listed in Nat Geo's magazine for relishing the time of dusk.