Kollam

Short History

           Kollam, an old sea port town 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 chief ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th Century

           Herman Gundart is of the opinion that the “Kolla Varsham” started with the erection of a ‘Siva’ temple at Kollam. As its origination was strictly local and religious, “Kolla Varsham” was not accepted by the people living in other countries. But, when Kollam became a major trade centre, the traders and the people of other countries began to follow “Kolla Varsham”. This further strengthens the statement of Ibn Batuta.

           The rulers of Kollam (Desinganadu) and China, exchanged embassies and there was a flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia (9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India, touched by the huge Chinese junks, on his way from Canton to Persian Gulf. Marco Polo, the great Venician traveller, who was in Chinese Service under Kublahan in 1275, visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin.

           The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading centre at Kollam in 1502. Then came 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 Kollam town. He built new bazaars and invited merchants from Madras and Tirunelveli to settle here. Kollam later became the capital of the enlightened and liberal rulers of Desinganadu. It was also the nerve centre of the rebellion organised by Velu Thampi against the British.

           Once a city of palaces, Kollam has been known to the outside world, by the time-honored proverb, “Once you have seen Kollam you would no more need your illam (home)”.

ADMINISTRATION

           The history of the district as an administrative unit can be traced back to 1835, when the Travancore State consisted of two revenue divisions with headquarters at Kollam and Kottayam.

           At the time of the integration of Travancore and Cochin in 1949, Kollam was one of the three revenue divisions in the State. These three revenue divisions were converted into districts. Shencottah taluk was merged with Madras State consequent on the implementation of the State Reorganisation Act of 1956.

           When Alappuzha district was formed in 1957, Chertala, Ambalapuzha, Mavekikkara, Karthikappally, Chengannur and Thiruvalla taluks of Kollam district were united to the new district. When Pathanamthitta district was formed on 1st July 1983, the entire Pathanamthitta taluk and nine villages of Kunnathur Taluks of the district were also removed. Now the district has a single revenue division with headquarters at Kollam. Pathanapuram, Kunnathur, Kottarakkara, Karunagappally and Kollam are the five taluks in the district. The district is divided into thirteen development blocks. Paravoor and Punalur are two municipal towns and Kollam is the corporation.

CULTURAL CONTRIBUTIONS

           Kollam, the capital of the erstwhile Venad, was a great centre of learning and culture. It attracted distinguished scholars from all parts of South India. Leelathilakam and Unnuneelisandesam, two outstanding literary works of historical importance, are contributions of 14th Century Kollam. The dance form of Kathakali in its new version of Ramanattam was the creation of Kottarakkara Thampuran, who also improved Krishnanattam by substituting Malayalam for Sanskrit.

           Paravoor K.C.Kesava Pillai, a gifted poet, prose writer, dramatist and scholar, originated the musical play in Malayalam through his work Sadarama. His Kesaveeyam, a Mahakavyam, is of outstanding literary importance. In the history of Malayalam music, he has a prominent place as a gifted composer of songs. Paravoor Kesavan Asan, the founder editor of Sujananandini, another prominent literary figure, was a journalist and a prose writer of eloquence. His Saratchandrika is a contribution to the study of Ayurvedic system of medicine. E.V. Krishna Pillai, another literary celebrity has etched his name in the field of humour and satire. C.V. Kunjuraman, editor of Kerala Kaumudi and Malayalarajyam was a poet, literary critic, prose writer and a journalist of outstanding distinction.

           Coming to modern times, Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai and Sooranadu Kunjan Pillai, noted literary historians and poets like O.N.V.Kurup, Thirunalloor Karunakaran, Punalur Balan, novelist and poet Lalithambika Antharjanam are some of the literary luminaries and the music director G.Devarajan are hailing from this district.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Achancoil

           Situated about 80 kms. From Punalur, Achancoil is an important pilgrim centre. The Sastha temple here, is situated amidst dense forests. The idol of Sastha is supposed to have been installed several centuries before the Christian Era. The two important festivals of this temple are Mandala Pooja (December-January) and the festival held at ‘Revathi’(January-February). The two notable features of the festival are the Therotam(chariot festival) and Pushpabhishekam (offering of flowers). In no other temple of South India are flowers offered to the deity so lavishly as at Achencoil.

Anchal
            Situated 13 kms. South of Punalur, Anchal is known for its cattle market held twice a month. The Mudi festival of the Bhagavathy temple here, conducted once every 12 years, attract huge gatherings.

Aryankavu 
            Situated about 73 kms. East of Kollam, Aryankavu is one of the important pilgrim centres of the district. From very early days, it was an important trade route for merchants from either sides of the Western Ghats. The chief attraction of Aryankavu is the Shrine dedicated to Loard Sastha. The temple has some fine sculptures and mural paintings. Thousands of pilgrims flock to this temple during the Mandala Pooja and Thrikalyanam festivals in December. All trains towards Shencottah have a stop at Aryankavu. Buses plying between Kollam & Thirunnelveli, also pass through this place.

Chavara
            Chavara is situated 12 kms. North of Kollam on the Kollam-Alappuzha road. Thousands of tonnes of mineral sand are exported from Chavara to various countries. The Koilthottam port is situated within the limits of Chavara panchayat. Two major industrial establishments- Indian Rare Earths and Kerala Minerals and Metals are at Chavara. The Thalappoli Mahotsavom-offerings of lighted lamps in decorated small pans- in the Kottamkulangara temple here is very famous. It falls in March-April. The interesting feature of the festival is that men dress themselves as women and carry lamps. This is a time-honoured custom.

Karunagappally
            Karunagappally is situated 22 kms. North to Kollam. It is linked with Kollam by rail and road. There is a mini civil station at Karunagappally. Padayanarkulangara, which forms part of the town, was once the military station of the Kayamkulam Rajas. An idol of Buddha, recovered from a local tank here, is now preserved in the Krishnapuram Palace, situated north of Oachira. The town has a temple dedicated to Lord Siva, two old mosques and a Mar Thoma Church.

Kottarakkara
            Kottarakkara is the headquarters of Kottarakkara taluk. It is linked with Kollam, both by road and rail, a distance of 27 kms. It was once the capital of Elayadathu Swarupam, a principality ruled by a branch of the Travancore Royal Family. The internationally famous dance drama Kathakali had its small beginnings in this town and it flourished under the patronage of Raja of Kottarakkara who lived in the first half of the 19th century.

Kulathuppuzha
            Kulathuppuzha is situated on the Thiruvananthapuram-Shencotta road and is 10 kms. South of Thenmala Railway Station. Kulathuppuzha is an important forest range, well known for its elephants. Reed, an essential raw material for paper manufacture is largely found here. One of the renowned shrines dedicated to Lord Sastha, is found here and large crowds of pilgrims come for worship during festival seasons. The Vishu Mahotsava in April-May is the most important festival here.

Kundara
            Kundara is linked with Kollam by rail and road; a distance of 14 kms. Large deposits of China Clay discovered here, helped in the establishment of the Government Ceramics concerns. The Aluminium Industries (ALIND) was one of the leading Indian firms manufacturing aluminium cables. Kundara is famous in history, for, it was from here that Veluthampi Dalawa issued the famous Kundara Vilambaram in 1809.

Kunnicode
            The main attraction of Kunnicode, situated 10 kms. West of Punalur, is Pachilakunnu a small hillock where a Muslim saint is said to have breathed his last.

Neendakara
            Situated about 9 kms. North of Kollam, Neendakara is the headquarters of the Indo-Norweigian Fisheries Community `Project, which was established in 1953. The important institutions under this project are the boat building yard at Sakthikulangara, the Fisherman`s Training Institute, the ice factory and the refrigeration plant. Improvements have been made to Needakara Port, which has been thrown open to traffic.

Oachira
            Situated 35 Kms. North of Kollam on the Kollam-Alappuzha National Highway and on the boundary of Kollam district, Oachira is a unique pilgrim centre. The peculiarity of the temple here is that there is no temple building as such nor is there any idol. All Classes of people worship the presiding deity the Parabrahmam. Oachira draws thousands of Pilgrims for Oachirakkali, a festival held annually in June. Another festival held here is Panthrandu Vilakku in November-December, which lasts for 12 days. The festival is also followed by a fair, which attracts thousands of pilgrims from all walk of life. Oachira is also an important handicraft centre where fancy articles of screw pine mats are manufactured. Oachira is known as Dakshina Kasi

Palaruvi
            About 5 kms.away from Aryankavu there is a big waterfall know as palaruvi meaning river of milk. It is one of the well-known waterfalls in south India, falling from a height of 300 feet. It is situated 66 kms. from Kollam on Kollam-Shencottah road. The scenic beauty, with the hills, valleys and cascades, covered with dense tropical forests, is breath taking. Season to visit the place is June-January.

Paravur
            Paravur is an important fishing and coir production centre. It is situated 13 kms. South of Kollam and is connected with Kollam town by road and rail. It is the birthplace of K.C.Kesava Pillai(1865-1913) and Kesava Asan(1869-1917), two leading literary men of eminence.

Pathanapuram
            An important trading centre on the banks of the Kallada river, Pathanapuram is 13 kms. away from Punalur. The Chandanakkudam mahotsava of the mosque there, celebrated every year in February-March, attracts thousands of devotees.

Punalur
            Punalur is one of the important industrial centres of Kerala. It is 45 kms.from Kollam on the Kollam-Shencotta railway line and is also linked with Kollam by road. The Punalur Paper Mills, started in 1885, was one of the main factories.

           The suspension bridge across the Kallada river, erected in 1877, is the only one of its kind in south India and it is 400 ft.long. A concrete bridge has been constructed nearby and now the suspension bridge is only of archaeological interest. The chief commodities of export here are the hill produces, pine-apple, pepper products, plywood and timber. Punalur is the head quarters of Pathanapuram taluk.

Sasthamcottah
           Sasthamcottah is an attractive village situated about 29 kms. From Kollam town. It is a beauty spot,a health resort and a centre of pilgrimage. The extensive freshwater lake here, is said to be the biggest of its kind in Kerala. Water supply to the Kollam town is met by purifying the water from this lake. Sasthamcottah, which can truly be called as Queen of Lakes.

Thangassery
            Thangassery is a place of historical importance situated 5kms.away from Kollam town. The Churches here are pretty old, having been established in the 18th century. The chief attraction of the place is the light house, built in 1902. The 144 ft.light house stands as a sentinal, warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of Thangassery. The construction of a fishing harbour is in progress. Thangassery was an enclave of the Portuguese, Dutch and British in succession. The remnants of the Portuguese and Dutch forts still exist.

Thazhava
            Thazhava is an important centre of screw pine mat industry. An image of the buddha, discovered from a tank known as Pallikulam near Maruthookulangara, is one of the interesting archaeological relics, associated with Kollam district.

Thenmala
            Thenmala is the meeting point of Kollam-Shencotta road and Thiruvananthapuram-Shencottah road, surrounded by dense forests, 66 kms.east of Kollam. There are a large number of rubber and tea plantations in Thenmala. Timber of all varieties are exported from here to all parts of the country. Thenmala dam site is open for tourists. All buses passing through Kollam-Shencottah road, stop at Thenmala. There is also a Railway Station here.

Jetayu Para
            Jetayu Para, a huge rock, is another attraction in Kollam District. This huge rock is in the Chadayamangalam village on the M.C.road. The name comes from the epic Ramayana. It is believed that Jatayu, the giant bird in the epic, fell after failing in its attempt to stop Ravana from taking Sita away. The rock is ideal for trekking by the lowers of adventure. The rock can be seen from the Chadayamangalam Jn. itself.

Kollam Town
            Kollam town, the headquarters of Kollam district and Kollam taluk, has a hoary past. It was an international emporium of trade and even now it is a prosperous commercial centre. The town edges with the famous Ashtamudi lake. Many a foreign traveller has visited Kollam in the early medieval period. It was one of the early centres of Christian activity in Kerala. It is said that the present town of Kollam was built by the Syrian Merchant; Sapir Iso, in the 9th Century A.D. The popularity of Kollam has been established by the time honoured proverb once you see Kollam, you will not need your home any more. Kollam is an important commercial, industrial and trading centre. It is also the headquarters of the Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation.

           The 144 ft. Thangassery Light house, built in 1902, is a centre of attraction. The Ananda Valleeswaram Temple here, attracts people on almost all days. The Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering, the first of its kind in the private sector in the state, is at Kilikolloor, about 7 kms.east of Kollam town.

           Mahatma Gandhi beach & park at Kochupilamoodu, Thirumullavaram beach and Ashramam picnic village, are some of the important spots of local sight seeing. Mahatma Gandhi beach lies just 2 kms.from the town. It is a fascinating place for an evening. Thirumullavaram Beach is 5 kms.from the town. The sea here is ideal for swimming and bathing. Ashramam picnic village is located in the 48 acre Guest House Complex. This is the centre of various tourism development activities of the district. The Government Guest House here, is 200 years old. It stands along Ashtamudi lake and is a major attraction for its elegance and architectural beauty. Tourists can stay here at economical rates. The children`s Traffic & Entertainment Park, designed by NATPAC, is also located in this village. It is the largest traffic park in Kerala. The Adventure Park, located in the village along the shores of the Ashtamudi backwaters, is a novel experiment in the country. Different types of boats, including luxury cruise boats, powerboats and motorboats, are available on hire from the boat jetty near to the Adventure Park.