Kollam, also known by its former name Quilonpronunciation (help·info), is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is 71 km (44 mi) north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and the Kallada river. It is the headquarters of the Kollam district. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. It is the southern gateway to the Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination.
Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) away from Downtown Kollam ,14 km north of Paravur and 24 km north of Varkala Town It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities. Located on the south-west coast of India, under the name of Quilon Port it became one of the country's most important trade hubs from the ninth to the seventeenth centuries. Kollam was one of the five Indian ports visited by Ibn Battuta.
Chinnakada or Chinnakkada is considered as the heart of the city of Kollam in Kerala, India. Chinnakada is a busy junction where 5 city roads and one National highway interconnect at a traffic roundabout. The city's symbolic clock tower is located in Chinnakada. To reduce the traffic congestion in Chinnakada, Kollam Municipal Corporation constructed an underpass near to clock tower. Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA)'s Kollam sub-regional office is situated at Chinnakada.
Maruthadi or Maruthady is a coastal town situated in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. The place is very famous in the state for its fishing activities. The presence of Kattaka Kayal, a two-km long stream that once served as the lifeline for most of the commercial activities at Sakthikulangara and the 36-acre Vattakayal are making Maruthadi an important tourism spot in the city.
Polayathode or Polayathodu is one of the fastest growing neighbourhoods of the city of Kollam, in the state of Kerala, India. It is situated at National Highways – NH 66. Kerala Police have identified Polayathode as one of the traffic black spots in the state.
Kilikolloor, also known as Kilikollur, is a neighbourhood in Kollam district in Kerala, India. It is a center of the cashew industry in the area, and is also a hub of automobile production.
Thamarakulam or Thamarakkulam is a business centre and neighbourhood of Kollam city in Kerala, India. Thamarakulam is a part of Downtown Kollam area and is near Chinnakada. Ganapathy temple in Thamarakulam is a very famous Hindu temple and worship centre in Kollam district. Caparisoned elephants from this temple is an unavoidable thing during the celebrations of Kollam Pooram. 'Ezhunnellippu' of elephants from Thamarakulam temple is a regular ritual of Kollam Pooram. Kollam Development Authority office is situated at Thamarakulam.
The Cashew Export Promotion Council of India or CEPC or CEPCI was established by the Government of India in 1955, with the active cooperation of the cashew industry with the object of promoting exports of cashew kernels and cashew nut shell liquid from India. It is headquartered in Mundakkal in the city of Kollam, Kerala. The Council serves as an intermediary between importers of cashew kernels and exporters who are members of the council. The council is also supposed to deal with any disputes on exports or imports arising on account of quality standards, breach of contractual obligations, etc. It undertakes numerous activities, such as organizing global buyer-seller meets, organizing studies on the nutritional aspects of cashew and providing support to cashew processors and exporters for improving infrastructure.
The Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation Limited or KSCDC is a model employer in the field of cashew industry mainly to protect the interest of workers and to provide maximum employment to its workers and to give statutory benefits like minimum wages, bonus, etc. prevailing in the cashew industry. It is headquartered in Kollam city, called "Cashew Capital of the World". The head office is situated at Cashew House, Mundakkal in Kollam City, Kerala. KSCDC was incorporated in July 1969 and started Commercial activities in the year 1971 as a company fully owned by the Government of Kerala. Corporation has now more than a turn over of Rs. 2.50 billion. A Central Export Promotion Council for Cashew, Cashew Export Promotion Council of India (CEPCI) is situated at Kollam city.
Thirumullavaram Beach, is one of the popular beaches in the city of Kollam and a tourist destination in the state of Kerala. The beach is situated at Thirumullavaram, an important neighbourhood of Kollam city. The beach is very famous for conducting the Karkidaka Vavubali rituals. Thousands of devotees arrive on the beach to perform the Vavubali Tharpanam every year. It is one of the most attractive beaches located in South India.
Chamakada or Chamakkada is one of the trade hubs of the city of Kollam, India. It is an important neighbourhood in the city and is located at the core Downtown Kollam area. The area is very famous for wholesale dealers and rice merchants. The local retail dealers are filling the stocks regularly from Chamakada-based wholesale dealers. So many bank branches, godowns, store rooms, printing presses, automobile spare parts stores, courier services etc. are located at Chamakada area. Chamakada is the second main commercial centre of Kollam city after Chinnakada. So many famous restaurants also located at Chamakada.
The Cashew business in Kollam is based in the eponymous city, which is known as the Cashew Capital of the World. Kollam is the largest processed cashew exporter in the world. As of 2011 there were more than 600 cashew processing units in the city. About 800,000 tonnes of raw cashews are imported to the city for processing every year. 80% of India's export quality cashew kernels were prepared in Kollam. Kollam has remained the cashew capital of the world since 1930s.
Kollam or Quilon is an old seaport and a city on the Laccadive Sea coast in Kerala, India, on Ashtamudi Lake. The city remains notable as the ancient commercial capital of Kerala and the southwestern Indian coast, in addition to its fame as the "Cashew Capital of the World". The Kollam Municipal Corporation has the second largest budget in Kerala in terms of revenue and expenditure.
Kochupilamoodu or Kochupilammoodu is an important neighbourhood and cashew hub in Kollam city, Kerala, India. It is one of the prominent business centres in the city. Kochupilamoodu is very close to Downtown Kollam area and is about 1 km away from Chinnakada. It is on the way to Kollam Port from the city CBD of Kollam
Pallithottam is a neighbourhood of Kollam city situated at the coastal region. It is the 46th ward in Kollam Municipal Corporation. Pallithottam is totally depending on fishing activities and operations of Kollam Port.
Transport in Kollam includes various modes of road, rail and water transportation in the city and its suburbs. State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses, private buses, Indian Railways, state-owned Kerala State Water Transport Department boats & ferry, taxis and auto rickshaws are serving the city of Kollam. The city had a strong commercial reputation since the days of the Phoenicians and Romans. Ibn Battuta mentioned Kollam Port as one of the five Indian ports he had seen during the course of his twenty-four year travels.
Kollam-Paravur Coastal Road is one of the important city roads currently under construction in Kollam city in Kerala, India. The 14.1-kilometre-long (8.8 mi) road starts at Chinnakada in the north and ends at Paravur town in the south, via Kollam Beach, Mundakkal Beach, Kakkathoppu, Mukkom, Thanni and Pozhikara. Coastal road is considered one of the important roads in Kollam city as it is passing through the suburbs like Kochupilamoodu, Mundakkal, Valathungal and Vadakkumbhagam. It is also known as Eravipuram-Paravur Coastal road.
Mahatma Gandhi Park is a public park situated near Kollam Beach in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. It is about 2 km away from Chinnakada - The city centre of 'Cashew Capital of the World'. It is one of the main centres of recreational activities in Kollam city. The park is owned by Kollam Municipal Corporation and is operated by Rural Tourism Development Company (RUTODEC), a private firm, on contract for a period of five years for maintenance. 'The Quilon Beach' five star hotel(Formerly known as Beach Orchid) is located near to this park.
Mundakkal Beach, is a beach in the city of Kollam, Kerala. The beach is situated at Mundakkal, a neighbourhood that is a local cashew processing hub. On 21 June 2016 the dredger ship Hansitha washed up on the shore. Scrapping of the dredger ship started on 18 October 2017. The beach is also known as 'Mundakkal Papanasham Beach'. Devotees believe that a dip in the waters of Mundakkal Papanasham Beach will wash off all the sins in one's life.
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