Kollam, also known by its former name Quilon, 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. 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 is one of the most historic cities with continuous settlements in India. Geographically, Quilon formation seen around coastal cliffs of Ashtamudi Lake, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-Pliocene times.
Ashtamudi Lake, in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body. It is second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight hills or peaks' in the local Malayalam language. The name is indicative of the lake's topography with its multiple branches. The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboat and backwater resorts. Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands. Ashtamudi Estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries in Kerala, with a maximum depth of 6.4 meters at the confluence zone.
Kollam district, is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake. The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.
Karunagappally is a municipality in the Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is 24 km north of Kollam and 60 km (37 mi) south of Alappuzha. Karunagappally taluk consists of Alappad, Ochira, Adinad, Karunagappally, Thazhava, Pavumba, Thodiyoor, Kallalibhagom, Thevalakkara, Chavara, Neendakara, Clappana, Kulasekharapuram, Thekkumbhagam, Ayanivelikulangara, Panmana, Ponmana and Vadakumthala. The taluk is bound on the north by Kayamkulam, on the east by Kunnathur taluk, on the south by Kollam and on the west by the Arabian Sea. It is one of the fastest developing towns in Kerala and is part of Kollam metropolitan area.
Kavanad is a suburban area of Kollam Municipal Corporation in Kerala. It is a major market town located at the northern suburb of Kollam City in India. It is coming under Sakthikulangara zone of Kollam Municipal Corporation. It is just 3 km from the port town of Neendakara. Kavanad, a narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Ashtamudi Lake has one of the highest land values in Kollam city. The town emerged as a major shopping destination in Kollam with the advent of a number of shopping centres. A number of vehicle showrooms are also located at Kavanad-Ramankulangara-Mulamkadakam stretch. The long anticipated Kollam bypass starts just a kilometer before Kavanad from the place called Altharamoodu and was completed in January 2019, Kavanadu had become a major vantage point en route to Trivandrum from Alappuzha and is a fast developing satellite town within Kollam Metropolitan Area. You can also find 24 hr working shops in Kavanad which is a rarity in Kerala. Kavanadu is a major tourist attraction of Kollam district.
The West Coast Canal or National Waterway No 3 is a 205 km (127 mi) long inland navigational route located in Kerala, India, which runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. It was declared a National Waterway in 1993. In addition to the main stretch, Champakara and Udyogmandal canals are navigable and connect the industrial centers of Kochi to Kochi port Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Shipping is coordinating the task for developing, monitoring and administering national waterways. It is the first National Waterway in the country with 24-hour navigation facilities along the entire stretch. It has been extended to Kozhikode by the National Waterways Act, 2016. The National Waterway 3 mainly passes through the previous Thiruvananthapuram–Shoranur canal.
Tangasseri or Thangassery (Thangi) is a heavily populated beach area on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India.
Sakthikulangara is a zone and neighbourhood situated at the coastal area of the city of Kollam in Kerala India. It is one among the 6 zonal headquarters of Kollam Municipal Corporation.
Kovilthottam Lighthouse is situated at Kovilthottam in Kollam district of Kerala. The 18-meter tall lighthouse tower is painted with black and white alternating bands. The lighthouse has been provided to serve the Port of Neendakara situated at the entrance to Ashtamudi Backwaters.
The Asramam Link Road is an important four-lane city road in Kollam in the Indian state of Kerala. This road was formerly known as Airport Road or Aerodrome Road as it was the connection road to Kollam Airport, the one and only airport in the entire Kerala coast then. The road starts from Kappalandimukku near Polayathode in the east and currently ends at KSRTC, but is ultimately planned to extend to Thoppilkadavu in the west of the city. The Rs.114 crore worth third phase of construction includes a 3 km long flyover, which would extend it from Kollam KSRTC Bus Station to Thoppilkadavu, is going on now.
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.
Thoppilkadavu or Thoppilkkadavu is one of the neighbourhoods of the city of Kollam, located on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake in Kerala, India. It is an integral part of Kollam city. Presence of Ashtamudi Lake is increasing the importance of Thoppilkadavu as one of the tourism hotspots in the city. Thoppilkadavu is the western endpoint of Asramam Link Road in the city.
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.
The Indo-Norwegian Project was Norway's first foreign aid development project. The project was first established in Neendakara, near Quilon, Kerala in 1953; its aim was the modernisation of fisheries in Kerala, and also included improvements in health, sanitation, and water supplies, including building a water pipe factory. The project was moved to Ernakulam in 1961, now focusing on fisheries only. At Ernakulam, an iceplant and workshop with slipway for fishing vessels were built. During the years 1952–1972, Norway gave technical and financial assistance to India to the tune of 120 million Norwegian kroners.
Kerala Maritime Institute is a premier institute for Maritime education in the state established by the Government of Kerala at Neendakara in Kollam city, India. The institute was created by the Port Department of Kerala state to give quality training for students in Kerala. The campus is located on 10 acres of land attached to the Neendakara Port. More than 5,000 students have been trained at Neendakara maritime institute under the Boat Crew training programme. The institute has played a major role in reducing the number of state-wide inland navigation accidents. The headquarters of the institute is at Neendakara.
Kollam District has four types of administrative hierarchies:
Kollam Port Road or Port Road, Kollam is a four lane road in the city of Kollam, India. The 2.8-kilometre-long (1.7 mi) road connects historic Port of Quilon and Vaddy with Kochupilamoodu in the city through Kollam Beach.
The fisheries industry in Kollam is a major economic driver for the city and the surrounding region. Kollam is located on the coast of Kerala, India, and has a number of major fishing ports. The city is also home to a number of fish processing plants, and it is a major exporter of fish products.
Neendakara port is an intermediate port located in the Kollam district of Kerala. It is situated on the Ashtamudi Lake, which comprises both sides - Neendakara and Sakthikulangara. The port is used for fishing and cargo transportation. It has the capacity to contain over 500 fishing boats at a time.
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