The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala state in southern India, as well as interconnected canals, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 kilometres (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to American bayous. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. There are 34 backwaters in Kerala. Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to the sea. The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.
Ashtamudi Lake, in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala, is the most visited backwater and lake in the state. It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body, second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight braids' 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.
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 the east side land of river is East Kallada and the west side land is West Kallada.
Chengannur is a Municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala State, India. It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Alappuzha district, on the banks of Pamba River.
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.
Vallikunnam is a village in Mavelikara taluk of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.
Mynagappally is a village in Kollam district in the Indian state of Kerala.
Pavithreswaram is a village in Kottarakkara taluk of Kollam district in the state of Kerala, India.
Thevalakkara is a village in the Karunagappally taluk, Kollam district of the state of Kerala, India. Formerly known as Quilon, it is one of the 14 districts of Kerala.Thevalakkara is the land that contains a famous Devi temple and along with a newly constructed mosque and church in the same area.Thevalakkara is home to great people like Thevalakkara Kunjanpilla and also his son and famous dramatist Babykuttan Thoolika and famous director Thevalakkara Chellapan and Thevalakkara vaidyans.This place is a land of unity.
Palode is a town in Thiruvananthapuram district in the Indian state of Kerala. Palode town is 35 km from Thiruvananthapuram city and 17 km from Nedumangad municipality. Palode is surrounded by Western Ghats. Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanical Garden is situated near Palode. Mankayam Ecotourism near Brimore is 11 km away. Brimore has tea estate and plantations make Palode a gateway for tourism destination. Thenmala is 38 km from Palode and Ponmudi hills is 35 km. Palode is town in Thiruvananthapuram-Thenmala State Highway-2. Palode is a town located in Nedumangad Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala.
Chandanathope is a town located in the city of Kollam, Kerala. It lies 23 kilometres (14 mi) from Paravur town and 8 kilometres (5.0 mi) from Kollam city centre on the Kollam–Thirumangalam National Highway 744. In Malayalam, the name denotes a place with sandalwood plantations. It is also known for cashew processing and its exports two major cashew exporters of Kollam namely VLC Cashews and MARK has their facilities in the town.
Kudassanad is a village near Pandalam in the State of Kerala in India. Geographically it is situated in the eastern ending of Alappuzha District and western part of Pathanamthitta District. The southern end of Kudassanad is on the verge of Kollam District. Part of Palamel Panchayat and Mavelikara Taluk, Kudassanad comes under the Mavelikara Parliamentary and Mavelikara Assembly Constituencies.
Edakkidom is a village in the Kollam district, in the Indian state of Kerala, located about 21 km (13 mi) north of Kollam city. The main attraction is Thettikkunnil Sree Mahadevi Devaswam.
Cherupoika is a small village in the Kerala state of India. It is situated on the west side of Puthoor and in Kottarakkara taluk, in the district of Kollam and on the banks of the Kallada river.
Iverkala is a rural village in Kollam district of Kerala state in India. The famous Kallada river flows through the village from east and south. On the other side of the river, Attuvassery is in the east and Thekkumchery is in the south. West side Kadampanadu and North Mannady.
Pangodu is a rural village near Puthur in Kollam district of Kerala state.
Punthalathazham is a landlocked neighbourhood of the city of Kollam in the Indian state of Kerala. It is located around six kilometres east of the core Kollam (Quilon) city towards Kannanalloor . This place has a little geographical importance and serves as the tail boundary of Kollam Municipal Corporation. Inhabitants belong to working and middle classes.
Attuvassery is a rural village in Kollam district of Kerala state in India. The famous Kallada river flows through the village from east and south. On the other side of the river, Attuvassery is in the east and Thekkumchery is in the south. West side Kadampanadu and North Mannady.
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 remained as the cashew capital of the world for decades since 1930s.
Mannoor is a village in Ittiva Grama Panchayath located towards the west of Kollam district of Kerala, India. It is located on the west of the Main Central Road. The closest towns are Anchal and Punalur. The village is also close to Kadakkal, an agricultural village known for its spice production and the Kadakkal Devi Temple. Thiruvananthapuram, formerly Trivandrum, is 65 kilometres (40 mi) from Mannoor and is the closest airport. Kollam, formerly Quilon, the district headquarters, is 46 kilometres (29 mi) away.
