Places to visit in Kollam
7 places, grouped by kind. Each one shows how well it is verified: an official source, two independent sources, or not yet verified.
Backwaters and coast 3
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Ashtamudi Lake Official source
Called the gateway to Kerala's backwaters (Kerala Tourism, claim); the Kollam-Alappuzha boat journey takes about eight hours.
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Munroe Island Official source
Canal villages named after Resident Colonel John Munroe (Kerala Tourism).
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Kollam and Thirumullavaram beaches Official source
Listed by Kerala Tourism and Incredible India.
Heritage 1
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Thangassery lighthouse Official source
Listed by Kerala Tourism and Incredible India.
Hills and wildlife 3
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Jatayu Earth's Centre Official source
Rock at about 1,000 ft with a bird sculpture 200 ft long, 150 ft wide and 70 ft tall (Incredible India).
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Thenmala Official source
Butterfly safari park and reservoir (Kerala Tourism).
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Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary Official source
Listed by Kerala Tourism.
In depth: Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake is where the long backwater route north to Alappuzha begins; Kerala Tourism puts the boat journey at about eight hours. Munroe Island, about 27 km away, is a quieter canal village.
At a glance
- Type
- Backwater lake Official source
- Boat to Alappuzha
- About eight hours (Kerala Tourism) Official source
- Munroe Island
- About 27 km from Kollam (Kerala Tourism) Official source
- Time needed
- Half a day to a day
History and significance
- Munroe Island
- Named after Resident Colonel John Munroe, who built canals in Travancore (Kerala Tourism). Official source
What to see
- Ashtamudi
- Lake and boat routes.
- Munroe Island
- Canal villages.
- Thangassery
- Lighthouse.
- Jatayu Earth's Centre
- Rock sculpture.
Visiting
- Boats
- Operators and timings to confirm with DTPC Kollam. Not yet verified
Festivals
- Kallada Boat Race
- At Munroe Island during Onam (Kerala Tourism); date to confirm. Official source
- Kollam Pooram
- Date to confirm. Not yet verified
Visitor guidelines
- Use licensed boats with life jackets.
- Carry rain gear in the monsoon.
How to reach Ashtamudi Lake
- By train
- Kollam Junction (QLN). Official source
- By air
- Thiruvananthapuram (TRV); distance to confirm. Not yet verified
- By boat
- Kollam-Alappuzha, about eight hours (Kerala Tourism). Official source
Month by month
| Month | Temp °C | Sunrise | Sunset | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | IMD normals to add | 06:43 | 18:22 | Best: dry |
| Feb | IMD normals to add | 06:43 | 18:33 | Good: dry, warming |
| Mar | IMD normals to add | 06:32 | 18:35 | Hot, humid |
| Apr | IMD normals to add | 06:15 | 18:33 | Hot, humid; pre-monsoon showers |
| May | IMD normals to add | 06:04 | 18:35 | Hot, humid; showers |
| Jun | IMD normals to add | 06:05 | 18:43 | South-west monsoon: heavy rain |
| Jul | IMD normals to add | 06:12 | 18:47 | Heavy monsoon |
| Aug | IMD normals to add | 06:16 | 18:41 | Monsoon; Onam season |
| Sep | IMD normals to add | 06:14 | 18:25 | Monsoon easing |
| Oct | IMD normals to add | 06:11 | 18:08 | North-east monsoon showers |
| Nov | IMD normals to add | 06:17 | 18:00 | Good: showers easing |
| Dec | IMD normals to add | 06:30 | 18:07 | Best: dry |
Suggested plans
- One day
- Ashtamudi boat and Munroe Island.
- Two days
- Add Jatayu Earth's Centre or Thenmala.
How to reach Kollam
- By train
- Kollam Junction (QLN) (Incredible India).
- By air
- Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) (Incredible India).
- By road
- NH 66.
- Headquarters
- Kollam
- Coast
- Coastal
Best time to visit Kollam
- Best time
- October to February (Kerala Tourism, for the backwater cruise season; to confirm locally).
- Climate
- Humid tropical; south-west monsoon June-September, north-east showers October-November.
Dates to plan around in Kerala
- Kalpathi Ratholsavam — Palakkad: 14-16 Nov 2026 (Incredible India)
- Sabarimala Mandala-Makaravilakku — Pathanamthitta: Mid-Nov 2026 to mid-Jan 2027 (pattern, Kerala Tourism); online slot booking required in 2025-26
- Theyyam season — Kannur and north Kerala: December-April (Kerala Tourism)
- Attukal Pongala — Thiruvananthapuram: 14-23 Feb 2027; Pongala 22 Feb (Onmanorama)
- Guruvayur temple festival — Thrissur: February-March (Kerala Tourism)
- Eravikulam closure — Idukki: January-February every year, tahr calving (Kerala Tourism)
- Thrissur Pooram — Thrissur: Annual; 2027 date to confirm
- Nehru Trophy Boat Race — Alappuzha: Annual on Punnamada Lake; 2027 date to confirm
Where to stay in Kollam
Quick answers about Kollam
What is Kollam known for?
Ashtamudi Lake and Munroe Island, Thenmala, Jatayu Earth's Centre and the cashew trade.
What is the one place not to miss in Kollam?
Ashtamudi Lake. Called the gateway to Kerala's backwaters (Kerala Tourism, claim); the Kollam-Alappuzha boat journey takes about eight hours.
Which is the nearest railway station to Kollam?
Kollam Junction (QLN) (Incredible India).
Which is the nearest airport to Kollam?
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) (Incredible India).
When is the best time to visit Kollam?
October to February (Kerala Tourism, for the backwater cruise season; to confirm locally).
How many places are there to visit in Kollam?
Our guide lists 7 places in Kollam district, Kerala, across backwaters and coast, heritage, hills and wildlife.
Nearby, in neighbouring districts
- Alappuzha backwaters and houseboats, Alappuzha — Houseboat cruises through Kuttanad; Alappuzha-Kochi cruise one to two days via Kumarakom (Kerala Tourism).