Kollam district, Administrative district in Kerala, India
Kollam district stretches along the Arabian Sea coast and includes a network of canals, lakes, and waterways in tropical landscape across southern Kerala. Coconut palms, rice paddies, and fishing villages shape the flat coastal area, while gentle hills rise inland.
The district formed in 1835 as an administrative unit during British colonial rule and built on an old port site that had conducted spice and textile trade for centuries. Merchants from China, Arabia, and the Mediterranean visited the harbor and brought new goods and ideas to the region.
The name Kollam comes from 'Kollam Era', a Malayalam calendar system that marks local time and festival dates. Temples and churches here host celebrations where performers present Kathakali dance and traditional drum ensembles.
Travelers reach the area through Kollam railway station, National Highway 66, or Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which sits 70 kilometers (43 miles) to the south. Boats and ferries run through the canals and connect villages along the waterways.
The area hosts more than 25 percent of India's cashew nut processing, and visitors can see small workshops where workers sort and roast nuts by hand. The Ashtamudi lagoon forms eight arms that wind through mangrove forests and rice fields.
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