Among the oldest ports in the Southern region, Kollam sees about a third of its area covered by the picturesque Ashtamudi Lake. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha contains some of the most coveted visuals in God’s Own Country and is also the longest backwater cruise in the State. Once a major hub of international spice trade, it is the de facto leader in the cashew trading and processing industry in India. Today it has a plethora of Aqua Tourism options that enamour visitors throughout the year.

The rustic seaside village of Thangasseri Beach is famous for its historical sites, including a Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. Its lighthouse is yet another quaint attraction here. Thirumullavaram Beach is a peaceful and secluded shoreline connected to Kollam town. One can never forget the Alumkadavu Backwater that is situated 23 km from Kollam and is well known for its boat building yard. The gigantic kettuvallams (cargo crafts of rural Kerala), which would eventually be turned into houseboats, were built here.