Place :Kollam

Area: 2579 sq. km.

Population: 25,84118(2001 census)

Altitude: Sea level

Located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast, Kollam was once the port of international spice trade. Thirty per cent of this historic town is covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake, making it the gateway to the magnificent backwaters of Kerala.
The eight hour boat trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest and most enchanting experience on the backwaters of Kerala. The district also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate architectural style

Situated on the edge of the Ashtamudi Lake, Quilon has a rich history with the town being known as Desinganadu, Kollam and Quilon at various points of time. There was a flourishing Chinese settlement in the city in the 14th century with the rulers of Quilon and China maintaining diplomatic relations and exchanging embassies with each other during that period. The great Venetian traveler Marco Polo visited the city in 1275 in his capacity as a Chinese Mandarin. From the beginning of the 16th century, the Portuguese, Dutch and British came in quick succession to establish trading centres at Quilon. The British stationed a garrison at Quilon in pursuance of a treaty between Travancore and British in the 18th century.

The eight hour boat ride from Kollam to Alappuzha is the longest and the most enchanting expirence of backwaters in Kerala.