Known to travellers for its backwaters amidst breathtaking scenery, Kollam is most popularly referred to as the “Cashew Capital” of Kerala. There are numerous places to visit in Kollam that tend to impress people. The beautiful beaches, historic temples, and calm backwaters are the most popular among tourists in Kollam. The mesmerising tourist attractions in Kollam provide an entirely serene and rewarding experience for those visitors who want to get the spirit of Kerala.
10. Places To Visit In Kollam
Kollam, often referred to as Quilon, is home to historic sites, cultural legacy, and scenic natural areas. Below are some of the best places to visit in Kollam:
1. Ashtamudi Lake
Photo: Arunvrparavur / Wikimedia Commons
Ashtamudi Lake, meaning “eight coned”, is the most popular backwater lake in Kollam. It is famous for its breathtaking beauty and numerous branches which make up the lake. Being one of the most common Kollam tourist places, you should visit Ashtamudi Lake, if you seek relaxation and natural beauty. This is mainly due to its beautiful surroundings and peaceful atmosphere. Additionally, The Kollam Boat Club offers boating on the lake. It is the gateway to Kerala’s famous backwaters, and houseboat tours here are quite popular.
Timings: 9 AM – 6 PM
Suggested Read: Things To Do In Kollam
2. Thangasseri Beach
Photo: Arunvrparavur / Wikimedia Commons
Thangasseri Beach, with its silvery sand, runs 3 km along the Arabian Sea. Being one of the top places for the Kollam trip, the beach has a 1902 144-foot lighthouse called Thangasseri for mariners and fishermen, next to Kollam Fort. Thangassery is a must-visit place in Kollam due to its beautiful beach offering activities like swimming, fishing, scuba diving, and surfing, as well as the ruins of ancient forts visible from there.
Timings: 24*7
3. Sasthamkotta Lake
Photo: Arunelectra / Wikimedia Commons
Sasthamkotta Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Kerala, is one of the popular Kollam attractions. It offers nature lovers a peaceful escape from lush greenery and picturesque landscapes. One of the nearby attractions of this lake is the ancient Sastha Temple, adding culture to its beauty. Being one of the most popular places to visit in Kollam, you should visit this destination if you are seeking peace and beauty.
Timing: 24*7
Suggested Read: Waterfalls In Kollam
4. Oachira Parabrahma Temple
Photo: Neon / Wikimedia Commons
Oachira Parabrahma Temple is one of the famous Kollam tourist places. Unique rituals and festivals like Oachira Kali are held at this temple. This showcases traditional martial arts. The temple is famous for its “Kayyum Kaalum,” “Anna Danam,” “Bhajanam Parkkal,” Ettukandam Urilicha, Vedi Vazhipadu, and “Uru Nercha” gifts. The Vedi Vazhipadu at the Oachira Temple offers dedicated fireworks with music at three locations on the temple grounds. This picturesque destination is one of the most sought-after places to visit in Kollam.
Timings: 4 AM – 8 PM
5. Thirumullavaram Beach
Photo: Ambadyanands / Wikimedia Commons
Thirumullavaram Beach offers clean sand and a serene atmosphere. With exemplary views of sunset, tourists can swim, sunbathe, and relax along the beach. This peaceful beach, located outside Kollam, is among the safest. Nature lovers prefer this beach due to its serene palm trees, and remarkable viewpoints. At low tide, the Njayarazhcha Para, also known as Sunday Rock, is visible from the shoreline about 1.5 km out to sea.
Timings: 24*7
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International
Suggested Read: Places To Visit Near Kollam
6. Munroe Island
Photo: Kkkriku / Wikimedia Commons
Munroe Island is one of the best places to visit in Kollam. It is positioned between Ashtamudi Lake and Kallada River. This island, with its peaceful backwaters and luxurious environment, is secluded from the cacophony of the town. You can cruise along the narrow canals and watch traditional coir-making units and many birds of a variety of species. It opens a vista through which one interacts with the local people and their vision of life.
Timings: 24*7
7. Jatayu Earth’s Centre
Photo: athulnair / Wikimedia Commons
The Jatayu Earth Centre features the world’s largest bird sculpture and is a popular tourist spot in Chadayamangalam, Kollam, Kerala, India. Its hilltop location offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape. Despite being a viewpoint, this sculpture is a great photo spot, making it one of the best places to visit in Kollam. The massive concrete monument of Jatayu at Jatayupara, in the Keralan district of Kollam, took Rajiv Anchal more than ten years to construct.
Timings: 9 AM – 5 PM
Suggested Read: Adventure Park Kollam
8. Achankovil Sastha Temple
Photo: Vkt2020 / Wikimedia Commons
One of Kerala’s oldest temples, Achankovil temple, provides Beautiful scenery with dense forests. This gives hundreds of pilgrims a peaceful and spiritual atmosphere. It is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa. it attracts pilgrims and nature lovers who come for the spirituality, pulchritude of the temple, and exploration. Lord Ayyappa is the primary deity in Kollam. It is one of the well-known Lord Sastha temples; the others are the temples of Kulathupuzha, Aryankavu, Sabarimala, and Kanthamala.
Timings: 4 AM – 12 PM & 5 PM – 8 PM
9. Mayyanad
Photo: Arunvrparavur / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Mayyanad is a peaceful and religious place in Kollam. Many pilgrims and tourists visit the village’s ancient temples, including the Mayyanad Shiva Temple and Subramanya Temple. If you are interested in local culture and spirituality, the peaceful village atmosphere offers a glimpse into traditional Kerala life. Mayyanad is one of the most popular tourist places in Kollam because of its religious celebrations, festivals and natural beauty and one of the best places to visit in Kollam.
Timings: 24*7
Suggested Read: Kollam Temples
10. Palaruvi Waterfalls
Photo: Jaseem Hamza / Wikimedia Commons
The 300-foot-tall Palaruvi Waterfall is among Kollam’s stunning sights. The word “Palaruvi” translates to “Stream of Milk,” a fitting name for this milky waterfall. Being one of the most popular places to visit in Kollam, nature lovers and adventure seekers find Palarui perfect with its thick forests. You can see the Western Ghats clearly from its trekking routes. The calm beauty of Palaruvi Waterfall is quite hard to miss. The waterfall, located along the Kollam-Shenkottai road, is approximately 4 kilometres deep within the forest.
Timings: 8 AM – 4 PM
Be it Munroe Island or the Palaruvi Waterfall, places to visit in Kollam happen to be one of the greatest holiday spots for people of all categories, and it has splendid scenery all along. The above-mentioned Kollam tourist places list will help you plan your trip to this amazing destination with ease. Let TripXL handle the burden of your bookings and provide you with a hassle-free experience.
Cover Photo: Sophi Raju / Unsplash