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Kollam was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch
and the English in succession before Independence.
The port is protected by the Tangasseri Breakwater, extending about 1.1
miles (1.8 km) south-south east of Tangasseri Point. The exotic location
and backwaters makes Kollam Beach one of Kerala's most popular tourist
attractions.
Marine Aquarium
On 22 June 2014, construction work started on a marine aquarium at
Kollam Beach, which was first of its kind in the state of Kerala. The
Harbour Engineering Department is constructing the aquarium at the
eastern side of the beach on behalf of Kollam Municipal Corporation. The
foundation stone for the project was laid in March and is expected to
complete by December 2014. It will be a single storey aquarium with 40
large tanks to hold a diverse collection of marine life and will be an
added attraction for visitors to Kollam beach.
The 144-foot (44 m) Tangasseri lighthouse built in 1902 is a major
landmark at the beach.
Ruins of Portuguese / Dutch forts and 18th-century churches near the
port remain as a memento of the Portuguese and Dutch rule of the area.
Getting There
Considering Kollam as the entry city to the lake, nearest airport is the
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 71 km (44 mi) away and by
road to almost all important centres in Kerala and the rest of the
country. National Highway 47 (NH 47) passes through the lake periphery
not only from Quilon but also to other locations on its bank from
Thiruvananthapuram to the northern towns of Kerala.
Southern
Railways network of metre gauge and broad gauge lines connects with
Quilon and to all important centres in the rest of the country. The
metre gauge train journey from Quilon to Chennai via Madurai is stated
to offer a picturesque journey.
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