Kollam (Quilon) Cityscapes/Projects

[sudheeshnairs]

Quilon or Kollam , an old sea port town on the Arabian coast , stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam , the erstwhile Desinganadu, had a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five ports , which he had seen in the course of his travels during a period of twenty four years, in the 14th century.

The rulers of kollam (Desinganadu) and China , exchange embassies and there was flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia ( 9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India , touched by the huge Chinese junks , on his way from Carton of Persian Gulf. Marco Polo, the great Venician traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublahan in 1275, visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center at Kollam in 1502. Then came the Dutch followed by the British in 1795. A British garrison was stationed at Kollam in pursuance of a treaty between Travancore and the British.

Velu Thampi Dalawa of Travancore, did much for the improvement of the Kollam town. He build new bazaars and invited merchants from Madras and Thirunelveli to settle here. Kollam later became the capital of the enlightened and liberal rulers of Desinganad. It was also the nerve center for the rebellion organized by Velu Thampi against the British.
Once a city of palaces, Kollam has been known to the outside world, by the time honoured proverb, "Once you have seen Kollam you would no more need your illam (Home)"


Kollam is about 70 kms north of Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala.

[sudheeshnairs]

This 72000 sft shop in five floors has Jewellery, Apparel, Footwear, Furnishing & Cosmetics....

[sudheeshnairs]

Amritapuri, Kollam (Quilon), Kerala

By Dhyanji / CC Rights





Alukkas Wedding Centre - photo - by luttu



Government Guest House - photo by tutsu



'Bishop Jerome Nagar' shopping complex - photo by tutsu

[Suncity]

Thanks Sudheesh for taking the effort to showcase another city.

[nik]

Amrita towers are well postioned to situate bang at the backwaters. Byt the way, have you seen the towers of Amrita hospital, Edappally. They are exact replicas what you see here !!

[greatshankar]

Nice Pictures. Thats true, "Kollam kandangil illam venda"

[Ajaypp]

Nice pix here! Hope to see a lot more of Kollam. It's an enchanting town, especially the backwaters. In fact, a lot of tourism projects are coming up along the Ashtamudi Lake. Quite a few firms with properties in Trivandrum are setting up shop there. Just 60 Kms from Trivandrum International Airport, Kollam is well connected and with the upcoming 4-laning of NH-47, this will become even better.

[sudheeshnairs]

Bus & Boat station is seen...

Public transportation by state run boats exist in Kollam. Kochi and Alapuzha are the other two districts where this form of public transportation is available.

House boat services and tourist cruises to Alapuzha commence from this boat jetty.

[Effer]

Great Pics!

[sudheeshnairs]

[sudheeshnairs]

[sudheeshnairs]

[sudheeshnairs]

This is Thenmala...

[sumesh]

HAPPY TO SEE THE QUILON THREAD..G8 PICS SUDHEESH..KEEP GOING

[Ajaypp]

Sudheesh, this is the Kollam-Sasthankottah metre guage railway right?

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

This is Thenmala...

[sudheeshnairs]

Originally Posted by Ajaypp

Sudheesh, this is the Kollam-Sasthankottah metre guage railway right?

Ajay, U made a little mistake, It is metre gauge, but not Kollam-Sasthankottah, but Kollam-Shenkottah. I think you meant Shenkottah at the first instance, is it??

This line was the first line in Travancore connecting Kollam and later Trivandrum to Madras. The line cuts across the western ghats to enter in to Shenkottah in Tamil Nadu. Also metre gauge exists onlyin two small routes in Kerala, here as well as the Palakkad-Pollachi line.

Anyway this section is also being converted in to a broad guage one. Work is going on in the Kollam-Punlaur section. Work on the Punalur-Shenkottah ghat section is yet to be taken up. (Seen in the photo)

The road you see below is the NH 208 linking Kollam with Tenkasi..

BTW, 'Sasthamkottah' is in the Kollam-Kayankulam sector which is a Double broad gauge, electrified section...

[sudheeshnairs]

[Ajaypp]

Spot on Sudheesh. I did mean Shenkottah! Btw, there is a proposal underway to commence Electric Multiple Unit (EMU) suburban rail services centred around Trivandrum. The trains will run from Kollam to Neyyatinkara and will service the 2 million people in the Trivandrum Capital Region and Kollam city. The services are due to commence in 2006, once electrification upto Trivandrum Central is completed in the next couple of months time. An EMU shed will be set up at Kollam.

Originally Posted by sudheeshnairs

Ajay, U made a little mistake, It is metre gauge, but not Kollam-Sasthankottah, but Kollam-Shenkottah. I think you meant Shenkottah at the first instance, is it??

[sudheeshnairs]

The Historic 'Hanging Bridge' at Punalur

Constructed by the British in 1877

Now it is not used for Traffic, a concrete bridge has been constructed by the side..

[sudheeshnairs]