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Kollam

Kollam

1 dayBest: Sep–MarLakes#backwaters#canoe#quiet
1 day Sep–Mar

Ashtamudi backwaters and cashew town

Why this weekend?

Ashtamudi lakeMunroe island canoeCanal cruise
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The day-by-day plan

Day 1Day 1 · The backwaters
  1. Canoe ride
  2. Lake point
  3. Thangasseri walk
  4. Market stop
  5. Return

Geography & terrain

Kollam lies in the Kollam district of Kerala on the Arabian Sea, 70 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 150 km from Kochi — the backwater town of the region, its Ashtamudi lake, the canoe rides and the markets set on the lake's many arms.

History & culture

The town's story runs with the spice-route centuries — the old port of the Chinese and the Persian trade (the Quilon of the travellers), with the town's modern role as the gateway of the backwater circuit and the home of the cashew industry; the town's history of the 9th-century kingdom and the old churches and the synagogues of its lanes, gives Kollam its backwater-town character.

Where to stay

Budget

₹1,000–2,500/night

Mid-range

₹2,500–5,000/night

Comfort

₹5,000+/night

Things to do

Ashtamudi lake
🌟

Ashtamudi lake

Canoe canals
🌟

Canoe canals

Old fort
🌟

Old fort

Spice markets
🌟

Spice markets

Palm banks
🌟

Palm banks

Eat & drink

  • Karimeen pollichathu
  • Appam with stew
  • Malabar porotta
  • Sadya on banana leaf

Getting there

Fly
Kochi (COK) / Thiruvananthapuram (TRV) / Kozhikode (CCJ)
Train
Kochi, Kollam, Kozhikode junctions
Road from Kochi
varies by district — 50–400 km
Getting around
Autos, KSRTC buses, ferry networks

Budget snapshot

Total
₹3,000–8,000 (1 days)
Per day · Stay
₹1,000–5,000/night
Per day · Food
₹600–1,000
Per day · Transport
₹600–1,000
Per day · Activities
₹700–1,100

Month by month

Jan—
Feb—
Mar—
Apr—
May—
Jun—
Jul—
Aug—
Sep—
Oct—
Nov—
Dec—

Practical info

  • Language: Malayalam (English understood in tourist spots)
  • Best window: Sep–Mar
  • Connectivity: good 4G in towns
  • UPI/cards widely accepted; keep small cash for hill and market stops

Practical tips

  • The season (Sep–Mar) holds the calm waters
  • The canoe rides ask the morning hours
  • Pairs with Alleppey for the backwater circuit

Frequently asked questions

The backwater town of the Ashtamudi lake.

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The canoe rides, the lake and the markets.

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A full day.

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Ashtamudi backwaters and cashew town

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