ashtamudi kaayal

[padmanabha]

To visit Kerala and not explore the beauty of her backwaters is to miss a wonderful experience. The State is dotted with plenty of backwaters [kayals] and one such is the Ashtamudi Lake, located in the district of Kollam.

Kollam is considered as the gate way point of backwaters of Kerala. It stands on the Ashtamudi Lake that is the lake with eight creeks, with its belt of palm trees and beautiful promontories of red laterite and china clay breaking the monotony of green.

Kollam is an ancient port. The Phoenicians, Arabs, Greeks, and Chinese have traded with it in their day. The Chinese established a colony here and manufactured exquisite porcelain ware. The Portuguese were the first to locate a trading centre in Kollam.

The journey from Alappuzha to Kollam is more fascinating than the one between Kochi and Alappuzha. The way lies through palm fringed canals, and rivers and narrow lakes and one can enjoy the vibrant life of the people on either bank, engaged in all kinds of rural pursuits for a livelihood. Luxuriant tropical scenery and groves of coconut palms greet one everywhere as the boat cruise through lakes, and lagoons. It is a delight to the eye in its vistas of exquisite natural scenery.

The journey between Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram can be done by train or by road. In ancient days country boats were used.