Things to do in Kollam & Ashtamudi
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Kollam & Ashtamudi
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Best window, post monsoon green, cooler mornings, calm lake and migratory birds, with peak prices late December to January.
Onam season, date varying, with sadhya meals and boat race season building, humid and still wet at times.
Hot and humid summer, dawn starts, Palaruvi thin by late April and May, Kollam Pooram in April with a varying date.
Southwest monsoon, heavy rain, rough sea, flooded Munroe paths and possible ferry, canoe and waterfall closures.
Northeast monsoon brings further rain in October and November even as the main season opens.
What's on
- President's Trophy Boat Race 1 November
Snake boats race on Ashtamudi from near Thevally Palace toward the houseboat terminal for Kerala Piravi.
- Kollam Pooram April, date varies
A major temple festival at Asramam in Kollam, with elephants and percussion, in the hot season.
Best things to do in Kollam & Ashtamudi
Thangassery Light House
Striped 1902 lighthouse above the old port quarter, with the best sea and lake mouth view in Kollam at late afternoon.
Kollam Beach
Town beach for a sunset walk and fishing boats, but the currents are strong so treat the sea as scenery, not swimming.
Thevally Palace
A red roofed lakeside palace now in office use, worth it for the Ashtamudi setting and the boat race course view.
Thirumullavaram Beach
A quieter palm lined beach by a temple, better for a morning walk than Kollam Beach and still not a swimming beach.
Neendakara Port
Kerala's largest fishing harbour at the lake mouth, best early when trawlers land and the auction is in full swing.
Sambranikodi Island
A small mangrove island stop on the lake cruise, with shallow water and clam picking, modest rather than tropical.
Where to stay in Kollam & Ashtamudi
Thevally and Ashtamudi shore
lake resorts and quiet
Home to the Leela and Hotel Allseason, with lake views, pools and boats, a short drive from the centre.
Kollam Beach and Pallithottam
sea views in town
The Quilon Beach Hotel strip, good for sunset walks, with the honest limit that the beach is not for swimming.
Chinnakada and station area
budget and transport
Central Kollam for trains, town restaurants and cheap hotels, busy and commercial rather than scenic.
Paravur
quiet luxury lake stay south of town
A separate lake resort base at Nedungolam, calm and spacious, with a drive needed for Kollam excursions.
Think twice about
- Kollam Beach water
Strong currents make swimming unsafe. Walk the beach, do not swim, and do not treat Kollam as a swimming beach base.
- Thangassery and Neendakara after dark
Port and harbour edges are isolated and poorly lit at night. Visit in daylight and keep to populated areas after dark.
Best restaurants in Kollam & Ashtamudi
Keraleeyam
The splurge Kerala meal in Kollam, lake facing at the Leela, built around fish curry meals and karimeen.
The Fisherman's Bay
Sea facing seafood at Kollam Beach, prawns, crab and fish of the day, with hotel prices and a sunset setting.
Wok & Grill Chinese Thai Fusion
A town favourite on Beach Road for Chinese and Thai dishes, the useful change of pace from fish curry meals.
Hotel Mahalekshmi
A Kollam institution since 1948 for seafood meals, fish curry and prawn fry at everyday prices, best at lunch.
Ramees Restaurant
A busy good value station area restaurant for biryani and Kerala meals, with generous portions and fast turnover.
Outdoor things to do in Kollam & Ashtamudi
Munroe Island
Eight low islets seen by sunrise canoe through narrow canals, coir villages and mangroves that houseboats cannot enter.
Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal
Board the eight hour Kollam to Alappuzha ferry here, the longest regular backwater ride in Kerala at a public fare.
See Ashtamudi
A five hour government lake cruise with a Sambranikodi stop, the best value introduction to Ashtamudi in half a day.
Ashtamudi Lake
The lake done privately on a premium houseboat, wide open water, on board Kerala meals and sunset at anchor.
Jatayu Earth's Center
A hilltop park around a vast Jatayu sculpture, reached by cable car, with an adventure zone at extra cost.
Palaruvi Waterfalls
A 91 metre forest waterfall near Aryankavu, strongest just after the monsoon and best paired with Thenmala.
Thenmala Ecotourism
A hill ecotourism centre with an elevated walkway, adventure zone and reservoir boating, best as a full day.
Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
Western Ghats forest treks from Thenmala, with birds and riverine forest and wildlife as a bonus, not a promise.
Best hotels in Kollam & Ashtamudi
The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel
The luxury lake stay at Thevally, with lake facing rooms, an infinity pool, a spa and boats on Ashtamudi.
Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort & Ayurveda Spa
A luxury ayurveda resort on Paravur Lake south of town, with large villas, a pool and the Prana spa for quiet days.
Hotel Allseason
A mid range lake facing hotel at Thevally with a pool and boat cruises, a sensible moderate base on Ashtamudi.
The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre
A sea view tower by Kollam Beach with a pool and a seafood restaurant, a business hotel feel rather than boutique.
Ashtamudi Villas
A small budget villa stay on the Kollam lake side, with home cooked food and a local host at homestay prices.
Shah International Hotel
A cheap central bed near the station on Residency Road, useful for train timings and strictly budget in standard.
Is Kollam & Ashtamudi expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | ₹3,500 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | ₹8,000 a person |
| Splurge | ₹22,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Munroe Island: a few days ahead
- Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal: a few days ahead
- See Ashtamudi: a few days ahead
- Ashtamudi Lake: weeks ahead
- Jatayu Earth's Center: a few days ahead
- Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary: a few days ahead
- The Leela Ashtamudi, A Raviz Hotel: weeks ahead
- Fragrant Nature Backwater Resort & Ayurveda Spa: weeks ahead
- Book the Kollam to Alappuzha ferry and See Ashtamudi on holidays, and a sunrise Munroe canoe with a named operator.
- Book Jatayu cable car slots on weekends and lake facing rooms in late December and for the boat race.
Is Kollam & Ashtamudi safe?
- Do not swim at Kollam or Thirumullavaram beaches because of strong currents.
- Use mosquito protection by the lake at dawn and dusk, drink sealed or filtered water, and respect monsoon boat cancellations.
Kollam & Ashtamudi travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Houseboat quotes without route, hours, meals, licence and anchoring place stated.
- Whole fish ordered without a confirmed price, and Kollam sold as a swimming beach holiday.
- Stacking Jatayu, Thenmala and Palaruvi into one rushed car day.
Getting around Kollam & Ashtamudi: public transport and more
- Trains from Kollam Junction reach Thiruvananthapuram in about 1 to 1.5 hours and run north to Alappuzha and Kochi.
- Thiruvananthapuram airport is about 70 km south, usually 2 to 3 hours by road.
- Munroe Island, Thenmala and Jatayu are each a half or full day by road, not town hops.
Who Kollam & Ashtamudi suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Great |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Kollam & Ashtamudi your trip
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