Kollam

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

Ashtamudi backwaters and cashew town

Why this weekend?

Ashtamudi lakeMunroe island canoeCanal cruise

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The day-by-day plan

Day 1 · The backwaters
- Canoe ride
- Lake point
- Thangasseri walk
- Market stop
- 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
Canoe canals
Old fort
Spice markets
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 · Best: 20–31°C · None rain
Feb · Best: 21–33°C · None rain
Mar · Hot: 23–35°C · None rain
Apr · Hot: 25–36°C · Moderate rain
May · Pre-monsoon: 26–35°C · Moderate rain
Jun · Monsoon: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Jul · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Aug · Monsoon: 23–31°C · Heavy rain
Sep · Monsoon tail: 24–32°C · Heavy rain
Oct · Good: 24–33°C · Moderate rain
Nov · Best: 22–32°C · Light rain
Dec · Best: 20–31°C · None rain

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

What is Kollam?

The backwater town of the Ashtamudi lake.

What is there to do?

The canoe rides, the lake and the markets.

How long is the visit?

A full day.