Kollam - Beaches and Backwaters 
------------------------------
Located 71 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam is another coastal
district of Kerala. One of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast, Kollam was
once the port of international spice trade. 30% of this historic town is
covered by the renowned Ashtamudi Lake making it the gateway to the magnificent
backwaters of Kerala. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the
longest backwater cruise in Kerala. The district which is the centre of the
country's cashew trading and processing industry also has some interesting
historic remnants and a number of temples built in the traditional ornate
architectural style. 


Thangasseri (Beach)
------------------
This seaside village of historic importance has the ruins of an old Portuguese
fort and churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri lighthouse is open
to visitors from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm. There are buses at 15 minute intervals
from Kollam town (5 km from Kollam town). 

Thirumullavaram (Beach)
----------------------
This secluded beach is a beautiful picnic centre and has frequent bus
connections to the town (6 km north of Kollam town). 


Alumkadavu (Backwater)
----------------------
Just 23 km from Kollam, Alumkadavu is half way on the route to Alappuzha from
Kollam. This quiet little backwater village in Karunagapally town is famed for
its boat building yard. It is here that the gigantic kettuvallams (cargo crafts
of rural Kerala) were built. Today the kettuvallams which were long replaced by
modern means of transport, have been converted into houseboats. 

Backwater tours: DTPC Kollam - Alappuzha cruise (departure: 10:30 am from the
boat jetty) Fare: Rs. 150/- per person. Half way journey from Kollam to
Alumkadavu: Rs. 100/- per person. Concession offered to International Student
Card holders. DTPC backwater village cruise on country boat(9:00 am to 1:30 pm,
2:00 pm to 6:30 pm) Fare: Rs.250/- per person DTPC pleasure boating in Thenmala
lake The District Tourism Promotion Council also has an exclusive fleet of
luxury boats and houseboats which are available on rent. Houseboat tariff
ranges from Rs. 3500 - 7500 for 2 persons for 24 hours.


Exclusive Houseboat Holiday Packages from DTPC - Kollam 
-------------------------------------------------------
Exotic blue water houseboat cruises Round trip cruise: Departure: 11:00 am from
Kollam Arrival: 5:00 pm at Kollam
Tariff: Single bedroom: Rs. 3000/- (70$) Double bedroom: Rs. 400/- (95$) See &
sleep cruise (Day cruise with overnight stay in the houseboat): Departure: 2:00
pm from Kollam Overnight stay: 6:00 pm to 6:00 am Arrival at Kollam (2nd day):
8:00 am. Tariff: Single bedroom: Rs. 3000/- (70$) Double bedroom: Rs. 4000/-
(95$) Star night cruise (Sunset cruise & night stay on the backwater):
Departure: 5:00 pm from Kollam Overnight stay: 6:30 pm to 6:30 am Arrival at
Kollam (2nd day): 7:30 am. Tariff: Single bedroom: Rs. 2000 (60$) Double
bedroom: Rs. 3500/- (85$) (Tariff inclusive of dinner & breakfast)

Houseboat cruise & resort stay package
--------------------------------------
Full day cruise in Kollam DTPC's Houseboat and stay in a reputed backwater
resort. Majestic cruise: Departure 10:00 am from Kollam Arrival: 5:00 pm at
Ashtamudi Backwater Resort with A/c suite room. Departure from Ashtamudi
Resort: 8:00 am Arrival at Kollam (2nd day): 9:30 am. Tariff (all inclusive):
Single family: Rs. 5500 (130$) Double family: Rs. 9000 (215$) Elegant cruise &
resort stay: 10:00 am from Kollam Arrival: 5:00 pm at Palm Lagoon Backwater
Resort, with natural cottage accommodation & special sea food cuisine
Departure: 8:00 am from Palm Lagoon Resort Arrival at Kollam (2nd day): 9:30
am. Tariff (all inclusive): Single family: Rs. 3000 (85$) Double family: Rs.
6000 (145$)

Houseboat cruise with Kathakali performance package
---------------------------------------------------
Full day houseboat cruise, Kathakali performance in the sunset hours and night
stay on board the houseboat Departure: 1:00 pm from Kollam Performance of
Kathakali at Thouryathrika performing art centre: 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm Overnight
stay: 6:30pm to 6:30 am Arrival at Kollam (2nd day): 10:00 am . Tariff (all
inclusive): Single bedroom: Rs. 5500 (130$) Double bedroom: Rs. 7000 (165$)

Royal gateway city packages
---------------------------
Covers all backwater towns in Kerala namely Kollam, Alappuzha, Kumarakom,
Kottayam & Kochi. Tariff (inclusive of hire, food and bata) Kollam - Alumkadavu
- Kollam & Kollam - Amrithapuri - Kollam: Full day cruise (If trip starts at
  10:00 am from Kollam the boat will be back at Kollam by 6:00 pm) Single - Rs.
3750 (90$) Double - Rs. 4350 (105$) Conference hall - Rs. 3500 (85$) Kollam -
Kayamkulam - Kollam: Full day cruise and night stay (If trip starts at 10:00 am
from Kollam it will be back at Kollam by 10:00 am the next morning) Single -
Rs. 6500 (155$) Double - Rs. 8200 (195$) Kollam - Alappuzha (one way): Full day
cruise and night stay (If trip starts at 10:00 am from Kollam it will reach at
Alappuzha by 10:00 am next morning) Single - Rs. 8175 (195$) Double - Rs.
10,125 (240$) Kollam - Alappuzha - Kumarakom/Kottayam: Two day & one night stay
(If trip starts at 10:00 am from Kollam it will reach Kumarakom/Kottayam on the
2nd afternoon) Single - Rs. 12,300 (295$) Double - Rs. 14,420 (345$) Kollam -
Alappuzha - Kochi: Two days & two nights (If the trip starts at 10:00 am from
Kollam it will reach Kochi on the third morning at 10:00 am) Single - Rs.
16,350 (390$) Double - Rs. 17,750 (420$) Additional day single - Rs. 500 per
hour Additional night stay (12 hours) Single - Rs. 1500 (35$) Note: Tourists
can decide the departure and arrival points (Alumkadavu to Alappuzha/from
Alappuzha to Amrithapuri; Ashram/Kollam to Alappuzha/Kochi to Kollam/Kumarakom
to Kollam etc.). Tariff subject to changes according to destination opted.

Kollam - Alappuzha/Alappuzha - Kollam Cruises
---------------------------------------------
The internationally popular regular one way - 8 hour - backwater cruise between
Kollam and Alappuzha/Alappuzha - Kollam is specially designed on double deck
cruiser. Departure: 10:00 am from Kollam Arrival: 6:00 pm at Alappuzha Tariff:
Adult (per person): Full way - Rs. 150/- (4$) Half way - Rs. 100/- (3$)
Children (below 12 years): Full way Rs. 100/- (3$) Half way Rs. 100/- (3$)
International Student Card Holders: Full way Rs. 100/- (3$) Half way Rs. 100/-
(3$)

Canal cruises
-------------
Kollam DTPC's prestigious canal cruises to the Munroe island village is the
best of its kind in India. Departure: 9:00 am from Kollam Arrival: 1:00 pm at
Kollam Tariff: Adult: Rs. 300 (7$) per person Children below 12 years): Free

Tourist boat cruises
--------------------
The mechanised and motorised tour section of DTPC has a wide range of luxury
boats for backwater cruises on the Ashtamudi backwaters.
Type of boat, capacity & fare:
Ashtamudi (luxury cruiser): 150 pax capacity: Rs. 1000 (25$)/ hr Rs. 7000
(170$) for 8 hours
Ms. Vatsala (luxury boat): 60 pax capacity: Rs. 500 (12$)/hr Rs. 3500 (85$) for
8 hours
Yatrika (open safari boat): 10 pax capacity: Rs. 200 (5 $)/hr Rs. 1400 (35$)
for 8 hours.
Aranya (closed safari boat): 8 pax capacity: Rs. 300 (8$)/ hr Rs. Rs. 2100
(50$) for 8 hours.
Pedal/Row boats: 4 persons /2 persons capacity: Rs. 20 per person per hour.
For more details, please contact: The Administrative Office, District Tourism
Promotion Council, Govt. Guest House Complex, Ashramam, Kollam - 2 Telefax:
742558 Email: dtpcqln@md3.vsnl.net.in www.dtpc-quilontourism.com
Tourist Reception Centre (DTPC) KSRTC Bus Stand, Kollam Ph: 745625
Tourist Information Centre (DTPC), Railway Station, Platform No. 4, Kollam

Houseboat operators:
-------------------
Tour India, Thiruvananthapuram Ph: 0471-331507 DTPC, Kollam Ph: 742558 Soma
Houseboats, Thiruvananthapuram Ph: 0471-481600 

