Kollam or Quilon is an old seaport town situated on the Laccadive Sea coast along the banks of Ashtamudi Lake. Ashtamudi Lake is considered to be the southern gateway to the backwaters of Kerala.
Kollam is famous as an ancient spice trading town and is known for its traditional and colonial architecture, cashew nut processing, fisheries, etc.
Major tourist sites in and around Kollam: Sardar Vallabhai Patel Police Museum, Thevally Palace, Backwaters Picnic Village, Sree Venkatachalapathy Temple, etc.

Tourism Board Website