KOLLAM
Kollam is an old sea port town. Kollam had a sustained commercial reptation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Pliny (23-79 AD) mentions about Greek ships anchored at Musiris and Nelkanda. Musiris is identified with

Kodungallur (then ruled by the Chera kingdom) and Nelkanda with Quilon or Kollam (then under the Pandyan rule). Spices, pearls, diamonds and silk were exported to Rome from these two ports on the South Western coast of India. Of these pearls and diamonds came from Ceylon and the South eastern coast of India, then known as the Pandyan kingdom.

The rulers of Kollam (Desinganadu) and China, had trade relations with China and exchanged embassies. According to the records of the Tang Dynasty (618 AD to 913 AD) (Reference: Travancore Manual, page 244), Quilon was their chief port of call and was given the name 'Mahlai' by them. The Chinese trade decreased about 900 AD and was again revived in the 13th century. Marco Polo, who visited China's Kublai Khan's court, on his return journey to venice, travelled through Kollam and gave an interesting account of the flourishing port of Kollam (Coilum, as referred to by him) and its trade relations with China in the East and the Western countries. Chinnakada, (China-kada), the city center, was so named after the Chinese merchants. The increase in commercial activity resulted in establishment of flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam.

Merchant Soleyman of Siraf in Persia visited Malabar in the middle of the 9th century and found Quilon to be the only port in India touched by the huge Chinese ships on their way from Canton to the Persian Gulf.

Marco Polo, the great Venetian traveller, who was in Chinese service under Kublai Khan visited Kollam in 1293 A.D. on his return trip from China to Venice. He found Christians and Jews living in Coilum (Kollam). He also found merchants from China and Arabia. He has given a detailed account of Kollam in his writings, that are reproduced in the Travancore Manual.

According to Ibn Batuta, Kollam was one of the five ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels, in the 14th century.

The Portuguese were the first Europeans to establish a trading center at Kollam in 1502. Then came the Dutch followed by the British in 1795. The remnants of the Dutch forts can be found at Thangasseri. Velu Thampi Dalawa of Travancore, worked towards the improvement of the Kollam town. He helped build new markets and invited merchants and traders from Madras (now Chennai) and Tirunelveli to set up trade in Kollam. Kollam, to this day has a thriving business in cashewnuts, coir and spices.

Places of importance
Achencoil, Alumkadavu, Amritapuri, Chavara, Karunagappally, Kottarakkara, Mayyanad, Neendakara, Oachira, Palaruvi Water Falls, Paravur, Punalur, Sasthamcotta, Thangassery, Thenmala

How to reach
Railway : The district is covered by 132 kms. Of railway line, of which 51 kms. are broad gauge and 81 kms., metre gauge. There are 22 railway stations of which 9 are on broad gauge line and 13, on the metre gauge line. Kollam is an important railway junction. The Trivandrum - Ernakulam (via Kottayam and Alappuzha) line pas through Kollam. Kollam is the terminal junction of Madras - Egmore - Kollam metre gauge line.
Roads : Kollam has a total 1552.096 kms. Of roads. The National Highway 47 covers a distance of 57.4 kms. in the district. There are 8 The State Highway namely, Main Central Road, Kollam-Shencottah Road and Punalur-Pala-Muvattupuzha (Main Eastern Highway) with a total length of 266.52 kms. also networks the district.