Kollam is an important district of the state with regards to trade and commerce and is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry. It is also an important hub of the state's marine products industry, with the port of Neendakara being the centre for trawlers, exporting units and ice plants.Its Head Quarters is Kollam Corporation, which has a rare recognition of having "the first muslim woman mayor of India". Mrs Sabita Begum got this recognition on 2001.
Quilon or Kollam, an old sea port town on the Arabian coast, stands on the Ashtamudi lake. Kollam, the erstwhile Desingnadu, has a sustained commercial reputation from the days of the Phoenicians and the Romans. Fed by the Chinese trade, it was regarded by Ibn Batuta, as one of the five chief ports, which he had seen in the course of his travels during qa period of twenty four years, in the 14th Century. The rulers of Kollam (Designatdu) and China, exchanged embassies and there was a flourishing Chinese settlement at Kollam. Merchant Sulaiman of Siraf in Persia (9th Century) found Kollam to be the only port in India, touched by the huge Chinese junks, on his way from Canton to Persian Gulf. Marco Polo, the great Venician traveller, who was in Chinese Service under Kublahan visited Kollam and other towns on the west coast, in his capacity as a Chinese mandarin during 1292-93. BARE FACTS Area (sq. kms.) : 2491 Population (in 000,s) : 2408 Percentage to State population : 8.27 Males (in 000’s) : 1183 Females (in 000’s) : 1225 Sex ratio : Females/1000 males : 1035 Density of population(Per sq. km,) : 967 Per capita Income ( in RSs.) : Rs.5201 No. of households (ooo’s) : 490 Average size of family : 4.29 Projected population as on 1st March Year : 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Population (in000’s) : 2574 2609 2644 2680 2716 (Source: Dept. of Economics Statistics) The nearest airport to Kollam is the Trivandrum Airport which is around 71 km. Kollam is also connected by rail from almost all the major cities in India and also has road connections to almost all the tourist centres in India. The major tourist places in Kollam are the Astamudi backwaters, Adventure park, Ariankavu piligrim centre, Palaruvi waterfalls, Thirumullavaram beach, Sasthamcotta fresh water lakes etc.
Links from Kollam
Kollam is the birth place of Matha Amritananda Mayi Devi - AMMA
Amrita University Campus,Kollam
Alumni Association of SN College,Kollam
Kerala Minerals And Metals Limited
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