Kollam Beach, also known as Mahatma Gandhi Beach, is a beach at

Kollam Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city i ...

city in the Indian state of

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

. Kollam Beach is the first 'Beach Wedding Destination' in Kerala. The beach also features a park of international standard, the

Mahatma Gandhi Park Mahatma Gandhi Park (also known as ''MG park'') is a public park situated near Kollam Beach in the city of Kollam, Kerala, India. It is about 2 km away from Chinnakada - The city centre of 'Kollam, Cashew Capital of the World'. It is one o ...

, which was inaugurated on 1January 1961 by the then Vice President of India,

Zakir Hussain Zakir Hussain ( ur, , link=no) is the name of: * Zakir Husain (politician), an Indian politician and former president of India * Zakir Hussain (actor), Bollywood actor * Zakir Hussain (field hockey) (1934–2019), Pakistani field hockey player * ...

. Kollam beach is one among the few beaches in Kerala with a lifeguard outpost. Lifeguards were stationed at the beach from 2005.

Kovalam Kovalam is a region in the city of Trivandrum, around 13 km southwest of the city center, whose beaches are a tourist destination. Etymology Kovalam means " coconut grove," after the coconut trees which are common there. History Koval ...

, Kollam is one among the three beaches in south Kerala with lifeguard outposts.

Overview

Kollam Port Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated away from Downtown Kollam (formerly Quilon),14 km north of Paravur and 24 km north of Varkala Town It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities. ...

is one of the oldest and most important ports for the international

cashew The cashew tree (''Anacardium occidentale'') is a tropical evergreen tree native to South America in the genus ''Anacardium'' that produces the cashew seed and the cashew apple accessory fruit. The tree can grow as tall as , but the dwarf cult ...

trade on the

Malabar Coast The Malabar Coast is the southwestern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Geographically, it comprises the wettest regions of southern India, as the Western Ghats intercept the moisture-laden monsoon rains, especially on their westward-facing m ...

of the Arabian Sea. , Kollam Port was the second largest port in Kerala after

Cochin Port Cochin Port or Kochi Port is a major port on the Arabian Sea – Laccadive Sea – Indian Ocean sea-route in the city of Kochi and is one of the largest ports in India. It is also the first transshipment port in India. The port lies on t ...

was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English in succession before Independence. The port is protected by the

Tangasseri Tangasseri or Thangassery is a heavily populated beach area on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kollam city, Kerala, India. Location Tangasseri is located about from the city centre and from Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Archaeologi ...

Breakwater, extending about south-south east of

Point. The exotic location and backwaters makes Kollam Beach one of Kerala's most popular tourist attractions.

Marine Aquarium

On 22June 2014, construction work started on a marine aquarium at Kollam Beach, which was first of its kind in the state of

. The Harbour Engineering Department is constructing the aquarium at the eastern side of the beach on behalf of

Kollam Municipal Corporation Kollam Municipal Corporation (KMC) is an ISO 9001:2015 certified civic body that governs the city of Kollam in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the fourth-largest city corporation by population in the state, and the fifth-largest by area. Con ...

. The foundation stone for the project was laid in March and is expected to complete by December 2014. It will be a single storey aquarium with 40 large tanks to hold a diverse collection of marine life and will be an added attraction for visitors to Kollam beach.A home for marine life in Kollam
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Tangasseri Lighthouse

The Tangasseri lighthouse built in 1902 is a major landmark at the beach.

Historic monuments

Ruins of Portuguese / Dutch forts and 18th-century churches near the port remain as a memento of the Portuguese and Dutch rule of the area.

Gallery

File:Leuchtturm in Kollam.jpg,

Tangasseri Lighthouse Tangasseri Lighthouse or Thangassery Lighthouse is situated at Tangasseri in Kollam city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the two lighthouses in the Kollam Metropolitan Area and is maintained by the Cochin Directorate General of Li ...

near Kollam Beach File:തങ്കശ്ശേരി_പുലിമുട്ടിൽ_നിന്നൊരു_ദൃശ്യം.JPG, Breakwater at Tangasseri File:Clock-tower in Kollam Beach, Apr 2017.jpg, Clocktower in Kollam Beach File:Marine Aquarium (UC) at Kollam Beach.jpg, Marine Aquarium under construction at Kollam Beach File:Jalakeli Kendram, Kollam.jpg, Jalakeli Kendram near the beach File:Kollam Corporation Health Club.jpg, Kollam Corporation Health Club near Kollam Beach File:Kollam beach sky view.jpg, Kollam beach sky view

Events in Kollam

President's Trophy Boat Race The President's Trophy Boat Race ( ml, പ്രസിഡന്റ്'സ് ട്രോഫി വള്ളം കളി) is a popular boat race held on the Ashtamudi lake in Kollam city on 1 November every year. The day marks the birth of th ...

Kollam pooram Kollam Pooram (Malayalam : കൊല്ലം പൂരം) is a festival held each April in Kollam City in the Indian state of Kerala. The festival attracts large number of people from all parts of the state and is organised in connection with ...

Other renowned beaches in Kerala

* Paravur Thekkumbhagam *

Varkala Varkala, is a major coastal municipality situated in the northern suburb of Trivandrum, capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is the headquarters of Varkala Taluk and important government institutions such as the taluk office, court ...

References

External links

{{Tourism in Kerala Tourist attractions in Kollam Beaches of Kollam