Kollam, a beautiful sea port is also known as the 'cashew paradise' of Kerala. The geography of Kollam is diverse with jeweled lakes, rolling plains, mountains, rivers, sea and also dense forest. The location of Kollam is within the geographical co-ordinates of 8.54? North latitude and 76.38? East longitude. Kollam, previously known as Quilon, is located at a distance of 71 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala.
Kollam is flanked by the state of Tamil Nadu in the east, the Panthanamthitta district to its north, Tiruvananthapuram district to its south and the Lakshawadeep islands to its west. The beautiful city is nestled between the Ashtamudi Lake and the Arabian Sea. The rivers and the natural lakes are an integral part of Kollam geography. Sasthamcotta is the only fresh water lake in Kollam. Ithikkara and Kallada are the main rivers of the region. Kollam is also fringed with dense forests, which abound in teak, sandalwood and other softwood trees.
