Located 71 Kms to the north of thiruvanathapuram , Kollam is another coastal district of Kerala.The district which is the centre of the country's cashew trading and processing industry also has some interesting historic remnants and a number of temples built in traditional ornate architechural style.

One of the oldest ports on the Malabar coast , kollam was once the port of international spice trade . 30% of this historic town is covered by renowned Ashtamudi lake, making it the gateway to the magnificient backwaters of Kerala.

The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is teh longest backwater cruise in Kerala.

Alumkadavu is halfway on the route to Alappuzha from Kollam . The quiet little backwater village in karunagapally town is famed for its boat building yard. It is here that the gigantic kettuvalam(cargo boats of rural Kerala) were built. Today the kettuvallams which were long replaced by mordern means of transport have been converted into houseboats.