Kollam--the land before time and of time.

Been in Kollam for the last week and a half. Time is measured in Kerala in 'kollam' and its calendar is called the 'Kolla-varsham' (Kollam year). Kollam is a beautiful land - nestling beside the Arabian sea on its west and caressing the Western Ghats in the east its always a song in rhyme!







From the ancient kingdom of Desinganad, Kollam has come a long way and absorbed and inculturated all along the way. Called Quilon by the Europeans and known as such for many more years until recently when it reverted back to Kollam.

Colourful boats that bring in the daily catch

Breakwater--Tangasseri

Kollam is spectacularly beautiful, dirty at times, vibrant even in slumber, an eclectic mix of cultures and languages and in short its a microcosm of the world.

Fatima Mata National College

Its people are earthy, worldly wise and yet have a curious form of honesty about them. The many educational institutions that dot its landscape is ample evidence to the importance that its peoples give to education. The average Joe will be a university graduate and teaching is one of its favourate professions. In fact Kollams main exports are cashews and teachers to the world over.