Kollam, the cashew district of two revenue divisions veined by the Ashtamudi lake

Background

Kollam, erstwhile Quilon, is a southern district of Kerala located 70 km north of the State capital Thiruvananthapuram.
It is flanked by the Arabian sea on the west, Tamil Nadu on the east, Alapuzha and Pathanamthitta districts on the north and Thiruvananthapuram district on the south.
The head quarters of the district administration is centred at Kollam City, the district's capital.
Administratively the district is composed of two revenue divisions, Kollam and Punalur, with three taluks each under them.
The district profile gives its area as 2491 Sq.Km. and its population as 25,84,118, with annual rainfall of 270 Cms.
The heart land of Kollam is naturally veined by the Ashtamudi lake, a massive multi-branched water body, and the Kollam canal cuts through the city.
Kollam has been the centre of cashew industry in Kerala from the time of the Portuguese in 16th c. and continues to be the largest processed cashew exporter in India.
Neendakara and Thangasseri are the two fishing harbours and ports in Kollam.