Kollam harbours the Sahya Mountains on its eastern border and Arabian Sea on its western. Though, most famous for its delicious cashews, Kollam is also renowned for its beautiful and eye-pleasing sceneries. It is not only the district’s present that is absolutely remarkable, but its history is also rich in culture. The influence of the Dutch and the Portuguese can be easily spotted in and around the district. Earlier, the focal point of the revenue division of Travancore, today, it is home to the plush mineral sands, china clay, and titanium etc. People in the district are till date very fond of their society and background; they still follow their traditional calendar Kollavarsham- which is also the traditional calendar for the whole of Kerala. Even more attractive is the district’s architecture that was planned and designed by the Syrians. Various places that you must visit in Kollam have been listed below in order of their distance from the district:  Ashram Picnic Village: this is only two kilometres from the district and is the most ideal place to forget the frenzies of a hurried city life. As far as your stay here is concerned, there is a very refined guest house in the area. You must also visit the amusement and the traffic park here. However, Ashram Picnic Village’s biggest attraction are the backwaters, known by the name of Ashtamudi flowing right through the park that also complete the scenery here.