KOLLAM PORT

This is the second largest port in Kerala by facilities and volume of cargo handled. Situated 4 kms from Kollam city centre, the port was once an icon of busy trade from the ninth century to the seventeenth century. It is now one of India’s twenty major ports located on the south west coast of India. Founded in the year 825 by Mar Abo, the port paved way for Quilon to become a premier city of the Malabar coast region ahead of Travancore and Cochin. Kollam was a port city of the Chera Dynasty till the formation of the independent Venad Kingdom of which it became the capital. Kollam adorns the place of busy sea trade from ancient times along with Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. As a major port it traded with several countries from ancient times. Thousands of Chinese coins and stone-age weapons discovered in 2014 at Kollam Port reveal the historic background and trade culture of the port city of Kollam. It has served as the business hub of people from China, the Middle East, the Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil and other European and Mediterranean countries. Vessels up to 15,000 DWT can berth directly at Kollam port now.