Kerala is splendid with its lush green coconut trees, the serene backwaters and the soothing Ayurvedic massages. The unique feature of Kerala is its backwaters. It has a network of lakes, canals, and rivers opening into the Arabian sea. The canals connect villages and are still used for local transport. The backwaters are self-supporting eco-system full of aquatic life. Ashtamudi is the second largest backwaters in Kerala.

Kollam (Quilon) is one of the serene towns situated on the banks of Ashtamudi lake. Kollam is an interesting blend of rich heritage, diverse cultures and natural beauty. It is the southern gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. The place is prominent for cashewnut and spices trade. The Malayalam era is marked with the founding of Kollam in the 9th century. The later history of the town is linked with competitions of Portuguese, Dutch, and English for monopoly over Indian ocean trade routes and the goods grown in this part.

Ashtamudi means, 'eight-armed'. It is a palm-shaped extensive water body with eight prominent arms, adjoining the Kollam town. The lake is 55 kms long and is divided into eight creeks. The arms converge into a single outlet at Neendakara near Kollam, to enter the Lakshadweep sea. This estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries of Kerala with a maximum depth of 6.4 m at the confluence zone. Ashtamudi lake is famous for its magnificent landscape views. There are coconut groves and palm trees all along the banks of the lake and the uniformity is broken by the quiet town of Kollam. The Kollam Boat Club offers boats to cruise in the lake. You can enjoy a remarkable backwater tour starting from Kollam to Alappuzha. You can see the famous Chinese fishing nets beside the coconut palms, all along the banks. Kollam was the port of international spice trade. Thirty percent of this historic town is covered by Ashtamudi Lake. The eight hour trip between Kollam and Alappuzha is the longest backwater cruise in Kerala.