Kollam: Five places to experience the monsoons

Kollam is a land blessed with diverse resources - forests, lakes, sea, hills and islands. And this makes it a perfect spot for monsoon travel. The rains enhance its beauty to an ethereal level. The district offers you everything to whisper sweet nothings to the drizzle or enjoy the myriad music of nature as water and the wind creates the perfect symphony of sounds during a heavy downpour. And when it pours, a trip to these five places are a must for a traveler in a hurry. **1. Kumbhavurutty waterfalls** It's a festival during rains at Kumbhavurutty and most tourists here come from Tamilnadu. You can reach the place from Punaloor or from Chengotta. You have to trek a kilometer through forests to reach the falls, you can see mountain squirrels, monkeys, and peacocks. Sometimes you can see deer. Tickets: Rs 25 for adults and Rs 15 for kids. **2. A houseboat on Ashtamudi Lake** If you have heard about the beauty of Ashtamudi Lake, then you can take a quick trip on DTPC's boat cruise for Rs 50. There are also many private operators here who offer a better experience on the lake. Cruises start at 5 pm from Ashraamam Adventure park. Be careful of the seas since tides are strong. **3. A boat trip through the forests** The Shenthuruni- Thenmala eco tourism program, gives you the chance to see elephants and wild buffaloes in their pristine surroundings frolicking in the rains. Boat safaris are available in the morning and evening. While buffaloes and deer are quite easily spotted, big cats are rarely seen. The program also lets you enjoy the beauty of Thenmala, which is about 73 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram. **4. Paalaruvi waterfalls** Water cascading over the rocks at Paalaruvi looks beautiful during the rains. You need to travel about four kilometers into the forest in order to see the waterfall. DTPC has arranged travel to Paalaruvi from Kollam, which costs about Rs 800 without food. You get to travel to temples, hanging bridges, Thenmala lookout etc as part of the trip. **5. Munroe Islands** There is a lot to see at Munroe Islands. DTPC offers a Village Backwater Tour to Munroe Islands at 9 am and 2 pm. You need to travel 27 kilometers by road and then embark on a boat trip for 2.5 hours. The trip would take you through narrow waterways and you can see mangroves, Chinese fishing nets, copra units and so on.