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South India · India
Kollam & Ashtamudi
An eight-armed lake, the country's longest backwater cruise for the price of a bus ticket, and a cashew-and-coir port town most visitors skip on the way to Alleppey.
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Ashtamudi ('eight-armed') Lake is Kerala's second-largest backwater, and Kollam was the original departure point for canal boats long before Alleppey became the houseboat capital. The state ferry runs the eight-hour Kollam–Alleppey backwater route for the price of a bus ticket — the cheapest way in India to see the full length of these canals, palm groves and paddy fields. The town itself, a working port for cashew and coir, has real streets rather than a tourist strip.
Where Kerala's backwater houseboats actually started. Works for everyone. Best months: Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec.
When to go
November to February is clearest for the ferry ride. The monsoon backwaters are green and full but the ferry can be suspended in very heavy rain — check before you travel.
Getting there
One-way ticket price per person — double it for the return, which is what the cost example below uses. The cheapest sensible option is marked.
| Option | Notes | Time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Train Thiruvananthapuram / Ernakulam → Kollam Junction | On the main Kerala coastal line, very frequent. | 1–2 h | ₹150 one-way |
| Bus CHEAPEST Thiruvananthapuram / Kochi → Kollam | Frequent KSRTC and private buses. | 1–2 h | ₹100 one-way |
| Flight + road → Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), then 1 h | Trivandrum is the nearest airport, about 70 km. | 1 h + 1 h | ₹5,500 one-way |
What it actually costs
Example for a couple, 7 days, mid-range, starting from Thiruvananthapuram. Return transport, a bed each night, three meals a day, local travel and entry tickets are all included. This is one example, not a quote — use the live planner to price your own dates, party size and budget style.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Return bus (Bus one-way ₹100 × 2 × 2 people) | ₹400 |
| Beds, food, local travel & tickets (7 days, mid-range) | ₹19,516 |
| Total for the couple | ₹19,916 |
Getting around
| Option | Notes | Suits | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| On foot | The jetty, market and old town are walkable. | Solo, Couple, Family | Free |
| State ferry to Alleppey | An eight-hour public backwater cruise — book at the jetty counter, arrive early for a window seat. | Solo, Couple, Group, Family | ₹400/one-way |
| Local ferry to Munroe Island | A short hop to a set of islands formed by a 19th-century canal-cutting project. | Solo, Couple | ₹20/trip |
Where to sleep
| Tier | Notes | Suits | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget Lodge · Near the bus stand / jetty | Plain but functional, close to the ferry. | Solo, Group | ₹800/night |
| Homestay Family home · Munroe Island | Island homestays with canoe trips through the canals. | Couple, Solo | ₹1,400/night |
| Mid Hotel · Kollam town | A few reliable mid-range options near the beach and lake. | Family, Couple | ₹2,200/night |
Eating
Easy. Meals houses and Kerala vegetarian food are everywhere in the town.
| Tier | What | Notes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₹90 | Kerala meals | Everyday meals houses in the town centre. | ₹90 |
| ₹200 | Karimeen and prawn dishes | Lake fish is the local specialty. | ₹200 |
| ₹50 | Cashew snacks | Kollam is India's cashew-processing capital — buy roasted cashews fresh from a local shop. | ₹50 |
What to actually do
| Activity | Notes | Takes | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kollam–Alleppey backwater ferry | The single best-value backwater experience in Kerala — the same canals as an expensive houseboat, on a public boat. | 8 h | ₹400 |
| Munroe Island canoe trip | A network of small islands and canals, quieter than Alleppey or Kumarakom. | 3 h | ₹500 |
| Thangassery Lighthouse & beach | A colonial-era lighthouse and old Portuguese fort ruins by the sea. | 1 h 30 m | ₹20 |
| Kollam beach & Mahatma Gandhi Park | An easy evening walk in town. | 1 h | Free |
| Palaruvi Falls | A tall waterfall about 75 km inland, near the Tamil Nadu border. | Half day | ₹100 |
More of Kollam & Ashtamudi
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Shishirdasika, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sanu N, CC BY-SA 4.0
What goes wrong here, and how to do it cheaper
What goes wrong:
The Kollam–Alleppey ferry runs once a day and can be suspended in very heavy weather — confirm it is running before you plan your day around it.
Book the ferry ticket early for a window seat; it fills up in season.
The eight hours are worth it for the backwaters, but there is little to do once you commit — bring water, snacks and sun protection.
How to do it cheaper:
Take the state ferry instead of a private houseboat — the same scenery for a fraction of the price.
Munroe Island is a quieter, cheaper alternative to Alleppey's more commercial canals.
Buy cashews direct from a Kollam processing shop — they're fresher and cheaper than anywhere else in Kerala.
Nearby
| Place | How | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alleppey 85 km by road / 8 h by ferry | Bus or state ferry | Onward | ₹400 |
| Varkala 35 km | Bus or train | Onward | ₹50 |
| Thiruvananthapuram 70 km | Train or bus | Onward | ₹80 |
| Courtallam (Tamil Nadu) 65 km | Bus via Tenkasi | Onward | ₹100 |
Money & connectivity
| Notes | |
|---|---|
| Cash | Ferry counter, market, small eateries. |
| Card & UPI | Mid hotels. |
| Mobile signal | Good. |
| ATMs | Kollam town centre. |
When is the best time to visit Kollam & Ashtamudi?
Jan–Apr, Sep–Dec is the best window. November to February is clearest for the ferry ride. The monsoon backwaters are green and full but the ferry can be suspended in very heavy rain — check before you travel.
How do you get to Kollam & Ashtamudi?
The cheapest sensible option is bus (Thiruvananthapuram / Kochi → Kollam), around ₹100 one-way per person.
How much does a trip to Kollam & Ashtamudi cost?
For a couple travelling mid-range for 7 days from Thiruvananthapuram, budget roughly ₹19,916 total — return transport, stay, food, local travel and entry tickets. Shoestring and comfortable budgets run lower and higher; use the live planner on tripunder.com to price your own dates and party size.
Plan your own Kollam & Ashtamudi trip
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Open the planner →Costs are indicative ballparks for budget travel and change with season and demand — always check live fares and rates before you book; the live planner links straight to where you'd book each piece. Photographs are sourced from Wikimedia Commons, credited above and in full at /credits/. Trip Under features underrated destinations only, is reader-planned, and takes no affiliate commission on any booking link.