Ashtamudi Lake
Ashtamudi Lake, in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body. It is second only in size to the Vembanad estuary ecosystem of the state. Ashtamudi means 'eight hills or peaks' in the local Malayalam language. The name is indicative of the lake's topography with its multiple branches. The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboat and backwater resorts.
Ashtamudi Wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
Ashtamudi Estuary is the deepest among all the estuaries in Kerala, with a maximum depth of 6.4 meters at the confluence zone.
Along both banks of the lake and its backwater canals, coconut groves and palm trees interspersed with towns and villages are seen. Kollam, is an important historic port city located on the right bank of the lake. Boat cruises are operated by the Kollam Boat Club from Kollam to Alappuzha providing transport access to many other towns and villages along this route. Chinese fishing nets, called cheena vala in Malayalam, are used by local fishermen and are a common sight along the waterway.
The lake and the city of Kollam on its banks and the Neendakara port at the confluence offer a means of transport for the state's trade and commerce in the cashew trading and processing industry as well as the marine products industry.
The lake is the source of livelihood of many people living close by. Fishing, coconut husk retting for coir production and inland navigation services are the prominent businesses.
In 2014, the Clam Governing Council of Ashtamudi lake became the first Marine Stewardship Council certified fishery in India for their sustainable clam fishing.
The lake and the life on its shores have inspired many artists and writers. It has been the subject of many poems by the renowned poet Thirunalloor Karunakaran who was born and brought up on its banks.
Eight arms of Ashtamudi estuary
Kandachira Kayal
Kandachira Kayal serves as the southern arm of Ashtamudi Lake, connecting three panchayats: Panayam, Thrikadavoor, and Mangadu. According to data from the Panayam Village Office, the catchment area of Kandachira Kayal is approximately 20 hectares and 10 ares. The Kayal area extends to Kandachira, Panayam, Kadavoor, Thrikadavoor, Anchalumood, Thevalli, Ashramam, and reaches the southern side of the KSRTC bus stand in Kollam. A significant quantity of municipal waste finds its way into the lake through the canal that traverses the southern and eastern regions of Kollam Town.Uliyakovil Kadavu, IInd Milestone, Kavanadu Kadavu, Mangadu Kadavu, Mangadu, Mangadu North, West of Kandachira Church, Kandachira, Road Kadavu Kandachira, Kaippana Kayalvaram, Vettuvila, Muttathumoola Kadavu, Kottilukada, Kuthirakkada, Venkekkara, KadavoorMurunthal, chirayil
Kureepuzha Kayal
Kureepuzha Kayal of Ashtamudi Estuary is often likened to the "Loch Lomond" of Kerala due to its resemblance to Loch Lomond in Britain. It is the busiest kayal in the Ashtamudi estuarine system as it is part of the National Waterway and serves as the only route to Kollam town from Neendakara. The Kollam Corporation waste dumping yard is situated on the left bank of Kureepuzha Kayal.Kottayathukadavu, Kochukottayathukadavu, Pandonni Kadavu, Kadavoor West, Mukkadayil, Thonippurakkal, Chamavila, Panamukkam, Thevadanathu Kayalvaram, Kureepuzha, Mamoottilkadavu Kureepuzha, Pathinettampadi Kadavu, Ayiravalli Temple, Aravila Kadavu, Malayante Kayalvaram, AiKadavu, Mundante Kadavu, Kuppana Erakkukadavu, Poovanthazham Temple, Chandakadavu, Vanvila, Oalikara, Thekkechirayil, Kanjaveli, Pochayil Kayalvaram, Challikkuzhi Kayalvaram, Gosthalakavu Kayalvaram, Kollante Kayalvaram, Panavila, Mukkekadavu, Pallikkadavu, Prakkulam, Sambranikodi, Neendakara, Sakthikulangara, Kallumpurathukadavu, Kaikkara Kadavu, Kallayyathu Kadavu, Kinattummoottil Kadavu, Mukkad Kadavu, Mukkad Pallikadavu, Kaniyan Kadavu, Aravila, Kavanad, Mamoottilkadavu North, Mamoottilkadavu, Kureepuzha, Kollam, Erattakadavu, Manalilkadavu, Kollam, Kaithavaram, Thoppilkadavu, Njanakshethram
Thevally Kayal
Kollam KSRTC Bus stand, Kollam Boatjetty, Kollam Asramam Link Road, Kollam Yathri Nivas / Tamirind, Advenger Park, Asramam West, Asramam North, Uliyajkovil, Uliyajkovil Thuruth, Thevally Fort, Thevally, Olayilkadavu, Postmortom KadavuKadapuzha Kayal (Kallada)
Kalladaparapu, Muttom, Thenguvila, Shingarapalli, Edachal, Pattakadavu, Manchadikadavu, Areekadavu, Mannukadavu, Arinalloor kadavu, Erunilakayal, Arinalloor pallikadavu, Cheri kadavu, KoyivilaPallikadavu, Koyivila Jetti, Kodikadavu, Mamottilkadavu, KalladaparampuKanjirottu Kayal
Vellimon, Padappakara, Kanjaveettil Kayalvaram, Vadhyarukadavu, Pookvarical, Thottarodimunambhu, Kattilpoika, Kuthiramunambhu, Kanjirottukadavu, Manchadimoola, Kaithakodi, Vellimon KadavuKumbalathu Kayal
Muttum Kadavu, Kadathukadavu, Valathil Mannukadavu, Kumbalam, Valiya Kumbalam, Padinjareathazhaveettil Kayalvaram, Oonambalam, Oonambalam West, Peringera Valavu, Kuzhikara, NellimukkamPerumon Kayal
Ashtamudi Kadavu, Thottathil Kayalvaram, Sanga Kadavu, Kannadimukku, Veerabadra Temple East, Karinjapalli, Chekkalayil Puthuvel, Mangalathu East, Koolpadam, Ottaffice Kayalvaram, Mundakkal Pallikadavu, Mundakal, Perumon, Perumon Devi Temple, Vadakkepura Kadavu, Koothala puthuval, Mulluvila Kadavu, Vellimon Kadavu, Nadeelaveettil puthuval, Kodiyil Kayalvaram, Chamakkadu, Road Kadavu, Chamakadavu, Thottumugamkadavu, Karuli Kadavu, Mampuzha Kadavu, Kuzhiyam, Pulikuzhi, Edakkara, Edakkara, Njaravila, Manchadimula Kadavu, Kaithakodi, Vellimon Resort Palace, Elavakuzhi, Karapoika Kadavu, Road Kadavu, Perumon Kadavu, Perumon Lake, Chemmakkadu Palli KadavuThekkumbhagum Kayal
Pamba, Nadutheri, Dalavapuram, Pulimoottil kadav, Thekkumbhagam, Pallikadavu, Thekkumbhagam, Pallapil, Maalil kadavu, Prakkulam, Prakkulam Jetty, Manalil kadavu, Malayarikkal, Malayarikkal kadavu, Ashtamudi, AshtamudiVeerabadraTemple, Mootharea Kayalvaram, Paumba bridge East, Pauba Jetty, Chavudi kayalvaram, Tholukadavu, Malibhagam, Thundivila kadavu, Njaramoodu, Ammavankodi, Koppanveettil Puthuval, Thekkum bhagam, Thuduvila kadavu, Panakottil shertraputhuval, Kandalathuputhuval, Ponnayathuputhuval, Guhanadhapuram, Kacheri Kadavu, Kadanmoola, Panamottilkadavu, Azhakathukadavu, Kulangaraveli, Valathil, Nadakavupalliputhuval, Munnapathu kadavu, Munnapathu North, Puttuvila, Pavamba west, Mukundapuram, Melampallikadavu, Pallikadavu, Karattil kadavu, Pannamoottil kadavu, Puthanthura, Delavapuram Old Bridge, Marryland panchayathukadavu, Neelaswaram Kadavu, Neendakara, VadakumbhagamHistory
A recent study on the late Quaternary evolution of the Ashtamudi-Sasthamkotta lake systems revealed that during the early Holocene period, Ashtamudi Lake had 12 creeks. Sasthamkotta Lake, Kerala's largest natural freshwater lake, which is now listed as a Ramsar site, was believed to have been part of Ashtamudi Lake approximately 10,000 years ago but became disconnected around 7,000 years ago. Currently, Sasthamkotta Lake has eight creeks. Two other creeks of the lake were disconnected during a similar process in the early Holocene period, namely Chittumala Lake and Cherupola Lake. During the disconnection period, the creek that later formed Sasthamcotta Lake had the upper estuary salinity of the then Ashtamudi Lake. It is estimated that it took at least 1,000 years for the disconnected water body to completely lose its salinity.Quilon or Kollam and inevitably Ashtamudi lake's importance is claimed to be dated to the days of the Romans and the Phoenicians. Ibn Batuta, during his 24-year sojourn in the 14th century, is reported to have mentioned about the Quilon port as one of the five ports for Chinese trade. Links with Persia, Chinese mandarin in 1275 AD, Portuguese in 1502 AD, and the Dutch followed British in 1795 AD are recorded history. Velu Thampi is credited with organizing the rebellion against the British from this place. During the colonial era, the Dutch Naval Commander General D’ Lanoy is believed to have ordered the reclamation of part of Ashtamudi marshes on the southern flanks, particularly in Dalawapuram, for the plantation of coconut and other fruit trees. Subsequently, in the nineteenth century, the British expanded the expanse of Quilon by establishing an army garrison and extending markets in the area. Railway links were established with Thirunelveli in 1904 and with Trivandrum in 1918, as documented by Menon. Furthermore, the establishment of roads and a railway link between Kollam and Ernakulam via Munroe Island in 1958 eventually led to the fragmentation of the Ashtamudi estuary into two parts, particularly isolating the Karali marshes.