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Kerala Ashtamudi Lake
This lake is one of the most beautiful lakes in the state of Kerala, which is more commonly known as ‘God’s own land’. The lake has derived from its shape. This is a palm shaped or octopus shaped lake and that is why, it is called Ashtamudi or eight coned lakes. This is the second largest and the deepest wetland ecosystem in the state of Kerala. The lake is situated in the Kollam District of Kerala. The name of the lake is in the local language which is Malayalam. The name is also an indication of the topography of the lake.
This lake is also known as the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala. This backwater is the attraction that brings in number of tourists in the country. Indeed the lake and its surrounding can demand to be the crown jewel of the Kerala and its beauty, because the lake in itself is well known for the picturesque presence and beauty. The water in itself is tempting and mesmerizing. Add the beauty of the surroundings and you will get one of the most beautiful places in the world. This lake is also in the list of wetlands with international importance, and it got the status during the Ramsar Convention.
History
If you are interested about the history of Ashtamudi Lake, then you need to know that the importance of the lake dates back to the time of the Phoenicians and the Romans. The presence of the lake was then and the presence was felt too. No one can tell how the lake formed, but there is a theory, that like most of the lakes and the backwaters of Kerala, this lake was also formed during some movement of the tectonic plates. During one point in the history, the coastline went underwater and then again come up. When the coastline came up, the water got lodged and created the backwaters and these lakes.
Apart from this, there is another kind of historical importance of the lake too and that dates back to that time too. During his 24 years of sojourn, Ibn Batuta wrote about the lake in the 14th century. He has also reported about Quilon as one of the most important five ports for Chinese trade. In order to get to the port, Ashtamudi is indeed very important. According to the historical records, the lake and the port have links with Persia in the 9th century, Chinese Mandarin in the 1275 AD, with the Portuguese in 1502 AD and with the Dutch and British in 1795 AD.
Attraction
The main attraction of the lake is indeed the pristine beauty and the lush greenery. Apart from the beauty of the water and the lake, the surrounding is very beautiful too. The backwater and all those peeks into the rural world and life of Kerala are not only beautiful, but will provide you with an experience of the lifetime. You will be able to ride the local boats and take a cruise through the precious and stunning backwaters. If you want, then you can stay in one of the boats.
How To Reach
If you want to visit Ashtamudi Lake, then you have to first reach the city of Kollam. This city is about 71 km from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Anyone can get to this airport and then take a private car or rent a car or take a taxi and go to Quilon. If you are thinking about taking a tour of the backwaters, then reaching the Ashtamudi Lake will be mandatory. If you want to get the view of the lake from far, then driving a car on the National Highway 47 is the perfect option.
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