Kollam district

Kollam district
Quilon district
From top: Paravur estuary, Light house and clock tower in Kollam city, 13 Ring bridge of Thenmala, Check dam across Kallada river
Nickname: 
Cashew capital of the world
Location in Kerala
Interactive map of Kollam district
Coordinates: 8°48′N 76°36′E / 8.8°N 76.6°E / 8.8; 76.6
CountryIndia
StateKerala
Revenue divisions
2
  • Kollam Revenue Division
  • Punalur Revenue Division
Taluks
6
  • Kollam
  • Karunagappally
  • Kunnathur
  • Kottarakkara
  • Punalur
  • Pathanapuram
Established1956
HeadquartersKollam
Government
 • CollectorDevidas.N IAS
 • City Police CommissionerNarayanan T IPS
 • District Police Chief
Kollam Rural SP
Sabu Mathew KM IPS
Area
 • Total
2,491 km2 (962 sq mi)
 • Rank8th
Population
 (2011)
 • Total
2,635,375
 • Density1,058/km2 (2,740/sq mi)
Languages
 • OfficialMalayalam, English
Time zoneUTC+5:30 (IST)
Postal code
691XXX
Vehicle registration
  • KL-02 Kollam
  • KL-23 Karunagappally
  • KL-24 Kottarakkara
  • KL-25 Punalur
  • KL-61 Kunnathur
  • KL-80 Pathanapuram
  • KL-82 Chadayamangalam
HDI (2005) 0.787 ( High)
Sex ratio1113 /
Local governments
85
Literacy93.77%
Websitewww.kollam.gov.in, www.kollam.nic.in

Kollam district (Malayalam: [kolːɐm] ), (formerly known as Quilon district) is one of 14 districts of the state of Kerala, India. The district has a cross-section of Kerala's natural attributes; it is endowed with a long coastline, a major Laccadive Sea seaport and an inland lake (Ashtamudi Lake). The district has many water bodies. Kallada River is one among them, and land on the east bank of the river is East Kallada and that on the west bank is West Kallada.