Kollam

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Kollam ( Malayalam: കൊല്ലം Kollam [ kol ʌm ː ] ), formerly Quilon, is a port city in the southern Indian state of Kerala with around 350,000 inhabitants ( 2011 census ). It is located 60 kilometers north- west of Thiruvananthapuram between the Arabian Sea and the Ashtamudi Lake, which is connected to the branched waterway system of the backwaters. Kollam is the administrative seat of the district of Kollam, has an early Christian center and the seat of a Catholic bishop ( Diocese of Quilon).

History

Even before the foundation of the present-day city was in its place a port settlement named Desinganadu, trade contacts, inter alia, had to Phoenicia and the Roman Empire.

After the constant local tradition of St. Thomas the Apostle landed in 52 in today's Kerala and founded along the Malabar Coast 7 Christian churches, of which Kollam is named as the southernmost. At the time of St. Thomas was there the mentioned trading and port settlement, which also had a Jewish community. Under these compatriots of the apostles evangelized first. It was narrated that he consecrated bishops 2 on his departure, which took care of the Christians on.

The importance of the place took in the early Middle Ages by the spice trade, especially with China, more and more. Finally, the formal city's founding took place in 825 by the Chera King Rajasekhara Varman ( 820-844 ) which the Malayalam era ( Kolla Varsham ) begins. Kollam was at that time the capital of the province of Venad, which evolved into an independent state in the 12th century. The Europeans called the city Quilon. The Christians were then given by the king numerous privileges which he was held on engraved copper plates because of its durability. Some of the over 1000 -year-old plates have been preserved and are among the treasures of Indian history.

The Italian monk John of Montecorvino landed in Quilon in 1291 and oversaw the found there Christians before he crossed India to the east, and finally a missionary in China.

Marco Polo visited the city in 1292; about a century later also laid the Arab explorer Ibn Battuta there.

1320 drew the French Dominican Father Jordanus Catalanus de Severac in pontifical mandate to Asia, where he settled in Kollam, to evangelize and serve the local Christians as pastors. From 1323 baptisms are defined there, which he took. In 1328 he traveled to Avignon, reported Pope John XXII. On Kollam and the local Christian community, whereupon he followed this on August 9, 1329, the Bull " Romanus Pontifex " adopted and therefore the Diocese of Quilon, first of all Catholic dioceses Indian officially brought to life. On 21 August the same year, the Bull " Venerabili fratri Jordano " followed by which the pontiff Father Jordanus certain for the first pastors. Quilon as suffragan was under the Latin archbishopric Sultaniya in Persia, in today's Soltaniyeh. Bishop Jordanus also wrote a detailed description of India and the states encountered by him, which has been preserved under the title " Mirabilia descripta ". Based on local, Indian tradition Bishop Jordanus 1336 was stoned at Bombay by Muslims. When the Papal legate Giovanni de Marignolli 1348 after Quilon came he no longer met Bishop Jordanus, but remained 16 months as a pastor in the city.

1502 founded the Portuguese in Kollam a trading post and built a " fort" ( fortress ), from which still exists today an impressive ruin which is one of the landmarks of the city. Not far away, built the Portuguese governor 's residence, which serves the Bishop of Quilon as a domicile today. During this time, St. Francis Xavier (1506-1552) had a longer time in the port city. 1557 sparked one of the old Diocese of Quilon and hit the town and surrounding area the diocese of Cochin to. Kollam in 1661 was transferred to the Dutch possessions and the Catholics were oppressed by the new colonial government. The Catholic community life could be continued only in secret. Only when the king of Travancore defeated the Dutch in 1741 and sales flourished Catholic life there again. From 1795 Kollam again came under colonial influence, when the British stationed to monitor compliance with a treaty with Travancore a garrison in the city.

1838, Pope Gregory XVI. the Apostolic Vicariate of Malabar with headquarters in Verapoly to which from now on was also Kollam. That vicariate was divided on May 12, 1845 in three parts, of which Quilon was the southernmost and the Belgian Carmelite too much that worked there with great zeal. On September 1, 1886, the foundation of the Diocese of Quilon by Pope Leo XIII was. Between 1905 and 1931 officiated here as a local bishop of the Swiss Carmelite Father Alois Benziger, which came to a church union through his interest in oriental liturgies, with the so-called Jacobites, a group of local Christians of St. Thomas. It was completed on September 20, 1930 in the Bishop's Chapel of Quilon and was formed from a separate rite within the Catholic Church, the Syro- Malankara namely. Reminded a memorial stone in the bishop's chapel in Kollam.

By 1956, the town belonged to the Indian princely state of Travancore, since the newly founded state of Kerala. Official name is now again Kollam, the diocese, however, adds further more renowned Quilon.

Tourism and Attractions

For foreign travelers Kollam is especially popular as most southern starting point for boat trips on the backwaters. The town itself has retained a rural, typical keralitischen character. In the winding streets of the old town, old wooden houses with red tile roofs tightly strung together. Between, there are temples, mosques and churches to emphasize the Shrine of Our Lady of Velankanni. Landmark of the city is the Clock Tower was built in 1944.

At the waterfront, Tangasseri (formerly Tangy ) are to be seen the ruins of a Portuguese- Dutch Fort, several churches from the 18th century, and Kerala's tallest lighthouse (44 m) from the year 1902. The street is located a beautiful but overgrown cemetery of Europeans, with splendid old grave monuments from Portuguese, Dutch and especially from UK time.

Economy

Kollam is an important location of the chemical and aluminum industries. Cashew nuts, the staple crop of the environment are processed in the city and run over the harbor. Addition, the production of pottery is important.

Located north is the fishing harbor Neendakara which can accommodate up to 500 fishing boats.

Air table

Alternative Names

The authors have written different nations the city name again and again. From the Arab Kaulam the Portuguese made ​​Quilon (pronounced Coy - lon ). And the Dutch Coylan with variants such as: Coilan, Coijlan, Coylang, Coijlang, Coulan. In medieval sources ( Jordanus ) there is also the name Columbum and Kolamba.

Views from Kollam

Street in old town

Street Scene

Kollam, the entrance to the Waterfront Thangasseri

Old St. Peter `s Church, 18th Century

Bishop's House and Chapel ( 17th century ), formerly the residence of the Portuguese Governor

Bishop's Chapel, interior view

Velankanni Shrine, interior view

400 -year-old Infant Jesus Cathedral; Demolished in 2006 and replaced by a new

New Infant Jesus Cathedral