Onambalam

Onambalam Harbour

Onambalam ഓണമ്പലം
Village
Coordinates: 8°59′53″N 76°40′08″E / 8.998009°N 76.668777°ECoordinates: 8°59′53″N 76°40′08″E / 8.998009°N 76.668777°E
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Kollam
Elevation	4 m (13 ft)
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
PIN	691 503
Telephone code	0474

Onambalam (Malayalam: ഓണമ്പലം) is a small inland fishing and trading harbour in Kumbalam, Kollam on the shore of Ashtamudi lake. With improvements in road transport its prominence has reduced after 1980s and now it is used as a fish market and a harbour for small inland fishing vessals. A boat race was organized from here during 28th day of Onam every year in the past but has not been conducted in recent years.

The harbour land is owned by St. Micheal's Church and has a beautiful grotto of Mother Mary. From here we will get a scenic view of Ashtamudi lake.

History

The name Onambalam is derived from two Malayalam words ഒന്നു (Onnu – One) അമ്പലം (Ambalam – Temple). The place got this name, since there was a milestone indicating it is one mile away from Chittumala Durga Devi Temple. It was an important coir and cashew trading centre, and there was a boat service to Kollam originating from here. As inland water transport lost prominence harbor was abandoned, but certain steps are made to improve inland navigation.A new boat jetty is built by kollam district tourism promotion council and district panchayat. A shrine of Our lady help of christians is situvated in onambalam landing centre, built by 'salesians of donbosco' fathers who served in kumbalam parish.Beautiful scene of sunset is a unique feature of Onmbalam. Onambalam is an tourism destination near kollam technopark located in kundara. The nearest railway station is kundara which is 13 km away from kollam. You can reach onambalam by road from kundara or chittumala.

Recent Developments

A new small boat jetty has been constructed here as part of the Ashtamudi Tourism Circuit.