Quilon (also Kollam) is situated in the southwest corner of India in the state of Kerala. The district is encircled by Alappuzha in the north, Pathanamthitta in the northeast, Thiruvananthapuram in the south, Tirunelveli (Tamilnadu) in the east, and the Arabian Sea in the west.

Kollam (pronounced as koy-lon) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city is situated about 71 kilometres (44 mi) north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the headquarters of the Kollam district. Kollam is the fourth largest city in Kerala and is known for cashew processing and coir manufacturing. The city lies on the shores of Ashtamudi Lake. It is the southern gateway to the Kerala Backwaters of Kerala and is a prominent tourist destination.

The Malayalam calendar, or Kollavarsham, was created in Kollam at meetings held in the city in 825 CE. The name Kollam is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Kollam, meaning pepper.The Malayalam calendar, or Kollavarsham, was created in Kollam at meetings held in the city in 825 CE. The name Kollam is believed to have been derived from the Sanskrit word Kollam, meaning pepper.

Kollam was formerly called Quilon and Tarsish. During the rule of the Travancore monarchy in southern Kerala, Kollam was the focal point of trade. Today, Kollam is a major business and commercial centre in the central Travancore region of Kerala.