Ashtamudi Lake or Ashtamudi Kayal, is in the kollam district of kerala.
It possesses a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped water body.
Ashtamudi means ‘eight braids’ in the local Malayalam language.
The name is indicative of the lake’s topography with its multiple branches.
The lake is also called the gateway to the backwaters of Kerala and is well known for its houseboats and backwater resorts.
Ashtamudi wetland was included in the list of wetlands of international importance, as defined by the Ramsar convention for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands.
