in Kadavoor and Kattil Mekkathil Devi Temple in Ponmana Padanayarkulangara mahadeva temple Karunagappally, Ashtamudi Sree Veerabhadra Swamy Temple are the other famous Hindu worship centres in the Kollam Metropolitan Area. Christianity and churches The Infant Jesus Cathedral in Tangasseri is established by Portuguese during 1614. It is now the pro-cathedral of Roman Catholic Diocese of Quilon – the ancient and first Catholic diocese of India. The church remains as a memento of the Portuguese rule of old Quilon city. St. Sebastian's Church at Neendakara is another important church in the city. The Dutch Church in Munroe Island is built by the Dutch in 1878. Our Lady of Velankanni Shrine in Cutchery is another important Christian worship place in Kollam city. Saint Casimir Church in Kadavoor, Holy Family Church in Kavanad, St.Stephen's Church in Thoppu and St.Thomas Church in Kadappakada are some of the other major Christian churches in Kollam.Muslims and mosques''' Kottukadu Juma Masjid in Chavara, Elampalloor Juma-A-Masjid, Valiyapalli in Jonakappuram, Chinnakada Juma Masjid, Juma-'Ath Palli in Kollurvila, Juma-'Ath Palli in Thattamala and Koivila Juma Masjid in Chavara are the other major Mosques in Kollam. Notable people Notable individuals born in Kollam include: Mahakavi K.C Kesava Pillai, Malayalam poet C. Kesavan, Chief Minister of erstwhile Travancore Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai, historian and scholar R. Sankar, former Chief Minister of Kerala A. A. Rahim, Former Union minister J. Mercykutty Amma, Politician Paravur Devarajan, Malayalam music director Thirunalloor Karunakaran, poet O. N. V. Kurup, Malayalam poet and lyricist K. Balakrishnan, Writer, politician, journalist K. Surendran, Novelist V. Sambasivan, Kathaprasangam artist O. Madhavan, theatre personality Shaji N Karun, Malayalam movie director Murali, Malayalam movie actor Thangal Kunju Musaliar, industrialist & educational visionary Kollam Thulasi, actor Kollam G. K. Pillai, actor Jayan, a film actor and Indian Navy officer P. K. Gurudasan, politician and MLA James Albert, screenwriter and director Suresh Gopi, actor Pamman (R. Parameswara Menon), novelist Mukesh, Malayalam film actor Resul Pookutty, Oscar Award winner, sound engineer Kalpana, actress Urvashi, actress Kalaranjini, actress Tinu Yohannan, international cricket Olympian T. C. Yohannan, athlete Ambili Devi, Malayalam film actress Rajan Pillai, businessman B. Ravi Pillai, businessman Kundara Johnny, film actor K. Ravindran Nair (Achani Ravi), film producer M. A. Baby, politician Baby John, politician Matha Amrithananda Mayi, spiritual leader Sooraj Surendran, electronic engineer R. Gopakumar, visual artist, India's first major digital art collector See also Downtown Kollam Kollam Junction railway station Kollam Metropolitan Area Kollam