Home :: India City Destination :: Kovalam Beach, Kerala

About Kovalam Beach
Along the 600 kilometre length of the Kerala coast, there are many sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms. The fishing village of Kovalam lies 10 kilometres south of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. Kovalam is the only beach resort of Kerala and is very popular with the Indian as well as international tourists. Industry is relatively small scale in this area and the prices low. The beach is just a few minutes walk from the village. Kovalam consists of three successive small crescent beaches; the southern most known as Lighthouse Beach is where most of the visitors spend their time. The beach is bordered with low cost lodging houses and restaurants which offer adequate facilities at affordable tariffs-ideal for a long stay. The light house on the promontory at the southern end of the beach offers a spectacular view across to the Vizhinjam mosque. Photography is prohibited here.

The middle beach, overlooked from a rocky headland by the five star Ashok Radisson resort, functions each morning as a base for local fishers. North of Ashok is the final beach which is very little affected by the changing times. It is dotted with a few rudimentary wooden fishing vessels.

Swimming on the beaches is not always safe as the undertow can be very strong; therefore it is essential to follow the warnings of the safety flags. However, days can be spent here just lying on the sands or retreating under the awnings of the beach cafes.

There are numerous craft and carpet shops (usually of Tibetan, Kashmiri and Rajasthani origin), clothing stores and general stores, yoga schools, travel agents and massage parlours lining the beach.

Where to stay
There is no dearth of accommodation in this area. The prices of hotels vary depending on their proximity to the beach and the season.

Locales Surrounding
Kovalam The palm-fringed bays of Kovalam in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The unforgettable image of Kovalam is that of the coconut-palms-lined high rock promontory that cuddles the calm and wide expanse of the blue waters. This marvellous beach is a tourist's dream come true.

The Three Beaches Of Kovalam
The beaches of Kovalam can be divided in three parts. The southern most beach and the most popular from the three, is the Lighthouse Beach. Further south on the beach one can have a spectacular view of the Vizhinzam mosque, but photography is prohibited here. The middle beach is called Hawah. Each morning this beach acts as a base for the local fisherman. The northern most beach, Samudra, is least affected of all by the changing times. It is dotted with few rudimentary wooden fishing vessels.

Water Sports
Kovalam is a natural bay ideal for kayaking, swimming, surfing and skiing. One can swim in the shallow blue water and have a sunbath in the exotic tropical sun can adorn you with a good suntan. The coast at many places is lined with beautiful patches of coral reefs or you can crest the waves on logs of lashed woods on catamarans.

Leisure & Entertainment Activities
Beach When you are tired of aquatics, swimming or sunbathing, you can explore the handicrafts, jewellery and cloth shops spread along the waterfront. Not to speak of the delightful seafood fare including lobsters available at the beach-side restaurants of Kovalam. In the evening the quiet atmosphere of the Kovalam beachside is enlivened by Kathakali performances, the classical dance-drama of Kerala. At present Kovalam is developed not only as a beach resort, but also as a Yoga and health center.

One can have Ayurvedic massages and oil baths or learn in detail the methods of doing Yoga and meditation taught by experts. From Kovalam, you can go for a backwater cruise to the beautiful countryside of Kerala paddling country boats, enjoying its lush greenery. A few hotels even offer houseboats, country boats and catamarans for the tourists at reasonable rates.

How to reach there
There is direct and regular daily bus service from Thiruvananthapuram. There are direct bus links to Ernakulam and Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) which is two hours away. There is also a bus to Periyar Widlife sanctuary in Thekaddy. Thiruvananthapuram, is linked by air from Colombo, and the Indian cities of Mumbai, Kochi, Delhi and Madras. There are bus links from all the major cities of Kerala and also from Madras, Bangalore, Kochi, Madurai, Pondicherry, Nagercoil and Erode to Thiruvananthapuram. It is also well connected to all the major cities of the country by train