Kovalam 

 3 beaches to suit all desires & occasions

Located 16 kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, Kovalam offers an excellent diversity with a beach to suit all desires and occasions. Three curve shaped beaches, alienated by stony outcroppings, form the major attraction of this coastal resort.

It has been a favorite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.

The beach is spread over four kilometers with plenty of diverse leisure options. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programs and catamaran cruising are some of them. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes.

Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centers.

Backed by precipitously mounting headlands and covered by fertile coconut palms, the beaches are beautiful, especially the southern most part of lighthouse beach. It is also lined with a host of shops and shacks offering all kinds of services; creating an unmistakable resort atmosphere. Curio shops, hawkers of Kashmiri and Tibetan products, moneychangers and beachwear shops, between the surplus of restaurants and hotels, do brisk business during peak tourist season.

The sea port of Vizhinjam is about three km away and is famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The proposed international transshipment terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.

Kovalam is finding a new connotation in the light of several Ayurvedic salons and healing and renaissance resorts which supply a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

Kovalam beach is well known for its beautiful sunset. The variation of colors such as red, orange and yellow in the sun and sky draw new masterpiece art works in the sky on every new sunset. It attracts photographers from around the world to capture the beauty of sun and sky.

Three parts

Kovalam beach is divided into three main parts known as the southern most or the Lighthouse, the Hawah and the northern most, Samudra beach. The most popular part of the beach is the Lighthouse Beach where an ancient lighthouse is situated which belongs to the British era. You can have a spectacular view of the Vizhinzam mosque from here even though photography is prohibited without permission.

Hawah is situated in the middle part of the beach. It is also a base for local fishermen. The northern most part or Samudra beach is a freaky beach relatively and dotted with elementary wooden fishing vessels. Eve’s beach of Kovalam is a semi-circular beach and renowned for its peaceful environment.

Kovalam beach is ideal for sunbathing, swimming, herbal body massages, fire rings, bonfire and cultural events. A large variety of continental seafood dishes are available on the beach side restaurants and hotels. Visiting the handicrafts, jewellery and cloth shops near the waterfront will also be a great enjoyment and you have the opportunity to buy things, if you like. There are facilities for backwater cruise to the beautiful countryside enjoying its lush greenery.

One of the popular entertainments in Kovalam beach is to enjoy beach bonfire with your friends or relatives. The beach fire rings and bonfires are usually enjoyed and promoted by local and foreign tourists.

You can smell the woods burning and hear the shouts of joy from different parts of the Kovalam beach in the evening. All have rings offered for free use on a first come first serve basis. The camp-like tradition lives on from generation to generation in this time honored celebration that brings families, friends and business associates together in a circle, huddled around the warm glowing flames to fend off the chilled night air of the Arabian Sea. The atmosphere and temperature in Kovalam is very good with soft winds creating a chill, especially in the evenings.

In & Around Kovalam

The Lighthouse:

The lighthouse is located on a hillock named Kurumkal which is very close to the sea. The southern end of the Kovalam beach is named after this hill house. The lighthouse is a 35 meter tall structure painted red and white and easily visible from a long distance. It is open to visitors and offers spectacular views of the lighthouse beach, Eve’s beach and its surroundings. The lighthouse road is a convenient venue for cycling and walks.

Karamana River and Boating:

The Karamana River crosses the highway at Thiruvallam, twelve kilometers from Kovalam. The place offers breathtaking views of the backwater and greenery. The Thiruvallam boat club, located on the bank of the river offers cruises, canoe rides, kayaking and houseboat cruises.

Vellayani Lake:

The place is located seven kilometers from Kovalam. There are boat services available from Kovalam. It is one of the few freshwater lakes in Kerala that looks enchanting in the moonlight. The Vellayani Lake is the venue of world famous annual boat race organized during Onam festival. The Vellayani Durga Temple is located close to the lake; the specialty of this temple is that it allows only non-Brahmin priests.

Valiyathura Pier:

It is situated around ten kilometers away from Kovalam. The coastline of this region up to Kovalam is visible from this pier. The Valiyathura literally means ‘Big Port’. There is another port in this region named Cheriyathura, literally meaning ‘small port’. This place offers excellent views of the setting sun and sea. Angling is the major activity here.

Edakallu:

Edakallu is the popular sunset viewing point that lies between the Lighthouse Beach and Eve’s Beach. It offers enchanting view of the red and orange sun setting in the horizon with amazing new patterns in the sky. It is one of the best places to view the sunset in Kovalam.

Kovalam Art Gallery:

The Kovalam art gallery in Kovalam displays artifacts, paintings and art works. The paintings in this art gallery consist of ancient Indian paintings related to the Sanskrit culture. Europe and Western artists and art lovers are the major visitors in this gallery even though there are other visitors also.

Thiruvallam Parashurama Temple:

Thriuvallam Parashurama temple is located twelve kilometers from Kovalam. It is one of the major Hindu shrines. Situated on the banks of the Karamana River, it is believed to be about 2000 years old and one of the rare temples dedicated to Parashurama.

How to reach

 Air: Nearest Airport – Thiruvananthapuram (20 kms)

Rail: Nearest rail head is Trivandrum Central

Road: Kovalam is connected by road with several tourist destinations within Kerala and India.