Kovalam Beach

The Europeans of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam as a tourist destination in the 1930s. But the real popularity as an ideal beach resort was established later in the early seventies with arrival of groups of Europeans popularly called 'Hippys' to this place. It was a beginning of the transformation of just a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in the world. Now some foreign companies have started bringing tourists in a large number to Kovalam apart from the usual travelers, most of them are repeated travelers. A proud thing about Kovalam is that although it is just a small village when compared with its area, still it is considered one of the best places attracting tourists in large numbers.


Kovalam beach is well known for its beautiful sunset. Each and every day there will be something new to tell about the sunset in Kovalam due to its beauty. The variation of colors such as red, orange and yellow in the sun and sky draw new master piece art works in the sky on every new sunset. Kovalam beach with its amazing sunset beauty attracted photographers all around the world to capture the beauty of sun and sky.


Kovalam and Kovalam beach has been a favourite tourist destination for many years. Kovalam beach is divided into three main parts places known as the southern most or the light house, the Hawah and the northern most. The most popular part of the beach is the Lighthouse Beach where an ancient lighthouse is situated and it 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 the local fishermen. The northern most part 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 was spotted on the map and the tourist map, when its beautiful and secluded beaches were discovered. 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. The best time to visit Kovalam beach is from September to March.

Kovalam is just sixteen kilometers away from Trivandrum (thiruvananthapuram) city. The word ‘Kovalam’ means a grove of coconut trees. The coconut trees at the Kovalam villages add to the natural beauty and economic value. A characteristic feature of the sands in the Kovalam beaches is that to some extent they are black in color. It is well known for the atmosphere which provoks activities like sun bathing, swimming, and catamaran cruising, kayaking and other beach sports. Kovalam also known as ‘Paradise of Southern India’ is popular region comprising of three beaches. The southernmost beach known as the Lighthouse Beach is the most popular of the three. Many hotels, restaurants, lodges and shops are located here. It is frequented by outsiders who stay and enjoy Kovalam. The northern most crescent is crowded on the weekend which is very popular with the locals, day-travelers and passing by tourist. Hawa Beach is among one of the beaches in India where top-less sunbathing is tolerated. The tourism department provides a vigilant life guard service on both Lighthouse and Hawa beach. It is like one of the dream destination for the people who love beaches.

Being blessed with palms streamlined bays, Kovalam is popular across the globe for the serene natural beauty of this town. It is immensely popular for the special sun kissed beaches, yoga centers, fun water sports, massage parlors offering Ayurvedic massages and the pristine aura of the place. Kovalam has three beaches crescent (lunate) in shape and separated from each other by rocky outcroppings. The most well-liked of the three beaches is the Lighthouse Beach. The northern Samudra beach has a couple of primitive wooden vessels for fishing. Hawa beach is located in between the other two beaches. This beach offers the picture of fisherman setting out for sea. The calm blue waters of this beach are so enchanting and the beauty of the beach multiplies on moonlit nights. The high reef formations of this lunette-shaped beach make it safe for a person wishing to take a swim bath. The refreshing and exhilarating waves in the water are truly energetic.

The Kovalam Beach resort with its traditional Kerala style of architecture adds to the beauty of the lighthouse beach and the middle Hawa beach. You can go for surfing at  Kovalam beach. People from different continents and multiple cultures arrive at Kovalam a place to which nature has abundantly offered its treasure of beauty, to enjoy their holidays. At Kovalam many hotels and resorts offer the Ayurvedic massage and treatment. Yoga centers are also plenty in Kovalam. Some theatres perform the traditional Kerala art form, Kathakali and ethnic martial art, Kalarippayattu.Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South".


Etymology
Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It is also known as the paradise of the south.

History

Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.

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 Kovalm beach is named after this hill house. The lighthouse is thirty five meter tall structure that is painted with red and white color that is 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 means '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 and the best place to capture the photos of different patterns of the beautiful sky.

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.


Beaches
Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach

Lighthouse Beach

The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists, Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a rocky promontory here. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm. See some images of Kovalam here.

Hawah Beach

Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights.

Samudra Beach

A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.


See
The beaches are the star attractions here. Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches separated by rocky outcroppings. The larger of the beaches is called Lighthouse Beachknown for its 35 metre high lighthouse which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. Most of the foreigner’s stay on Lighthouse Beach, which is more developed. There are some vendors on the beach, but they are not too pushy. It takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach to the second largest beach, Hawah Beach. This beach is named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. However topless bathing is banned now. The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.
The old lighthouse, located at the southern beach is a local landmark, for being one of the oldest lighthouses of Kerala, guiding ships to the nearby Vizhnjam port. The lighthouse can be visited from 3PM to 5PM daily.

What to Do?

Surfing - Some fine waves from time to time (0.5 - 2 meters). You can hire surf boards and body boards on the beach from $6USD a day. During peak season they will try and charge more unreasonable amounts but just say no. Body boarding can be enjoyed by anyone. Surfing takes a bit more skill. It is wise to follow the life-guards' instructions as there are some strong currents that can suddenly whisk the unwary out to sea. The new artificial reef is creating some good surfing conditions, more on ASRltd.com website and

Wooden Boat Ride - At Kovalam's Main Beach/Leela Beach you can go out on the ocean with a traditional Catamaran. These ancient boats are rowed with a bamboo paddle and maneuvered by experienced local fishermen. There are 11 registered boats available. Rides last from about 15 to 120 minutes and cost between Rps. 300 to 600 p.p. .The best time for going snorkeling from the boat is in the early morning. Most romantic are the "sunset cruises". No advance booking necessary. First come - first served.

Motor Boat Ride - In 2009 local fishermen/catamaran people added a few motor boats to their fleet, destroying the peace and serenity of the coves. They hope to make some extra money from Indian tourists, but are not aware of the impact on the environment and Western tourism.

Buy

There is a wide range of shops selling good quality souvenirs. Most of the beach front shops are the general Kashmiri stores you see everywhere.
Beware of hawkers though. Once you show interest in a certain product, they will pursue you everywhere until you buy it.
Try some of the shops behind the beach front stores. You'll get a better price plus some hidden gems.
Little Tibet Arts (between Malabar and Coconut Grove Restaurant) is a nice little shop with fair prices. The very nice Tibetan owner seems to be the only one of the dozens of shop-owner"s that won't hassle you!
Kovalam Junction is about a 10 - 15 minute walk up the hill from the main beach. You will pass through it on your initial arrival into Kovalam. Your main reason for coming here will be the ATMs, the post office, and Divine Supermarket. There are also a few good cheap eateries located around the area, a decent supermarket, and a few grocery stores where you can save a little money from the beach store prices.

What to Eat

There are many restaurants along the beach front at Lighthouse Beach. The days catch is usually laid in front of them in the evening for those who like fish. Most restaurants have a leisurely approach to life and an hour between ordering and receiving your food is not uncommon. But don't get uptight, just relax and enjoy.
You can grab a top fruit salad from the fruit ladies with all the trimmings for less than $1USD. But, they'll remember you and if you don't buy from them again they will take it very personally.
Head up the hill from the beach to Kovalam Junction and sample some of the many local restaurants. The specialty of the area is Chicken Fry. Fried chicken in a red masala paste with freshly cut chillis. Some places are spicier than others. For between $2 & $3USD you will get 2 pieces of chicken fry, vegetable sambal and some paratha (a richer version of roti). Beef fry and fish fry are sometimes available as well. Note: These establishments are very local orientated so do not expect cushy surroundings, its very much eat, pay, leave. Expect great chicken.
The German Bakery - Go for the date shake and the excellent banana pancake. A full range of baked goods are available too. Plus one of the best views in Kovalam! Easily the best and most popular place for breakfast on the main beach.
Bethel, (down the alleyway between Fusion and Swiss Cafe). - The very best vegetarian restaurant in Kovalam. Friendly staff and comfortable, cozy, open-air seating with two levels. They serve delicious Keralan, and other Indian foods, as well as a medium selection of (equally tasty) Continental and Chinese cuisine. The owner (who cooks there) was a chef in an upscale veg restaurant in Varkala for 8 years. Mains Rs. 50-110.  
Coconut Grove, Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam.  
Fusion restaurant, Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam, ☎ 04 712484153 First floor restaurant on the beach front with beautiful ambiance and great food. Unique menu offers food from the East, the West and fusion of both. Great seafood. Good Service. Super Atmosphere. Highly recommended.  
Spice Restaurant, Lighthouse Beach, Kovalam.  
Suprabatham, Kovalam (200m away from Lighthouse Beach, acessible via a path between German Bakery and Hotel Orion). One of the best vegetarian restaurants in Kovalam. Friendly waiters.  
Malabar Cafe (Malabar Hotel), in front of light house beach, kovalam.


What to Drink
Don't miss out on fresh coconut from the coconut walla on the corner. It's organic, it's healthy, it helps the local farmers to support their families, it's cheap - only 10 to 20 Rps..
There is a beer and wine store 500 m up the road from the beach. You are supposed not to show any purchases from that store near the beach - keep it i.e. in a cloth bag.
Usually the restaurants serves "special tea" (beer) if you ask, but they will ask you to have the bottle under the table.

Travel within city

Kovalam has a lot of options when it comes to local travel within the town. Tourists can opt for tourist taxis and rented bikes in order to travel around the region of Kovalam. Buses are also available, but these are few in number and generally crowded.

Bus

You can opt for buses in Kovalam in order to reach all the major destinations and must see places. Buses are a relatively cheap mode of travel, and bus fares will vary around Rs 5 to 20 for local travel, depending on the distance involved. The buses available in the region are normal semi deluxe buses.

Taxi

Tourist taxis are very popular modes of travel too, and travelling in tourist taxis can be very useful for you in case you are travelling in groups. You can easily opt for a ride in tourist taxis, as these taxis are available everywhere from airports to railway stations. Tourist taxi fares are predetermined, thus you will not have to bargain for better fares. Taxis are a safe mode of travel, and it is best to opt for a taxi during night travel.

Rented Motorbike

You can also rent a two-wheeler or motorcycle from one of the rental agencies present in the region, and opting for an Enfield 350 CC can actually enhance your biking experience. Rental charges range from around Rs 200 to 400 for a day, depending on the vehicle that you select.


Tourist Fecilities
There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.
Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from Europe and Israel.Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

Get in

Kovalam is about 16 km (20 minutes in a taxi) from Trivandrum. Taxis can charge around 400-500 rupees to get to Kovalam. When asked where you want to go, say Hawa Beach, Leela Beach/Main Beach or Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam.
In an auto-rickshaw 150 - 170 rupees is a fair price, avoid going above 170 rupees. If in doubt ask to use the meter, but in reality they really don't work at all. Advice being if they are trying to rip you off go to leave for another rickshaw and they will often back down and offer you a fair price, if not, get in a different rickshaw. Even if India is a cheap country, the prices for gasoline are international standard, so don't expect super cheap private transportation. If you go by public bus from Trivandrum-East Fort to Kovalam Beach you only pay 8 Rps. for the half hour trip.
Buses to Trivandrum can also be caught from Kovalum Junction as well as Ambassador taxis and Autos to pretty much anywhere.
Be very careful walking around the junction, especially at night, as there are no traffic lights (what's new?!) and the street lighting is very minimal. The intersection can be busy.

Get Around

Tourist taxis are the most convenient way to travel around attractions, especially while travelling in a group. Most airports and railway stations have tourist taxi services that would take you anywhere you would want to go.
The rate should be around 15Rs per kilometre on auto rickshaw but some drivers may try to overcharge up to 100Rs for 1km.
A more adventurous option is to get a bike on hire. The highway is a pleasure to drive on, with the cool breeze and coconut palms lined along the way. Once on the highway, drive north for the plains, drive south for the hills. Avoid driving through Thiruvananthapuram city, it's congested. The old highway, also called MC road, is also good to drive on. The MC road can take you deep into the hills. Try out the throaty Enfield 350 CC bikes for a truly vintage experience, check your fuel levels before you leave.
Two wheelers do not have to pay the highway toll, simply ride through the side lane.

When Should One Visit Kovalam?

Kovalam has a tropical dry climate. Due to its moderate climate it can be visited any time throughout the Year. Summer season from March to May is hot and the temperature varies from a minimum of 21°C to a maximum of 33°C. Winters are pleasant and have moderate temperature varying from 18°C to 33°C. Monsoon season from June to August is accompanied by thunderstorms and abundant rain falls. If you visit Kovalam between January to March you will be able to witness special festival held by the Village temple of Kovalam. The best time to visit Kovalam is from September till March.

How To Reach Kovalam?

Thiruvananthapuram can be easily reached by air, railway and road. Thiruvananthapuram’s railway station is well connected to the rest of south India, with a number of trains coming in from other parts of the country too. It is having International airport and can be accessed from many international places. The capital also has extensive road connections to other cities and towns in Kerala and its neighboring states. Those who reach Trivandrum city by rail or bus can use the services of prepaid taxies to reach the beach. Kovalam can be reached easily as it is only 16 km away from Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) city and eight km drive from the Trivandrum International Airport. Those desirous of going to the beach straight from the airport can get taxis through prepaid counters.  There are pick-up services from the airport also. Buses as well as Ambassador Taxis and Autos to Trivandrum are available from Kovalam Junction. Inexpensive buses run every half-hour from Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam. There are also direct services from Kollam, Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), Ernakulum and Thekkady.

Accommodation At Kovalam?

During your tour of Keralayou can make your base at Panoramic Groups Sea Resort in Alleppey. This 3 star beach resort is at a distance of just one km from the market area and hardly one km from Alleppey station  offering cottage accommodation.  Apart from the beautiful location, following facilities are available at the resort 1) A/C Cottages
2)Multi-cuisine restaurant
3)Swimming pool
4)Ayurvedic centre
5) Laundry services
6) Internet facility
 7)Boating facility available on request with nominal tariff
8) Indoor Games
 9) Your Stay on House boats can be arranged
10) You can enjoy the famous Boat festival consisting of traditional boat racing of Kerala. Further your accommodation in Kovalamz will be arranged by Panoramic’s, Tours department.

Shopping At Kovalam?

The shops of Kovalam offer range of handicraft items made of wood, seashell and so on. The statues made of teak wood and rose wood are popular here. For an elaborate shopping Trivandrum city is ideal. There are a number of Kovalam Shops along the beaches frequently visited by the tourists. The shops at Kovalam which sell handicrafts items of different states attract the international tourists. You can get everything from junk jewellery of Bhutan to the puppets of Rajasthan in your shopping at Kovalam. One can also shop famous Kerala spices or decorative items made of rosewood and teakwood. Besides these there is lot of beachwear and jewellery made of seashells which also are interesting items for shopping in Kovalam.

Festivals of Kovalam?

Kerala also called “Gods own country” is having many occasions to celebrate because of its long cultural past. A living testimony of the rich traditional society, elephants occupy a special place in the social, cultural and religious life of the indigenous population of Kerala.

And this reach cultural background is reflected in the festivals of Kovalam.The fairs and festivals of Kovalam not only reflect the tradition and culture of the place but also the free spirit and warm nature of the native people.Festivals in Kovalam are celebrated with much splendor and it is the perfect opportunity for the tourists to mix with the native people and appreciate their culture. There are a number of Kovalam festivals. Besides the general ones, a special festival is held by the Village temple of Kovalam in the months of January, February and March.

The Great Elephant Festival

A three day annual celebration the Kovalam elephant festival in January is organized from the 9th to 12th of January every year. One of the prominent festivals of Kerala, the great elephant festival is observed with added enthusiasm and interest. Representing the rich imperial heritage and cultural ancestry of the place, the great elephant festival draws several tourists from the globe. The elephants are specially decorated with colorful garlands and necklaces to make them look attractive for the occasion. Accompanied with traditional musical instruments, the elephants move round the city amidst the maddening crowd of the local indigenous population and tourists who are thrilled to see the decorated elephants. A symbol of royal heritage, the native population seeks the blessings of the elephants. The great elephant festival offers the local inhabitants with an opportunity to feed the animals with their own hands. This festival provides the animal lovers with a golden opportunity to experience the general habits of the decorated animal. The city of Kovalam organizes numerous fairs on this occasion that draws several tourists from far and wide.

Another popular festivals of Kovalam in Januaryis the

Gramam or the Village fair

A ten days long celebration of the culture and traditions of Kerala is known as Gramam the Kerala Village Fair. The basic concept of this Gramam the Kerala Village Fair is to re-create and replicate an entire village or grammam in the traditional Keralian style. In the month of January Gramam the Kerala Village Fair is set up at the Kovalam Beach and also at the Marine drive in Ernakulum. The most prominent feature of this fair is Nalukettu. Woods and tiles were used to recreate these quadrangular mansions and the most salient feature of these mansions are their open courtyard. The entire mansion is decorated with an architectural style typical of Kerala. Different kinds of items of the bygone era including ethnic Jewellery, exquisite paintings, sandalwood, charming curios etc are displayed inside the Nalukettu. At the Chayakada or the village teashop at Gramam Fair, the tourists are offered some of the most traditional foods and drinks of Kerala like, 'Kappa', 'Meen' and 'Puttu'. The most interesting part of this fair is the Kamalagramam or the enclave of the artisans where one can find some of the most traditional art works of Kerala including handicrafts and jewellery.


How to Reach

Airport - The nearest airport is  Trivandrum International Airport. Nearest Metropolitan City is Trivandrum which is 16 KM away from Kovalam.
 
Busstand - Regular buses ply to Kovalam from the City Bus Stand at East Fort, Trivandrum. Trivandrum Central Bus Station is 14 km away.
 
Railway Station - The nearest railhead Trivandrum central  in Thampanoor is 14 kms away and it is just opposite the Trivandrum Central Bus Station.

Kovalam Photo Gallery