Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala state in South India and is known as the "Paradise of the South". It is located around 16 kms outside Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) City in the Thiruvananthapuram district. "Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in 1930s. However, Kovalam came into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies. That started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in the world- the Kovalam beach.
Today this tiny beach is the focus of a multi-million dollar business, drawing thousands of tourists. Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. The languages spoken here are Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and English.
Best For:
Kovalam is known for its several Ayurvedic salons and recuperation/regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists. Swimming and bathing are very refreshing and exhilirating in the waves. One can walk into the sea for about 100 metres without loosing ground. At many coastal places there are beautiful patches of coral reefs. The underwater view, visible during snorkeling, is really marvellous.
The best time to visit Kovalam is from September to May. Azure water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite year-round spot for swimming. Sea here is pacific and shallow where one can take a dip in the saline waters. The clean white sandy beach will arouse a temptation irresistible to lie idle on the sands and tan the body.
All foreign visitors are required to carry a passport valid at least for the next 6 months. Special restrictions apply to Pakistani and Afghan nationals. It is always advisable to make photocopies of important documents such as passport, visa and air tickets. They will be required in case the originals are lost.
Kovalam is not directly but quite comfortably connected to the rest of the country. The nearest airport is Trivandrum, which is well connected to the major cities. 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.
By Air: The nearest airport is Trivandrum which is well connected to the major cities. Many National and a few International airlines operate direct services from Trivandrum. By Rail: The nearest rail head is Trivandrum Central. Trivandrum is connected by rail with many important cities of the country. By Road: Kovalam is connected by road via National Highways with several tourist destinations within Kerala and India. Local Transport: There is absolutely no dearth of local transport in Kerala. One has no problems in finding the most affordable and readily available means of transportation in Kerala round the clock. Tourist taxis and auto-rickshaws are the most convenient way to travel around attractions, especially while travelling in a group. A bike ride is also a fun and adventurous option to try out.
Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches. The shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres makes it ideal for swimming. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services. There are large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 kms away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. The beach offers an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam. Hawa beach is the beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea.
Backwater Tours between Kovalam and Trivandrum are backwater trips available that can be booked at Kovalam Beach. Small boats for 4-6 persons can be booked. It is a unique experience. One can watch the locals dive headlong into the water going clam fishing.
Kovalam junction is about a 10 - 15 minute walk up the hill from the main beach. One can find a decent supermarket and a few grocery stores here. Walking at nights around the junction should be avoided as there are no traffic lights and the street lighting is very minimal. Once the sun is down, it is probably best to head back to Kovalam unless one is accompanied with a guide.
There are lot of restaurants which provide delicious western style food as well as Indian food. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam. There are many restaurants along the beach front at lighthouse beach. The day’s 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 food arriving late is not uncommon.
The German Bakery is a place one should not miss out on. A full range of baked products are available here. It also provides one the best views in Kovalam. It is counted among the best and most popular place for breakfast on the main beach. Suprabatham is one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Kovalam.
Where To Stay:
The scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation at Kovlam. Some good places to stay are Beach Kiss Resort, Swagath Holiday Resorts, Aardvah Hotel (which has a reefwatch glass-bottom boat too), Surya Samudra Beach Garden, Orion Beach Resort, The Leela Kempinski a 5 star deluxe hotel with a private beach and the famous Taj Green Cove Resort
Vizhinjam - Head down to the harbor at sunset for some spectacular shots of the area with the seaside Mosque in the background. The atmosphere is quite lively with fisherman heading to and from the sea.
Ponmudi: This is a nice semi-hill station located about 1 1/2 hours from Kovalam. There is a KTDC Hotel located up there with rooms available. A taxi can drop the tourist off at the hotel and wait overnight to take them back the next day.
The cities nearby Kovalam are: Trivandrum -16, Kanyakumari- 87, Padmanabhapuram Palace -53, Kumarakam -172, Sucheendram Temple -74, Kottayam -170, Varkala -69 and Kollam at 87kms.
It goes without mentioning that Kovalam is a must visit tourist destinations of Kerala. Spending time in Kovalam is an experience where every wave casts a lasting impression.
