Kovalam Tourism

The town of Kovalam is situated along the Malabar Coast, in the State of Kerala in South India. Kovalam is a famous beach destination in South India visited by Indian and international tourists all round the year. Kovalam is 15 km from the capital city, Thiruvananthapuram.

The word ‘Kovalam’ in Malayalam stands for ‘a groove of coconut trees’. Kovalam was a cluster of small fishing villages during the pre-Independence era that belonged to the State of Travancore. The earlier history of Kovalam is very obscure. The town of Kovalam came to the lime light during the reign of the Maharaja of Travancore in the 1930s.

The Maharaja of Travancore was so impressed by the beauty of the place that he used the beaches of Kovalam for his leisure time. He also invited his European friends over to this place and they made the place popular.

Kovalam shot to fame during the 1970s, during the era of the Hippies. The town witnessed a heavy influx of Hippies who were taken in by the beauty of the place. Since then Kovalam became famous among international tourists. Some small fishing villages still exist in Kovalam which are at a distance of 4 km from the beachfront.

Kovalam consists of crescent shaped sandy beaches. The three beaches of Kovalam – Lighthouse, Samudra, and Hawah (Eve’s beach) – are separated from each other by rocky shores. A shallow-water-stretch that extends to about 1 km from the land makes it ideal for swimming. All the beaches have steep coconut-palm fringed highlands and shining sandy beaches that contain a great amount of minerals like ilmenite and thoracite.

With the rise in tourism, there has been a great development in the infrastructure and hospitality industry at Kovalam. The healthcare industry has also greatly flourished in the region with special reference to a branch in natural therapy, Ayurveda.

Visiting Ayurvedic clinics and hospitals for relaxation, rejuvenation and treatments has become a popular activity in Kovalam. Tourists visiting Kovalam can opt for sunbathing, swimming and other marine activities. Excursions can be taken to nearby destinations like Ponmudi, Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), Vizhinjam, etc.

Kovalam is a food lover’s delight, especially seafood lovers. Almost all restaurants have a generous offering of seafood. The beach front restaurants on Lighthouse Beach have displays of fresh fish, lobster, crab, mussels, tiger prawns and others. Depending upon the customer’s selection, the fish is weighed and then cooked according to the desired style. However, service can be slow and the food a bit pricey.

Since Kovalam sees a lot of international tourists, the food menu in the restaurants is also quite varied. From German bakeries serving roasted potatoes and other baked goods to the traditional Kerala-styled restaurants, there’s something for every palette. There are some good options for vegetarians as well.

Kovalam is at a distance of about 14 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Buses, taxis and auto rickshaws are available from Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam. Taxis can cost around INR400-500 for the 20 minute journey while auto rickshaws may charge anywhere between INR150-170. Buses, on the other hand, take nearly 30-40 minutes. If staying at Hawah Beach, passengers need to get down at the promontory which separates Hawah and Kovalam beaches.

The nearest airport to Kovalam is Trivandrum International Airport which is connected to many cities in India as well abroad. Taxis and buses are available from the airport to Kovalam.

The nearest rail station is Trivandrum Central railway station which is about 15 km away from Kovalam. This railway station is well connected to major cities in India.

Summers in Kovalam are hot with temperatures going over 30⁰ Celsius. The rainy months of June, July and August see a lot of heavy downpours and thunderstorms. However, the festival of Onam is held during August and is a great time to witness the festivities and cultural events associated with it. The Snake Boat Race is also held during this time.

The best time to visit Kovalam is from September to March. The beaches of Kovalam also deck up for Christmas and New Year, which is another reason to visit Kovalam during this time of the year.

Tourist places in Kovalam
Known by the nickname ‘Paradise of the South’, Kovalam offers an endless sight of coconut trees and a crescent-shaped beach. The beach, which is the main attraction of the destination, is divided into three parts, namely Samudra Beach, Hawa Beach and Lighthouse Beach. Out of the three, the Lighthouse Beach is the largest, while Hawa Beach is most commercialised. Samudra Beach is known for its isolated atmosphere and is most popular among sunbathers.

Lighthouse Beach features a 30 metre tall lighthouse, which has an observation platform. Tourists visiting this lighthouse can see the landscape surrounding the area. All the beaches are popular venues for enjoying different kinds of water sports, including parasailing, surfing, snorkelling, kayaking and boating. Another major attraction of these beaches is the Ayurvedic massages that are offered by the resorts lining the beach.

Besides beaches, tourists can go to the Kovalam Art Gallery, which displays artefacts, paintings and art works. Karamana River, which is located around 14.2 km away from Kovalam, is also frequented by visitors. This river, which originates at Agastyar Koodam, flows through Thiruvananthapuram and finally falls into the Arabian Sea at Panathura area near Kovalam. Moreover, tourists can also visit the nearby Vizhinjam village, which is just 2 km south of Kovalam.

This fishing village is popular for its fishing harbour and beach, which serves as a major sea port. Another major attraction in this Vizhinjam village is the Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium, which holds display of the rarest species of invertebrates and ornamental fish in the world. Vizhinjam is also known for its rock cut caves, which house a temple dedicated to Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi.

Tourists can also visit the Vellayani Lake, which is the largest fresh water lake in Thiruvananthapuram District. For picnics, visitors can head towards Akkulam Lake, which has boating and swimming facilities. Aruvikkara, a village on the banks of Karamana River, is another notable attraction near Kovalam. This village is famous for its ancient Bhagavathi Temple and Aruvikkara Dam.

Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple, the only temple dedicated to Lord Parasurama, can also be visited in Kovalam. This temple is mostly visited by devotees during the Karkidaka Vavu, when devotees pay homage to their deceased forefathers after taking a dip in the holy water of this temple. Furthermore, Chowara, a fishing hamlet and Poovar, a coastal village, can also be visited.