KOVALAM TOURISM | TOURIST PLACES TO VISIT & BEACHES IN KOVALAM
Beach
About Kovalam
#4 of 24 Places to visit in Kerala | #36 of 100 Places to visit in India
Ideal Trip Duration: 4 Hours/Half Day
Nearest City to Kovalam: Trivandrum (13 Kms)
Best Time to Visit Kovalam: October to March
Peak Season: December to January
At a distance of 13 km from Trivandrum, 67 km from Nagarcoil, 78 km from Kollam, 83 km from Kanyakumari, 159 km from Alleppey, and 212 km from Kochi, Kovalam is a coastal town on the shores of the Arabian Sea in Kerala. It is also one of the most famous places to visit as part of Kerala tour packages.
Often called the 'Paradise of the South', Kovalam is one of the wonderful Kerala beach destinations. Kovalam means 'A grove of coconut trees and the whole area beyond the shores around Kovalam is filled with the endless sight of coconut trees offering magnificent views while approaching the beach. Kovalam gained importance when Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai, the Queen of Travancore, built a palace, the Halcyon Castle on the top of a rock near the beach in the 1930s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. After Independence, Kovalam was relatively unknown but it gained popularity in the 1970s when hippies arrived here and changed this fishing village into a tourist destination with their wild parties.
Light House Beach, Samudra Beach, Eve's Beach, and Poovar are the most prominent places to visit in Kovalam. The most popular beach is the Light House Beach and offers an amazing sight of the Vizhinjam Mosque. Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on top of the Kurumkal hillock. Samudra Beach on the northern side is a nice place to hang out despite less commercial activity. The middle one is called Eve's Beach, which was earlier famous with European Tourists. Eve's Beach is ideal to spend a quiet evening. Kovalam is ideal for relaxing and spending time leisurely. There are several activities for tourists like sunbathing, swimming, catamaran cruising, herbal body massage, and cultural programs. Water sports like kayaking, surfing, fishing, and water skiing are some of the activities that can be enjoyed as part of Kovalam tour packages. Kovalam is also famous for its Ayurvedic massages and many yoga resorts.
The nearest airport to Kovalam is Trivandrum airport, which is 14 km away. The nearest rail junction is also at Trivandrum and there are direct trains from Thiruvananthapuram to all the major cities in Kerala and the rest of India like Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Kochi, Alleppey, Kanyakumari, etc. Tourists can reach Kovalam by bus from Trivandrum. Bikes and bicycles are available on hire for tourists at Thiruvananthapuram and Kovalam.
Kovalam is visited by Indian and international tourists throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Kovalam is from November to March. Better to avoid visiting Kovalam during the monsoon season which starts from June to October when the tides are high and the shores are not safe for swimmers.
None
