Kovalam Tour

Location	16 km from Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala
Significance	Famous for its scenic beaches
Must Visit	Kovalam Beach, Vizhinjam Village, Valliathura Pier
Best Time To Go	September to March
Climate	Tropical; 20°C to 30°C in summer & 18°C to 35°C in winters

Kovalam is undoubtedly considered as one of the best beach resorts in the world. The sea water also makes it an ideal health resort for its special and unique curative quality. Approximately 15 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram is the astounding expanse of beach, called Kovalam. It is preferably suited for swimming, catamaran cruising and sun bathing. It comprises of three semi-circulars - shaped, sandy palm-fringed inlets separated by rocky cliffs. To experience a hale and hearty holiday each year from November to February, tourists from every corner of India and the globe flock into Kovalam. The term Kovalam literally means 'the grove of coconut trees'. Kovalam is famous for its special varieties of fish.

History

The credit of bringing Kovalam, a beautiful destination to the public eye goes to the Maharaja of Travancore. It was recognised as a holiday destination by the European guests of the then Travancore kingdom in 1930. The arrival of hippies to Kovalam in the early seventies made it a popular destination.

Kovalam Attractions

Beaches

Kovalam is famed for its mesmerising beaches, which offer a lot to capture the hearts of tourists. Apart from the scenic beauty, salubrious climate and romantic aura, the beaches of Kovalam also serve as the venue for the famous Kathakali dance of Kerala. Ayurvedic massages, Yoga and meditation centres are the other attractions here.

Lighthouse Beach

The southern extension of Kovalam is called the Lighthouse Beach, for its 35 metre high lighthouse, which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. This is the point where most tourists prefer to pass their quality time. Several temporary eateries and huts turn up during the peak vacation periods

Hawah Beach

Hawah Beach is the second largest beach in Kovalam. Offering picturesque views, this beach is the perfect place to see fishermen catching the fishes.

Samudra Beach

The northern part of the beach is known as Samudra Beach in tourism terminology. A large headland separates this part from the southern side. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The tranquil Arabian Sea stretches a long way and the tourists can laze around in the cool breeze pervading the place. This open beach is an ideal spot for swimming and bathing. The state's large sediments of the thorium-bearing mineral monazite, obtained in the sandy beaches of Quilon district, are proved to be very advantageous in our national atomic research and energy programmes.

How To Reach

By Air: Trivandrum Airport (16 km) is the nearest airport from Kovalam, which has direct flights to all the major cities in India.

By Rail: Trivandrum Central Station is the nearest railway station, which is connected to all the important rail junctions in the country.

By Road: A good network of roads connect Kovalam with the main cities of Kerala. State buses and Inter State buses have regular services.

Accommodation

Kovalam is a wonderful tourist destination offering a variety of accommodation options. From luxurious to budget hotels, Kovalam offers all. It also boasts of some of the finest beach resorts in Kerala.

Shopping

While in Kovalam you can shop for aromatic and high quality spices, rosewood and teakwood statues, carpets, silk fabric and jewellery.