Kovalam Beaches
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
Though Kovalam had been brought in to prominence through frequent visits by the Europeans during the reign of the late Maharajah of Travancore, it was the mass arrival of hippies during the seventies that literally put Kovalam on the international tourist map. Kovalam was transformed from a sleepy fishing village, with spectacular beaches, in to one of the most important tourist destinations in South India.
Beaches in Kovalam
Kovalam is home to three crescent shaped shallow beaches separated by rocky out cropping and these stretch for hundreds of meters making it ideal for swimming. The beaches are very tranquil and very safe at Kovalam and one can venture far out in to the sea, even up to a distance of 100 meters in to the calm waters. Kovalam is ideal for surfing and snorkeling and the beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer an array of se- related goods including antiques.
The Light House Beach, because of the 35 meter high light house set atop a hillock, is the most preferred choice of tourists and is the largest of the tree beaches. The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was also the first topless beach in India. However, presently such public top- free bathing and parading has been banned along the beaches even though such practices do go on within the confines of the several resorts that have sprang up at Kovalam.. There is also the Shanmugham beach close by that also attracts tourists in thousands. For tourists wishing to have a first hand knowledge of fishing methods employed by the fishermen, Shanmugham beach would be an ideal choice.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation facilities are available at Kovalam and there are several premium and economy class hotels, resorts and home stays including several five star hotels. Accommodation facilities are in fact available at Kovalam to suit the budget of every type of tourist.
One can savor a variety of delicious sea food at the several eateries found in Kovalam. Some restaurants offer western, Chinese and Indian menu. Grilled sea food items such as lobsters and king prawns are available in plenty and at a reasonable price. Karimeen (pearl spot), the Kerala sea food delicacy is also available at Kovalam.
Ayurveda Treatments in Kovalam
There are also several ayurveda treatment centers in Kovalam that offer specialized ayurveda treatments to tourists. Massages, oil bath, pizhichil, and various types of ayurveda rejuvenation treatments and holistic therapies are available. Most of the ayurveda treatments provided at Kovalam are of very short duration ayurveda treatments and are limited to a few hours
How to Reach
By Air - Trivandrum
Indian Air Lines , Air India, Air Lanka, East West Airlines and Gulf Air operate direct service from Trivandrum to Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Goa, Bangalore, Cochin, Calicut. There are also international services to Sri Lanka, Maldives, Gulf countries and Singapore from Trivandrum International Airport
By Rail- Trivandrum
Trivandrum is the nearest rail head and is home to one of the biggest railway stations in Kerala and trains are operated to all major cities in the country.
By Road
Kovalam is easy accessible and one can reach any destination in Kerala by road from Kovalam. There are also regular bus services from Trivandrum to Kovalam, both private and Government.
Tourist Season: Throughout the year (Best time September to May)
Language: Malayalam, English, Hindi and Tamil.
Distance to Various Tourist Destinations from Kovalam
Trivandrum 16
Kanyakumari 87
Kollam 87
Alappuzha 172
Cochin 238
Kumarakom 172
Kottayam 170
Thekkady 270
Though Kovalam had been brought in to prominence through frequent visits by the Europeans during the reign of the late Maharajah of Travancore, it was the mass arrival of hippies during the seventies that literally put Kovalam on the international tourist map. Kovalam was transformed from a sleepy fishing village, with spectacular beaches, in to one of the most important tourist destinations in South India.
Beaches in Kovalam
Kovalam is home to three crescent shaped shallow beaches separated by rocky out cropping and these stretch for hundreds of meters making it ideal for swimming. The beaches are very tranquil and very safe at Kovalam and one can venture far out in to the sea, even up to a distance of 100 meters in to the calm waters. Kovalam is ideal for surfing and snorkeling and the beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer an array of se- related goods including antiques.
The Light House Beach, because of the 35 meter high light house set atop a hillock, is the most preferred choice of tourists and is the largest of the tree beaches. The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was also the first topless beach in India. However, presently such public top- free bathing and parading has been banned along the beaches even though such practices do go on within the confines of the several resorts that have sprang up at Kovalam.. There is also the Shanmugham beach close by that also attracts tourists in thousands. For tourists wishing to have a first hand knowledge of fishing methods employed by the fishermen, Shanmugham beach would be an ideal choice.
Food & Accommodation
Accommodation facilities are available at Kovalam and there are several premium and economy class hotels, resorts and home stays including several five star hotels. Accommodation facilities are in fact available at Kovalam to suit the budget of every type of tourist.
One can savor a variety of delicious sea food at the several eateries found in Kovalam. Some restaurants offer western, Chinese and Indian menu. Grilled sea food items such as lobsters and king prawns are available in plenty and at a reasonable price. Karimeen (pearl spot), the Kerala sea food delicacy is also available at Kovalam.
Ayurveda Treatments in Kovalam
There are also several ayurveda treatment centers in Kovalam that offer specialized ayurveda treatments to tourists. Massages, oil bath, pizhichil, and various types of ayurveda rejuvenation treatments and holistic therapies are available. Most of the ayurveda treatments provided at Kovalam are of very short duration ayurveda treatments and are limited to a few hours
How to Reach
By Air - Trivandrum
Indian Air Lines , Air India, Air Lanka, East West Airlines and Gulf Air operate direct service from Trivandrum to Delhi, Bombay, Madras, Goa, Bangalore, Cochin, Calicut. There are also international services to Sri Lanka, Maldives, Gulf countries and Singapore from Trivandrum International Airport
By Rail- Trivandrum
Trivandrum is the nearest rail head and is home to one of the biggest railway stations in Kerala and trains are operated to all major cities in the country.
By Road
Kovalam is easy accessible and one can reach any destination in Kerala by road from Kovalam. There are also regular bus services from Trivandrum to Kovalam, both private and Government.
Tourist Season: Throughout the year (Best time September to May)
Language: Malayalam, English, Hindi and Tamil.
Distance to Various Tourist Destinations from Kovalam
Trivandrum 16
Kanyakumari 87
Kollam 87
Alappuzha 172
Cochin 238
Kumarakom 172
Kottayam 170
Thekkady 270
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Hotels / Resorts in Kovalam
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