Kovalam Tourism And Travel Guide

Kovalam is a small, lush green town at the southernmost tip of Kerala. What was once an obscure land was converted to a holiday home for the elite during the 1930s, which later sprung into a major tourist spot during the 70s thanks to the hippies that travelled that route. Now you will find a quaint little town with an active coast line, with people swimming, surfing, sunbathing or just relishing some coastal delicacies from the stalls. 

Tourism in Kovalam constitutes more than the three beautiful crescent shaped beaches that are embroidered with huge black rocks and dense coconut palms. Like the rest of Kerala, you will find lakes, rivers, backwaters and ancient temples colouring the landscape here. Here is a travel guide to Kovalam so that you can plan a leisurely trip.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the state capital of Kerala, is fairly close by, making commuting easy. You can get to the city by air, rail or road. Furthermore, there are roads connecting Kovalam with other tourist destinations in Kerala and other major cities like Bangalore and Chennai, if you are planning a long vacation. The picturesque backdrop has the added advantage of making the place ideal for a road trip. 

Railway:

The nearest station to Kovalam is The Thiruvananthapuram Central, 16 kilometres away, from where there are taxis, buses and auto-rickshaws to reach Kovalam. You will also find private car rentals. 

Airport:

The Trivandrum International Airport, about 13 kilometres from Kovalam, is a busy hub for international and domestic travelers. From here you can hire a cab or an auto.

Road:

There are bus services available from most cities of South India to Trivandrum. The NH 66 that starts from Panvel, Maharashtra and ends at Kanyakumari, is a commonly used route to get to the city.

Kerala experiences a typical tropical climate, so you will encounter warm and humid weather conditions during your trip. However you can chose the months from December to February if you are not fond of the heat. By this time the state would have gone through the monsoon season and cooled down. These months have a very pleasant weather throughout the day. The summer months of March, April and May on the other hand, see a lot of discounts and offers from resorts on the beach. This is a good opportunity to utilize the variety of services these places offer, starting from Ayurveda spas to exotic coastal food. 

The Beaches: 

The Lighthouse Beach, the most famous of the three main beaches in Kovalam, gets its name from the striped lighthouse that stands majestically atop Kurumkal Hillock. You can take a tour of the light house for a minimal fee. Hawa (Malayalam for Eve) Beach is just north of the Lighthouse and is just as busy and beautiful as the lighthouse beach.  At the beach you can visit the many stalls that local vendors have put up, selling souvenirs, handicrafts, beachwear and what not. You will also find the water just prefect for swimming and will offer a great relief from the warm weather. They encourage water sports like surfing too and there are coast guards to make sure you are safe. Make sure you check out the off-shore coral reefs while you are there.

Halcyon Castle: 

The history of Kovalam as a tourist attraction begins with this castle. The palace was constructed for Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai in the year 1932 as a summer retreat for her and her family. Over the years they invited many European guests, thus popularising the beach town. The castle is still well maintained and must be visited for its traditional architecture. 

Karamana River: 

The Karamana River flows from the southern tip of the Western Ghats through Karamana and merges with the Arabian Sea. The river banks are home to many important temples, like the Padmanabhaswamy Temple and the Attukal Temple. The river also enriches a great variety of fauna and flora. It is a lovely sight for bird watching, boating and just enjoying the calm of nature. 

The beaches of Kovalam are lined with restaurants and cafes with menus filled with preparations of fish, mussels, lobsters etc.  Be sure to taste all the coastal and south Indian specials the city has to offer you!

At the lighthouse Beach you will see shops and stalls lining the beach with all sorts of souvenirs and traditional handicrafts. Make sure you get your mementos before you leave.