Palm-fringed beaches, crystal blue water of the Arabian Sea and some rocky hills with beautiful resorts on top, Kovalam is probably the most beautiful beach in Kerala, rather in India. Located just 18 km south to the capital city Thiruvananthapuram, this coastal town offers long stretches of shallow waters, ideal for swimming. Kovalam Tourism attracts a good number of people to Kerala.
Low tidal waves make Kovalam one of the most favorite beaches of westerners in India. Though the beach came to notice once Her Highness The Queen of Travancore Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai built her private residence Haylcon Castle here in the 1930s. However, it was only in the 1970s that the Government of Kerala made Kovalam one of the most prominent places in Kerala tourism and promoted it as a popular tourist destination.
The best part of Kovalam beach is that it is very close to the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram. Just 18 km away from the city center, Kovalam can be reached by taxis or by private cars. The Hawa Beach, one of the 3 major beaches in Kovalam is a popular beach for day-travelers. Many tourists and travelers come here by cabs or by buses or even by private cars and park their vehicles near the beach, enjoy the soft surf and the clear sun and return in the evening. Self-drive cars are easily available from Thiruvananthapuram and it is a wonderful drive along the way.
The Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is the nearest station that is located just 15 km away from Kovalam. Trains from all the major stations from different parts of India come to Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. Once you reach the station, you can take taxis or hire private cars to reach Kovalam.
Flights from all the major cities in India as well as from international airports such as Colombo, Singapore, Dubai etc. come to Trivandrum International Airport, which is 10 km away from Kovalam. You can reach Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum by flight and then take a taxi or a bus or hire a private car to reach Kovalam.
You can also take an auto-rickshaw if you are not carrying much of luggage. The fair for auto-rickshaws ranges within ₹150 and ₹170. For taxis, you may have to pay ₹400 to ₹500 from Thiruvananthapuram to Kovalam. You have to tell the driver whether you want to go to Hawa Beach, Lighthouse Beach or the main beach known as Leela Beach.
Kerala is a hot state, located in the southern part of the country. Also, it is a coastal state and Kovalam itself is a coastal town. So, it is mostly hot and humid throughout the year. Therefore, the best time to visit Kovalam is in the winter season, from the month of November to February. The temperature is very moderate and soothing at this time with the minimum temperature around 16 degrees and the maximum reaching 32 to 34 degrees. The evening breeze is extremely romantic and therefore, it is an ideal honeymoon destination for many. From sightseeing to shopping to beach hopping and engorging the fresh seafood, winter is the best time to visit Kovalam
During the monsoon season, Kovalam gets an entirely new, fresh and green look. With rain-washed flora, dense green trees on the slopes of the hills and rejuvenated coconut palms give the entire beach town a beautiful appeal. You may have to carry umbrellas or raincoats for sudden rains, but sightseeing becomes amazingly enjoyable.
Summer is not the ideal time to visit Kovalam as long as enjoying and swimming in the beach is concerned. However, if you are looking for a low hotel price or discounted room tariffs, summer is the ideal time to visit Kovalam. Not just in Kovalam, but also throughout Kerala, you get the best-discounted rates during summer.
The striped lighthouse prominently standing on a gleaming sandy beach with crystal blue waves touching the rocky foot of the Kurumkal hill – that is the Lighthouse Beach, the most iconic beach in Kovalam. The beach gets its name from the Vizhinjam lighthouse and it is also the most frequently visited beach in Kovalam.
Just by taking 140 steps, you will reach the observation deck on the Kurumkal hill. You will see the Poovar village and Beemapalli Mosque on either side. This beach is best for swimming, surfing, paragliding and parasailing.
While the Lighthouse Beach is popular for swimming and surfing, Hawa Beach is a more relaxed beach with soft waves and not many people to swim here. However, it is more known for the topless foreigners who sunbathe here for tanning the skin. It is one of the few Indian beaches where topless sunbathing is tolerated.
7 km away from Kovalam, the Vellayani Lake is popular for the snake boat race destination. Visiting during Onam festival will give you the chance to enjoy the snake boating race in this fresh water lake.
The Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple dates back to the 18th century. It is an unfinished temple that is probably the charm of this Shiva and Parvati temple.
This river originates from the Western Ghat mountains and flows through Thiruvananthapuram and other small suburbs namely Karamana. With dense green trees on the banks, tourists can enjoy boat ride here.
The Lighthouse Beach is best for all sorts of water sports. Paragliding, parasailing, surfing etc. activities are very popular in this beach.
The Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium is a treasure trove for marine animals and different kinds of aquatic fish. If you are travelling with kids or if you are fond of wildlife, visit the Zoological Park of Thiruvananthapuram, which is one of the largest zoological parks in India.
The Halcyon Castle, Valiyathura Pier, Kovalam Art Gallery and Neyyar Dam, where many people come for yoga and meditation practice are some of the must visit sightseeing destinations in Kovalam.
From 5 star beach resorts to budget hotels, from holiday homes to apartments, you will get a wide range of accommodation options in Kovalam. You can get package stays as well as one night staying options in all these places.
