Kovalam Beach

Located 16 km away from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala), Kovalam is awesomely beautiful and a haven of serenity. It's a pleasant tourist spot in 'God's Own Country'. It's a magnificent beach supported by sharply mounting headlands and enclosed by fertile coconut palms. Placed snugly in the southern part of Kerala, Kovalam has created its presence on the worldwide tourist map, due to its clean and bizarre beaches lined with glittering sand and tall lighthouses. The privy coves, sun kissed beaches, and the coastal towns of Kovalam enliven with its freshening up nature and the pristine atmosphere. Kovalam  means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. . Later, in 1936, the next Queen, HH Karthika Thirunal choose this palace for her honeymoon with her newly wed husband, 1st Prince GV Raja. It was Prince G.V Raja who found immense tourist potential in the region and decided to promote the region among state guests, by inviting Thomas Cook & Sons- UK to develop the region. The Maharaja of Travancore soon started hosting regular state banquets and accommodation of his European guests in Kovalam Haylcon Palace. This made the beach popular among European families living in nearby Madras and Bombay Presidencies as well as elite Travancore families to spend their holidays. Thus, the move helped to lay foundations of the modern tourism industry in South India. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.





Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach. The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists, Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a 35 meter high on top of the Kurumkal hillock. The lighthouse is built using stones, is colored in red and white bands and enjoys a height of 118 feet. It's intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm. Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second. Hawa Beach is  named  for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India.However topless bathing is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts The third one Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side The local fishermen ply their trade on this part. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and Monazite. The normal tourist season is from September to May. Ashoka beach is also the part of Kovalam beach.

Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres.


Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 16 km  
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 10 km
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