Kovalam, the international beach destination of Kerala, Southern India is situated at a distance of 16km from the capital city, Thiruvananthapuram. It is one of the most celebrated tourist destinations in South India. The word Kovalam means the groove of coconuts.
The Maharaja of Travancore played a key role in bringing the limelight to Kovalam. He was deeply impressed by the effervescence of the beaches and he made it his favorite holiday spot. He also invited his European friends to enjoy the elegance of the beach.
Kovalam turned out to be the favorite tourist spot of Europeans during the 1970s Kovalam was a group of fishing villages that made its mark in the International tourism map with the advent of the hippies in the 70’s.
The tourist season in Kovalam starts in the month of September and continues up to March. Kovalam is home to three crescent-shaped beaches. The southernmost beach is called Lighthouse Beach due to the presence of the towering lighthouse. It is the largest and most developed beach in Kovalam. There are shops, cottages, Ayurvedic resorts, and spas scattered around this place. It is the most popular of the three beaches. Foreign tourists prefer the Light House beach to the other two beaches. The alternate beams from the lighthouse provide an elusive charm to the beach at night.
The Hawa beach with its rock promontory and the calm waters is alluring. It got its name from the European women who frequented this beach earlier. The beach on the northernmost part, Samudra is crowded during weekends. The shallow water and the low tidal waves have made Kovalam the favorite place for bathing for foreign travelers.
Kovalam shot into fame during the Hippy period. Now it is a well-developed tourist destination with five-star hotels and resorts surrounding it. The hotels provide delicious continental as well as Kerala dishes. Now Kovalam has turned into the paradise of health tourism. A branch of medicine Ayurveda is exclusively practiced here with Ayurvedic spas and resorts popping up across the vast expanse of this beach town. Tourists who arrive now are looking for a rejuvenating and revealing experience from the Ayurvedic spas and massage centers. The massage centers help to tone your body and it is a relaxing experience.
How To Reach Kovalam
Kovalam is at a distance of 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. There are buses, auto rickshaws and cabs from here to Kovalam.
The nearest railway station is Thiruvananthapuram Central.
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram Airport.