Along
the 600 kilometre length of the Kerala coast, there are many sandy
beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms. The fishing village of
Kovalam lies 10 kilometres south of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of
Kerala. Kovalam is the only beach resort of Kerala, and is very popular
with the Indian as well as international tourists. Industry is relatively
small scale in this area and the prices low. The beach is just a few
minutes walk from the village.
Kovalam consists of three
successive small crescent beaches; the southern most known as Lighthouse
Beach, is where most of the visitors spend their time.
The beach is
bordered with low cost lodging houses, and restaurants which offer
adequate facilities, at affordable tariffs - ideal for a long stay. The
light house on the promontory at the southern end of the beach, offers a
spectacular view across to the Vizhinjam mosque. Photography is prohibited
here.
The
middle beach, overlooked from a rocky headland by the five star Ashok
Radisson resort, functions each morning as a base for local fishers. North
of Ashok, is the third beach which is very little affected by the changing
times. It is dotted with a few rudimentary wooden fishing vessels.
Swimming
on the beaches is not always safe, as the undertow can be very strong,
therefore it is essential to follow the warnings of the safety flags.
However, days can be spent here just lolling around on the sands or
retreating under the awnings of the beach cafes.
There are
numerous craft and carpet shops (usually of Tibetan, Kashmiri and
Rajasthani origin), clothing stores and general stores, yoga schools,
travel agents and massage parlours lining the beach.
When
to visit
November to February is the best time to visit.
How
to reach there There is direct and regular daily bus service from
Thiruvananthapuram. There are direct bus links to Ernakulam and
Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin), which is two hours away. There is also a bus
to Periyar Wildlife sanctuary in Thekaddy.
Thiruvananthapuram,
is linked by air from Colombo, Male and the Indian cities of Mumbai,
Kochi, Delhi and Chennai. There are bus links from all the major cities of
Kerala, and also from Chennai, Bangalore, Kochi, Madurai, Pondicherry,
Nagercoil and Erode to Thiruvananthapuram. It is also well connected to
all the major cities of the country by train.
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