Kovalam beach
Kovalam is a small resort village on the south coast of the Indian state of Kerala. A long wide beach stretches along the fishing villages, restaurants, shops, Ayurvedic clinics, hotels with their own beach areas, lush thickets. You can get to Kovalam by bus, rickshaw or rented car from Trivandram.
Photos
Beach description
Five beaches are located on the coast of Kovalam resort:
- Ashok Beach or Maine Beach, as well as Lila Beach – the main beach of Kovalam. The shore is covered with sand. Descent into the sea is relatively gentle, the bottom is sandy. The sea is quite calm. On the territory there are paid sunbeds, umbrellas, a public toilet. Ashok is very popular with locals. It is especially crowded at the weekend. Not the best place to relax with children, because there is a lot of garbage on the beach and in the water. Ashok is suitable for surfing, parasailing, snorkeling. There is a bus stop nearby.
- Samudra Beach – a small sandy beach on the northern part of the Kovalama beach line, next to Ashok. The sea is especially turbulent. Swimming is prohibited. The coast is surrounded by cliffs and large boulders.
- Lighthouse Beach is a beach at the southern end of the coastline, next to the lighthouse and the small Krishna Temple. Located in a picturesque place, in the area of hotels and resorts. There is an observation deck at the lighthouse, which offers wonderful views of the coast and the sea. The beach is sandy, the entrance to the sea is shallow, the water is clean and clear, however, for swimming, Lighthouse Beach is of little use due to fairly high waves. The beach is actively used by surfers. There are sunbeds and umbrellas, lifeguards on duty. Hotel sites have excellent infrastructure, but outsiders are not welcome. Lighthouse Beach is quite crowded. Among vacationers there are many locals and tourists, mainly middle-aged Europeans. With children on the beach, it’s uncomfortable because of the large crowds and the dangerous sea.
- Hawa Beach – a small sandy beach in the lagoon. A picturesque palm grove stretches along the coast. Fine volcanic sand is pleasant for bare feet. The descent into the sea is flat, the bottom is sandy. The sea is restless, but due to the long shallows and coastal cliffs, the waves are low and safe. You can swim with children. On the territory there are reed canopies from the sun, however there are no sun loungers and deck chairs. Many food, drink, and fruit merchants. There are several retail stores. You can rent a boat, boat or go fishing with local fishermen.
- Palm Shore Beach or Palm Beach – a small secluded beach located next to Lighthouse -Beach, in the area of the hotel Soma Palmshore with a landscaped beach site. The sandy coastline is well-groomed. The entrance to the sea is gentle, the bottom is sandy, but swimming is very dangerous due to high waves. Unsuccessful option for families with children.
When is it better to go
The best time to spend holidays on the beaches of India – is from November to March. These months have less rainfall, humidity is 60 - 70%, and the water temperature in the Indian Ocean is +29 degrees. There are many vacationers throughout the year. A massive flow of tourists begins in mid-autumn and lasts until the end of winter
Video: Beach Kovalam
Infrastructure
Where to stop
Kovalam resort offers many accommodation options for tourists with different financial capabilities. In the village and directly a stone's throw from the sea there are many ultramodern resorts, hotels, apartments and guest houses. It offers hotel guests restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, animation programs, SPA salons, Ayurvedic complexes.
Where to eat
Despite the developed tourist infrastructure, Kovalam remains a fishing village, where almost at every step there are restaurants offering a variety of fish and seafood dishes. In many establishments, the cost of food is quite affordable, and the taste of the dishes on offer is delicious. There are restaurants of European and international cuisine. Almost everywhere you can find drinks to your taste – strong and weak alcohol, juices, sweet carbonated and still drinks. Tea of various sorts deserves special mention.
There are supermarkets where you can buy meat, fish, greens and vegetables, convenience foods, confectionery. A rich variety of local fruits is presented in markets open near the beaches, but in supermarkets the prices for the same products are lower.
What to do
Kovalam beaches are especially popular with surfers. Boards and other equipment can be rented at rental locations on the shore. It is possible to rent a catamaran and go on a boat trip along the picturesque coast. Snorkeling and diving are preferable to do with catamarans, since in many places on the coast it is almost impossible to enter the water.
Kovalam is located in an extremely picturesque place combining lush jungle, mountain peaks and the sea. In the village and nearby are several worthy of visiting Hindu and Buddhist temples. Experienced travelers are advised to go on an excursion into the mountains to Kallar Falls. Noteworthy is the old tea factory located on the way to Mount Ponmudi. There you can buy loose tea. Pommudi has an observation deck with stunning views of the surrounding jungle and the sea.
Weather in Kovalam
Best hotels of Kovalam
All hotels of KovalamUseful information
An elephant nursery is located 70 km from Kovalam in the village of Mutanam, visitors of which are invited to ride elephants, play with elephants, and take part in feeding and bathing babies. The "pupils" of the nursery are distinguished by a good-natured flexible disposition.