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 Kovalam,
one of India's internationally renowned beaches, in the
God's own country, Kerala. A favorite haunt of Europeans
since the 1930s, Kovalam consists of three successive
crescent beaches. Kovalam, a sheltered natural bay, the
azure blue waters and the sumptuous spread of green palm
groves make it a tropical paradise of sorts. Sun bathing,
Swimming, Ayurvedic Rejuvenation, Yoga and meditation,
Herbal body toning massages, Special Cultural Programmes,
Catamaran cruising; the possibilities are many. The Kovalam
lighthouse beach is where most visitors spend their time.
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.
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