Kovalam Beach
കോവളം
A three-bay beach on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, with a red-and-white lighthouse and palm trees. It was Kerala's first developed beach resort and has a dense concentration of Ayurvedic treatment centres.
Kovalam lies about 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is a crescent-shaped bay divided by three rocky headlands. From the 1930s it was a seaside resort for the Travancore royal family. After hippies discovered it in the 1970s, it became Kerala's first international beach resort. The southernmost Lighthouse Beach takes its name from the red-and-white striped lighthouse built in 1972. Behind the sand is a row of seafood restaurants and hotels. In the evening you can climb the lighthouse (about 50 rupees; it opens around 4:00 to 6:00 p.m.) to watch the sunset. The middle Hawah Beach is quieter, with fishermen hauling nets in the early morning. The northern Samudra Beach is close to a local fishing village.
Kovalam is a centre of Ayurvedic treatment in Kerala. Options range from 7- to 21-day courses at resorts such as Somatheeram to hourly massages on the beach (about 1,500 to 3,000 rupees). Choose a centre with government certification (Green Leaf or Olive Leaf). The bay has lifeguards, and the dry season is suitable for swimming and beginner surfing. Getting there: a taxi from Thiruvananthapuram Airport takes about 30 minutes, and a city bus takes about 40 minutes. Poovar, 8 km further south, offers boats through the backwaters to a sandbar at the river mouth. Staying 2 nights is recommended.
Note: Lighthouse Beach gets crowded with vendors and massage touts in peak season. Currents near the headlands are strong, so follow the lifeguards' flags. Beaches are largely closed during the monsoon season.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Vellayani Lake
- Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
- Kuthiramalika Palace
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- Beemapally Mosque
- Shanghumugham Beach
- Napier Museum & Sree Chitra Art Gallery
- Kanakakkunnu Palace