About Kovalam (Kovalam City Information)

A former fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city. This enchanting strip of golden sands is laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms.

Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant climatic beach resort. It is a dreamy place for tourists all over the world. Today Kovalam beach is known as the "Paradise of the South". With high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on moonlit nights. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore.

Over the past three decades, the place has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. Its scenic beauty and serenity is supplemented by the availability of excellent accommodation . There are a lot of restaurants which provide western style food as well as Indian, which is delicious. The grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari which are got fresh from the sea at Kovalam.

Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities, makes Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe. It is warm and clean by the coconut trees and the white sand bed as the seabreeze gently plays with the waves. Swimming and bathing are very refreshing and exhilarating in the waves. One can walk into the sea about 100 metres without loosing ground. This cove is also the safest place for swimming. Most of the visitors like to have a sunbath and get a good suntan on beach.

At many coastal places there are beautiful patches of coral reefs. The underwater views, which are visible during snorkeling, are really marvelous. The Kashmiri, Kerala Batik items, Kannada handicrafts are very attractive to the tourists. Tourists can avail all information and check e-mail free of cost at Tourist Information and Communication centre on beach.

Many people from different countries and cultures, intermingling their languages get together in this paradise of the South and spend their leisure time joyfully. It makes moments heavenly.

Places to see

Kovalam beach
On the Malabar coast along the Kerala shore line is a small village, called Kovalam. This sleepy town suddenly came on the tourist map when its fabulous beaches were discovered. Today Kovalam has become one of the most popular beach hangouts in India. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and truly the coconut trees along the beaches gives it a ravishing look.

The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promises a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes this beach paradise.

This marvelous beach is a tourist's dream come true. A sheltered natural bay with cool soothing palms and gentle waves. Where when you are tired of aquatics, swimming or sunbathing, you can explore the handicrafts, jewellery and cloth shops spread along the waterfront.

The crescent-shaped beaches of Kovalam can be divided in three parts. The southern most beach, and the most popular, is the Lighthouse Beach. Further south on the beach one can have a spectacular view of the Vizhinzam mosque. Photography is prohibited here.

Temples

Padmanabhaswamy Temple
East Fort Ganapathy Temple
Pazhavangadi Bhagavathy Temple
Attukal Hanuman Temple
Vikas Bhavan Sree Parasurama Temple, Thiruvallam Janardhan Swamy Temple
Varkala Aruvipuram siva Temple
Neyyattinkara Sree Kanteswaram Temple

Churches
St.Joseph Church, Palayam
Christ Church, Paslayam LMS Church
Palayam Lourdes Church, Near PMG
Jn. Pentacostal Church

Mosques
Charachira Jama Masjid, Palayam
Jama Masjid, Beemapally Mosque
Thampanoor Hidayuthul Islam Madrasa
Moyuddin Mosque, Vizhinjam