Kovalam

Kovalam is a beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala, a state in south India. It is located around 16 km outside Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) City in the Thiruvananthapuram district. There are a number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a Muslim shrine. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from Europe. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite. There are two main beaches at Kovalam, separated by a high cliff. There is a small light house on Eve’s Beach.

The normal tourist season is from November to March.

Places for visit   

The museum is open from 10:00 am to 4:45 pm (Tuesday to Sunday). The timing is different on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 4:45 pm. Entry fee: For museum and art gallery – adult Rs 5 and children Rs 2 .

Napier Museum : The museum contains a fine collection of Kerala”s bronzes, ornaments and costumes, and a model of “Tharawad”-the traditional Nair family home. The Napier Museum is an absolute gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with Chinese and Mughal influences .

Padmanabhapuram Palace :  A beautiful palace which built in the traditional Travancore architectural style

Veli Tourist Village : The long undulating shoreline of Kerala is broken by lagoons that merge into inland lakes to form some of the most picturesque picnic spots. One such is the Veli lagoon, separated from the Arabian sea by a narrow sand bar. The VeliTourist Village, built at the point where the lagoon meets the Arabian sea is replete with fish ponds, wading pools and landscaped gardens, along with facilities for boating and water sports and a children’s park around the floating bridge that connects the village to the beach.The youth hostel  takes care of your food and accommodation at Veli.

Nearby is the Shankhumukham beach skirting the Thiruvananthapuram International airport.

Veli – Getting there:

Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram central, about 8 km

Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 3 km.

Vizhinjam Village : At a distance of around 2 km from Kovalam town, the village of Vizhinjam has a number of attractions stored within its area. Prominent among these are the Cave Temple with unfinished carvings of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and the Marine Aquarium displaying a wide variety of marine life like squirrel fish, moon wrasse, butterfly fish, lion fish and giant turtles. . 

Beema Palli : Located at 5 km south of Trivandrum it is an important Muslim pilgrim centre dedicated to Beema Beevi, a pious Muslim lady believed to have possessed divine powers. Devotees of all faiths visit the mosque .