Kovalam is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in
India. It is about 17 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of the
southern state of Kerala in India. Kovalam is popular region comprising three
beaches situated in the state of Kerala in the south of India. The
southernmost, known as the Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular of the three.
Many hotels, restaurants, lodges and shops are located here. It is frequented
by outsiders who stay and enjoy Kovalam. The Northern most crescent is crowded
on the weekends, is very popular with the locals, day-travelers, and passing-by
tourist buses. Hawa Beach, is among one of the beaches in India where top-less
sunbathing is tolerated and well appreciated by the locals, who come on the
weekends to admire this view free of charge. The tourism department provides a
vigilant life guard service on both Lighthouse and Hawa beach. Those
expecting a replica of Goa will be pleasantly surprised by the more relaxed
atmosphere,a bit more laid back,the food a touch softer and lighter.
Get in
Kovalam is about 16 km (20 minutes in a taxi) from
Trivandrum. Taxis can charge around 400-500 rupees to get to Kovalam. When
asked where you want to go, say Hawa Beach, Leela Beach/Main Beach or
Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam.
In an auto-rickshaw 250-300 rupees is a fair price, avoid
going above 300 rupees. If in doubt ask to use the meter, but in reality they really
don’t work at all. Advice being if they are trying to rip you off go to leave
for another rickshaw and they will often back down and offer you a fair price,
if not, get in a different rickshaw. Even if India is a cheap country, the
prices for gasoline are international standard, so don’t expect super cheap
private transportation. If you go by public bus from Trivandrum-East Fort to
Kovalam Beach you only pay 8 Rps. for the half hour trip.
Buses to Trivandrum can also be caught from Kovalum Junction
as well as Amabassador taxis and Autos to pretty much anywhere. Be very careful
walking around the junction, especially at night, as there are no traffic
lights (what’s new?!) and the street lighting is very minimal. The intersection
can be busy.
Get around
Tourist taxis are the most convenient way to travel around
attractions, especially while travelling in a group. Most airports and railway
stations have tourist taxi services that would take you anywhere you would want
to go.
A more adventurous option is to get a bike on hire. The
highway is a pleasure to drive on, with the cool breeze and coconut palms lined
along the way. Once on the highway, drive north for the plains, drive south for
the hills. Avoid driving through Thiruvananthapuram city, it’s congested. The
old highway, also called MC road, is also good to drive on. The MC road can
take you deep into the hills.
See
- Varkala Drive north on the highway for about an hour (55 km). It has a superb beach and cliff front and the usual tourist amenities. The quiet sandy beaches and large lakes of Paravur (65 km from Kovalam) are also close to Varkala and are hidden away. Paravur is a shared secret among those seeking a more peaceful getaway.
- Ponmudi – A nice semi-hill station located about 1 1/2 hours from Kovalam.
- Neyyar Dam ca 1,5 hours by local bus. Only worth to visit if you do not know what else to do. It is a water reservoir. No other curiosities except some crocodiles kept in cages. Better spend the time on the beach.
- Backwater Tours between Kovalam and Trivandrum there are backwater trips available that can be booked at Kovalam Beach itself. Small boats for 4-6 persons. A nice experience.
Do
- Surfing – Some fine waves from time to time (0.5 – 2 meters). You can hire surf boards and body boards on the beach from $6USD a day. Body boarding can be enjoyed by anyone. Surfing takes a bit more skill. It is wise to follow the life-guards’ instructions as there are some strong currents that can suddenly whisk the unwary out to sea.
Welcome to blogging. Looking forward to reading more informative texts about TVM. Happy Blogging!
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