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Ideal duration: 1-2 days

Best Time: Sep-Mar Read More

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"Beaches, Ayurveda and Shopping"

Kovalam Tourism

Famous for its esorts and ayurvedic massage centre, Kovalam is a coastal town located around 13 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala. The largest beach in Kovalam is the lighthouse beach that features a 30-metre tall lighthouse. The other two adjacent beaches are Samudra beach and Hawa beach. All these three beaches are crescent-shaped shallow water and low tidal beaches.

Earlier a fishing village, Kovalam started attracting tourists in the 1930s and shot to fame in the hippie era of 1970s. It still sees the influx of tourists from Israel and Europe.

Ayurvedic treatments and massages are one of its most popular indulgences along with yoga, meditation as well as other cultural activities. Kovalam perhaps comes full circle as it is also a shopping destination given the rich spices, wooden statues and handicrafts that can make popular takeaways.

Kovalam Packages

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5 Days / 4 Nights

Luxury Kovalam Couple Tour Package

$ 365

12% off

$318 per adult on twin sharing

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10 Days / 9 Nights

Best of Kerala in 10 Days : Family Tour Package

$ 367

13% off

$317 per adult on twin sharing

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7 Days / 6 Nights

Dazzling Kovalam, Rameshwaram, Madurai and More

$ 296

12% off

$260 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Varkala & Kovalam Beach Tour Package

$ 294

24% off

$222 per adult on twin sharing

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7 Days / 6 Nights

Fascinating Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey & Kovalam Tour

$ 286

14% off

$245 per adult on twin sharing

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6 Days / 5 Nights

Alluring Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Alleppey & More

$212 per adult on twin sharing

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Must Visit Places in Kovalam

Water Sports in Kovalam

Lighthouse Beach

Places To Visit In Kovalam

Vellayani Lake, Kovalam

Water Sports in Kovalam

Lighthouse Beach

Hawah Beach

Halcyon Castle

Samudra Beach

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Top Hotels In Kovalam

18 Beach Resorts in Kovalam

$ 12 onwards

23 Resorts in Kovalam for a Laid-back Vacay

$ 8 onwards

30 3 Star Hotels In Kovalam

$ 9 onwards

8 Homestays In Kovalam

$ 15 onwards

10 Resorts In Kovalam With Private Pool

$ 19 onwards

18 Cottages In Kovalam

$ 6 onwards

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Beaches of Kovalam

1. Lighthouse Beach
The Lighthouse beach is the largest beach in Kovalam named after the 30-m high lighthouse located on the beach. It houses an observatory which can be accessed through a lift or by climbing a flight of stairs consisting of 142 steps. The observatory provides a beautiful panoramic view of the beach, and you can also see the Poovar and the famous Beemapalli mosque from there.

2. Hawa Beach
Water sports facilities are available at Hawa Beach, and it stands out with its palm groves that line the shore. People come here from the bus stand and railway station. It's also a good place to try out the local cuisine in the small restaurants that you find near the beach. This beach provides the best view for sunset and also has an experience in store for you in the mornings when the fishermen set out into the sea chanting and singing the folk songs.

3. Samudra Beach
Samudra Beach is located in the northern part of Kovalam. It is the least crowded and this coastline is also preferred by the fishermen for fishing.

Shopping in Kovalam

Kovalam offers some exciting shopping options. At the Kovalam Lighthouse beach, there are beautiful silk sarongs, colourful lungis and exquisite ornaments made from sea-shells for sale, in addition to other trinkets. The Heritage Handicrafts shop has handicrafts made from teak wood and other souvenirs. Shop for authentic Malabar spices and other condiments cardamom, fenugreek and saffron at the Joseph and Sons shop. The SM Handloom centre is a good option for getting some traditional garments.

Nightlife in Kovalam

The mellow night-life of Kovalam can be enjoyed at one of the few bars of the town. Enjoy a relaxed evening with good food, drinks and a fantastic view at The Sky Bar in Leela Kempinski. Other good options include the Neera Bar at the Taj and The Bar. Kovalam’s nightlife is generally a low-key affair, intended to be a soothing mix of great music, peppered with drinks and food.

Ayurvedic Massages in Kovalam

Some popular massage centres include Ayur Kerala Ayurvedic Centre, Lakshmi House Ayurveda and Spa and the Chakra Ayurvedic Resort. They offer many options for treatments like rejuvenation therapy, body purification therapy, anti-stress treatment and rheumatic therapy, among others. Some places like the Chakra Ayurvedic Resort, offer exclusive packages during the monsoon season, which is considered to be the best season for treatment. The Leela Beach Resort Kovalam is also the right choice, which is India’s only cliff-top beach resort.

Restaurants and Local Food in Kovalam

Fishes, fruit salads, chicken and regular Malayalee preparations are available here. Along with this one will find the widespread Idli, Dosa, Vadas and Uttapam along with an almost exotic range of seafood like a lot of areas around it. This range includes crabs, prawns, lobsters and more.
Sometimes slightly Indianized Israeli and European grub is also available. Alcohol is easily available, but must be discreetly consumed.
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Suggested Itinerary for Kovalam

Day 1 - Reach Trivandrum by morning and travel to Kovalam by road. Reach Kovalam before noon. In the afternoon go to the beach for activities like sunbathing, surfing, water sports etc. Watch the beautiful sunset on the beach. Don't miss out on going to the observatory of the lighthouse in the lighthouse beach to see the beautiful view.
Day 2 - During the day get one of the ayurvedic spas to feel rejuvenated and detoxified. Spend the evening on the beach and watch a starlit sky which has become a rare site in the polluted cities. Depart from Kovalam the next day. You can also explore the areas near Kovalam by hiring a tourist vehicle which would be the most comfortable and affordable option.

Best Time to Visit Kovalam

How to Reach Kovalam

How to Reach Overview

Kovalam doesn't have its own airport or railway station, the nearest ones are in Trivandrum. Regular buses connect Kovalam to various cities. The drive across the Trivandrum bypass is also another delightful experience.

How to reach Kovalam by flight

The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport that is 15 km away from Kovalam. From there you can hire a taxi or an auto rickshaw or travel by the KSRTC bus to Kovalam.

How to reach Kovalam by road

Kovalam is well connected to Thirvananthapuram city center by road. You can travel by bus, taxi or auto rickshaw from there. Thiruvananthapuram can be reached easily from any city by road.

How to reach Kovalam by train

The nearest railway station is the Thiruvananthapuram Central that is about 16 km away from Kovalam.

Local transport in Kovalam

Tourist taxis and rented Mo-bikes are the best way to travel around. You can also opt for buses.

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Kovalam Photos

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FAQs on Kovalam

What are the places near Kovalam?

The top places near to Kovalam are Kanyakumari which is 70 km from Kovalam, Poovar which is located 13 km from Kovalam, Trivandrum which is located 18 km from Kovalam, Varkala which is located 46 km from Kovalam, Alleppey which is located 130 km from Kovalam

What are the top hotels in Kovalam?

There are 137 in Kovalam which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Kovalam are Devikripa Homestay, Johny's Beach House, Johny's Beach Hotel, Padmini House, Bougainvillea Home Stay, Capital O 45944 Club 7. You can see all the hotels in Kovalam here

How much does a package cost for Kovalam?

The packages for Kovalam start at INR 7500 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What is the best way to reach Kovalam?

Trivandrum has both the nearest airport and railway station. Regular buses connect Kovalam to various cities. The drive across the Trivandrum bypass is also another delightful take-away.
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What is the local food in Kovalam?

What is the best time to visit Kovalam?

September to March are the best months to visit Kovalam in terms of weather for travelling. Monsoons experiences heavy rainfall, but this is a good time if you want to just rejuvenate yourself in a great weather within your resort or to take Ayurvedic treatments.
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Who should visit Kovalam?

If you are looking for a place to detox, free from the hustle-bustle and pollution, and relax in a calm environment listening to the sounds of nature, then Kovalam is an ideal place for you.

What is not so good about Kovalam?

It does offer much to those who are looking for something beyond relaxation.

What is famous about Kovalam?

The place has many resorts and home stays available which provide you with yoga programmes and various ayurvedic spa treatments. Kovalam is a destination where you can connect back to nature and yourself.

What are the things to do in Kovalam?

The top things to do in Kovalam are Water Sports in Kovalam, Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach, Halcyon Castle, Vellayani Lake, Kovalam, Samudra Beach. You can see all the places to visit in Kovalam here

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Kovalam Reviews

Your rating

Kokil Das

4 years ago

Best time is to visit in the month of January to March. Ideal time should be around in the mornings, usually the night is more calmer. One con though, the place gets closed by 11p.m

Gopal Jindal

4 years ago

There is Shankumugham beach which is the best beach here and Old Coffee house there is really good for all day food. Also, visit Sree Padmanaswamu temple and Napier Musuem.

Brahmani Keni

4 years ago

Kovalam is a beach town that is internationally known for its three connected beaches - Hawa beach, Palm backed beach and the Samudra beach. All these three beaches together form Kovalam beach. The l (Read More)eisure options are plenty such as sunbathing, sea swimming, health resorts along with various health, yoga and ayurvedic centers.

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