Travel Guide - Kovalam

Kovalam

Kovalam is a lovely slice of sun & sand famous for its frenzied beachfront and swaying palms. Often categorized as being one of the quieter towns, Kovalam is an ideal place to kickback for a few days and enjoy the beauty and solace that it has to offer. Three curve shaped beaches are the main attractions of the town and various curio shops, restaurants and shacks create an unmistakable resort ambiance that lures tourists to enjoy a vacation. Kovalam, one of the most popular hippi epoch of the mid century, still rank high among tourists who arrive from Europe and Israel. Ayurveda is one of the most popular indulgences in Kovalam and several Ayurvedic ashrams and healing resorts provide a variety of Ayurvedic treatments..

Getting There

Air: Trivandrum (15 km) is the nearest airport. Daily flights are available from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore and the tickets are moderately priced (Rs 3,000-5,000). Train: Trivandrum has the nearest railway station. Direct trains are available from Delhi (Kerala Express), Kolkata (Guwahati Trivandrum Express), Mumbai (Trivandrum Rajdhani), Hyderabad (Sabari Express), Chennai (Trivandrum Express) and Bangalore (Kanyakumari Express). Bus: Regular buses ply from various cities to Kovalam. Local buses are available from Trivandrum (15 km, 30 min, Rs 20), Alleppey ( 160 km, 3 hours, Rs 150 for semi-deluxe). No direct buses are available from Bangalore and Chennai for Kovalam. Tourists can take overnight buses to Trivandrum from Bangalore (650 km, 12 hours, Rs 1,000 for AC Volvo) and Chennai (720 km, 10 hours, Rs 1200 for AC Volvo). Car: Kovalam can be easily reached from Trivandrum and Alleppey. The routes from Trivandrum (25 mins) is by starting from Trivandrum Bypass Rd-MG Road-Pass by South Indian Bank-turn left-Kovalam. From Alleppey (2-3 hrs), tourists need to take the South VP Road-Trivandrum Bypass Road-Venpalavattom Jct- Thuppanathu Kavu Devi & Murugan Temple-turn right for Kovalam. For tourists coming from North India (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata), the best option is to take a direct flight or train to Trivandrum and continue their onward journey by taxi or bus.

When To Go

Kovalam experiences tropical dry climate. Summers (March to May) are not best months for visiting the town as temperature reach 36°C, making the climate hot and humid. Winters (November to February) are the ideal time as temperatures remain cool, making it perfect for sight seeing and basking in the summer sun. Monsoons are the apt time for tourists planning to indulge in Ayurvedic retreats and be part of the festivities during this time.

Eat & Drink

Eating in Kovalam is confined to the open-air restaurants lined on the beach. Tourists can enjoy the option of picking fresh sea food and decide the way they want it to be cooked. Restaurants remain open from 7:30 am till midnight and the menus as well as prices are indistinguishable, thus tourists can choose the place which appeals to them the most.

For vegetarian food, tourists can go to Suprabhatham, known for its authentic Keralan cuisine and secluded, intimate ambiance. Garzia Seafood Center and Beatles (0471 2483156) are known for their funky decor and yummy sea food delights.

For multi-cuisine options, tourists can go Spice Village (9995278322) and Cafe Spice Garden (0471 2480321) serving great options of Chinese, Continental and Local Kerala cuisine along with wide range of cocktails and beverages. For quick snacks and quinches, tourists should head to the German Bakery (0471 2480179).

Shopping

The beach area of Kovalam is a treasure trove for shopping. Small shacks on the beach are ideal for picking pretty trinkets and small handicrafts. The Tibetan Curio Shops, Kashmiri & Rajasthani emporiums are the best places to buy handicrafts and fashionable clothes.

Travel within city

Kovalam has a lot of options when it comes to local travel within the town. Tourists can opt for tourist taxis and rented bikes in order to travel around the region of Kovalam. Buses are also available, but these are few in number and generally crowded.

Bus

You can opt for buses in Kovalam in order to reach all the major destinations and must see places. Buses are a relatively cheap mode of travel, and bus fares will vary around Rs 5 to 20 for local travel, depending on the distance involved. The buses available in the region are normal semi deluxe buses.

Taxi

Tourist taxis are very popular modes of travel too, and travelling in tourist taxis can be very useful for you in case you are travelling in groups. You can easily opt for a ride in tourist taxis, as these taxis are available everywhere from airports to railway stations. Tourist taxi fares are predetermined, thus you will not have to bargain for better fares. Taxis are a safe mode of travel, and it is best to opt for a taxi during night travel.

Rented Motorbike

You can also rent a two-wheeler or motorcycle from one of the rental agencies present in the region, and opting for an Enfield 350 CC can actually enhance your biking experience. Rental charges range from around Rs 200 to 400 for a day, depending on the vehicle that you select.

Attractions

Lighthouse Beach

    mustsee Lighthouse beach is a very popular attraction in Kovalam. Though tourists are not allowed to go inside the lighthouse, they can enjoy a scenic walk on the sandy strip and some lip smacking sea food at the restaurants that are lined along the shore.

Hawa Beach

    popular Alternatively known as Eve's beach, Hawa Beach is an isolated beach known for its sunset views.

Samudra Beach

    popular

Located on the Northern most part of Kovalam beach, the Samudra beach is a picnic beach where tourists can enjoy the sighting of traditional fishing vessels. The beach is unexplored and is ideal for those who want to soak in its peace and calm.

Ponmudi

   Situated at a distance of 61 km from Kovalam is Ponmudi. It is a place blessed by scenice beauty. Ponmudi is famous for its mountains and beautiful landscapes.A number of tea plantations can be seen in the region.

If you like you can go for mountaineering in the Ponmudi mountains and enjoy a birds eye view of the surrounding scenic beauty. Ponmudi is accessible by road, you can drive down or hire a taxi from Kovalam at reasonable rates.The beauty of this place is sure to cast a magical spell on every traveler!

Varkala

   Located 55 km from Kovalam, Varkala is a quaint beach town which is home to some unexplored beaches like the Papanasam & Edava beaches. Tourists looking for some peace & calm can spend a laid back vacation along its quiet shorelines. An ideal way to soak in its pristine environs is by taking a walk down the promenade built by the Department of Tourism, which allows a scenic walk for towards the north, passing Odayam and Edava until Kappil, which is blessed with blue lagoons, is a sight to behold.

Itineraries

Distances from Kovalam

Trivandrum	45 km	20m
Sabarimala	133 km	2h, 10m
Alleppey	158 km	5h
Kumarakom	192 km	5h
Kochi	211 km	5h
Thekkady	230 km	5h
Munnar	360 km	9h
Coimbatore	392 km	9h

Posted in: Travel