K ovalam in Kerala is a beach town by the Arabian Sea. It is half an hour from Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Kovalam means Grove of Coconuts, and true to its name you get an uninterrupted view of coconut palms swaying in the breeze.
The closest city is Thiruvanthapuram, and you can get there by air or rail. While the station is approximately 16 km away from Kovalam, the airport is about 10km away.
The Kovalam beach is 17 km long and has three beaches, each separated from the other by rocky outcroppings. The beach itself is shaped like a crescent, and so there is violent crashing of the waves against land, but just a gentle lapping against the sands.
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Kovalam was once a fishing village far removed from life in the bustling city of Thiruvananthapuram. Then, in 1932 the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore built a house, which was to be a quiet getaway for her family. It was named Halcyon Castle. In 1964, the property was sold to the Government of Kerala and it was converted into a hotel. Later, it changed hands to become a corporate luxury hotel.
The Halcyon Castle stands regal over the sandy shores, affording one an enviable view of the great blue beyond. It was built in the colonial architectural style that was prevalent at that time in Kerala. The granite castle has three floors and geometric designs have been used throughout. It has a circular edged staircase, large rectangular shaped halls, small pyramid-shaped parapets, domes and cubical towers. It blends in with the surrounding scenery. The many verandahs, roof top watch towers and large windows afford great views of the sea. But what captures your eye is the life-size chess board laid out in a lower courtyard.
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The three beaches are the Lighthouse beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach. The Lighthouse Beach gets its name from the old Lighthouse in Vizhinjam village, which is located 35 metres high, on the top of the Kurumkal hillock. The lighthouse is 118 feet high, and is built of stone. The Hawah Beach was once busy with fishermen setting off in their boats to sea. Today, it is filled with tourists as they enjoy the calm seas and the cool blue waters of the Arabian Sea. The high promontory gives you the feeling of being in a private beach.
The Samudra Beach is separated from the rest by a large promontory, and does not have many tourists. The local fishermen ply their trade from here.
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You can take a Backwater Cruise, go on a country boat or enjoy a catamaran ride. Swimming and kayaking are also enjoyable. The waves at the Lighthouse Beach are perfect for surfing.
You can visit the Veli Tourist Village which a popular picnic sport. This is the spot where the Veli lake meets the Arabian Sea. Pedalboats and paddleboats are available for hire. If it is speed you crave, then opt for the speedboats. The Vellayani Lake is a fresh water lake and is located seven km from Kovalam. Here too you can enjoy a boat ride or just chill by the water’s edge. In Vizhinjam you can see the Rock Cut Cave Temple that dates back to the 18th Century. The granite cave has a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave shows half-complete relics of the Shiva with Parvathi.
The Government of Kerala, and the Department of Harbor Engineering launched an artificial coral reef at Kovalam, to protect and enhance the ecology of the Lighthouse beach. The reef is110-metre long about 100m away from the shoreline. Geo-textile bags filled with sand are stacked on the seabed to build the “soft reef”. The submerged structure will break sea waves taller than one metre allowing only low intensity ones to pass through. The Vizhinjam Marine Aquarium in Vizhinjam is a treasure trove of marine wealth. The zoo in Thiruvananthapuram is largest in India and is a good place to visit. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple, is one of the 108 abodes of Lord Vishnu. It was recently in the news for treasure that was found int he subterranean vaults of the temple.