Kerala ·
Kovalam
A long-established beach resort town south of Thiruvananthapuram, built around three curving, headland-separated beaches and a working lighthouse. One of Kerala’s original beach destinations for international travellers since the 1970s, Kovalam’s Lighthouse Beach takes its name from the still-functioning Vizhinjam lighthouse at its southern end, while Hawa Beach and Samudra Beach round out the trio of coves. Ayurvedic resorts and massage centres line the shore, and the nearby Vizhinjam fishing harbour offers a working counterpoint to the resort strip.
Kovalam at a Glance
Why Kovalam?
The highlights, landmarks and experiences that make this destination worth visiting.
- Samudra Beach
- Lighthouse Beach
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse
- Hawa Beach
Kovalam at a Glance
Essential travel information to understand Kovalam before planning your visit.
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Explore Kovalam
Places to Visit
- Samudra Beach: The northernmost beach of Kovalam, often less crowded and popular among locals. It offers a rugged shoreline, gentle surf, and a good spot for watching fishermen at work.
- Lighthouse Beach: The most famous beach in Kovalam, named after the red-and-white striped Vizhinjam Lighthouse that stands on a rocky promontory. It offers golden sands, gentle waves, and excellent sunset views.
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse: A working lighthouse built in 1972, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the coastline from its top. Climbing the spiral staircase is a rewarding experience for those who are fit.
- Hawa Beach: The second-largest beach of Kovala, and it takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach. It is named for the topless European women who used to throng there.
Things to Do
- Vizhinjam Cave Temple: The granite cave encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinadhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts unfinished reliefs of Shiva as "Tripurantakara" on the left and as "Nataraja" with Parvati on the right.
- Vizhinjam Harbour: Head down to the harbour at sunset for some spectacular shots of the area with the seaside mosque in the background. The atmosphere is quite lively with fisherman heading to and from the sea.
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse: The old lighthouse, at the southern beach is a local landmark, for being one of the oldest lighthouses of Kerala, guiding ships to the nearby Vizhnjam port. The lighthouse can be visited 3-5PM daily.
- Azhimala Shiva Temple: The Tamil-style koil is known for the tall Gangadhareshwara sculpture, the tallest Shiva sculpture in Kerala.
- Lighthouse Beach: The largest and southernmost beach of Kovalam, known for its 35-m-high lighthouse which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. Most of the foreigners stay on Lighthouse Beach.
- Hawa Beach: The second-largest beach of Kovala, and it takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach. It is named for the topless European women who used to throng there.
Sightseeing Places
- Samudra Beach: The northernmost beach of Kovalam, often less crowded and popular among locals. It offers a rugged shoreline, gentle surf, and a good spot for watching fishermen at work.
- Lighthouse Beach: The most famous beach in Kovalam, named after the red-and-white striped Vizhinjam Lighthouse that stands on a rocky promontory. It offers golden sands, gentle waves, and excellent sunset views.
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse: A working lighthouse built in 1972, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the coastline from its top. Climbing the spiral staircase is a rewarding experience for those who are fit.
- Hawa Beach: The second-largest beach of Kovala, and it takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach. It is named for the topless European women who used to throng there.
Places That Define Kovalam
Explore the most iconic landmarks and sacred sites.
Samudra Beach
The northernmost beach of Kovalam, often less crowded and popular among locals. It offers a rugged shoreline, gentle surf, and a good spot for watching fishermen at work.
Lighthouse Beach
The most famous beach in Kovalam, named after the red-and-white striped Vizhinjam Lighthouse that stands on a rocky promontory. It offers golden sands, gentle waves, and excellent sunset views.
Vizhinjam Lighthouse
A working lighthouse built in 1972, offering panoramic views of the Arabian Sea and the coastline from its top. Climbing the spiral staircase is a rewarding experience for those who are fit.
Hawa Beach
The second-largest beach of Kovala, and it takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach. It is named for the topless European women who used to throng there.
Explore Destination on Map
Discover all sub-destinations, routes and detailed navigation information on an interactive map.
Explore Kovalam on Map
Open the destination map to discover attractions and routes.
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Way
- When to Visit: Climate-based guidance for choosing your dates.
- Getting Around: How to reach and move around.
- Budget & Practical Tips: Costs and safety notes from local guidebook sources.
How to Reach
- By Air: The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), about 12 km from Kovalam.
- By Train: The nearest railway station is Nemom railway station, about 8 km from central Kovalam.
- By Road: Buses to Thiruvananthapuram can also be caught from Kovalam Junction as well as Ambassador taxis and Autos to pretty much anywhere.
Best Time to Visit
- Summer: Summer in Kovalam (Apr, May, Jun) averages 25–31°C with about 222 mm of rain per month.
- Monsoon: Monsoon in Kovalam (Jul, Aug, Sep) averages 25–30°C with about 124 mm of rain per month.
- Post-monsoon: Post-monsoon in Kovalam (Oct, Nov) averages 24–30°C with about 299 mm of rain per month.
- Winter: Winter in Kovalam (Dec, Jan, Feb) averages 22–31°C with about 40 mm of rain per month.
Weather
- Summer: Average highs of 31°C and lows of 25°C.
- Monsoon: Average highs of 30°C and lows of 25°C.
- Post-monsoon: Average highs of 30°C and lows of 24°C.
- Winter: Average highs of 31°C and lows of 22°C.
Travel Tips
- Staying safe: Swimming in the ocean here can be dangerous and many people drown. The lifeguards mark different areas of the sea as dangerous.
- Getting around: 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.
- Heat: Daytime highs reach about 33°C in April; carry water and plan outdoor sightseeing for the morning.
- Rain: The wettest months are April, May, June, August, September, October and November; check road and site conditions before travelling.
- Timings: Samudra Beach: Open 24 hours
Local Transport
- By taxi: 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.
- By motorcycle: A more adventurous option is to get a motorbike on hire. The highway is a pleasure to drive on, with the cool breeze and coconut palms lined along the way.
Suggested Itinerary
Choose the perfect duration for your Kovalam trip.
Spiritual & Religious
History
- Summary: Kovalam, a fishing village in southern Kerala, is famous for its beaches, among the most pristine in India. About from Thiruvananthapuram, Kovalam is extremely popular among westerners due to shallow waters and low tidal waves.
- Overview: There is an official !dea mobile operator store up on a hill/junction ~1km walk / ~15 minutes. 9am-6pm, closed Sunday. ₹100 for SIM card (and they can help cut it to mini or micro SIM for ₹50 by going to the shop across from them; if you go, it will likely be ₹100 to cut). Bring a copy of passport + visa + passport photo and the mobile phone number of a person who will verify you (ask your hotel owner).
- Ancient History: Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter, the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew, the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potential of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. In the early 1970s, many hippies came on their way to Ceylon via the hippie trail, beginning the transformation of a casual fishing village in Kerala into a significant tourist destination.
Planning Guide
- Overview: There is an official !dea mobile operator store up on a hill/junction ~1km walk / ~15 minutes. 9am-6pm, closed Sunday. ₹100 for SIM card (and they can help cut it to mini or micro SIM for ₹50 by going to the shop across from them; if you go, it will likely be ₹100 to cut). Bring a copy of passport + visa + passport photo and the mobile phone number of a person who will verify you (ask your hotel owner).
- Accommodation: Many hotels have ayurveda and yoga available. Listed options include Devi Beach Resort, Green Valley Cottages and Hotel Sea Breeze.
- Best Way To Explore: 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.
The Sacred Heart of Kovalam
A timeless journey of faith and devotion.
Significance
Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter, the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew, the Maharaja of Travancore.
Coastal Significance
Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter, the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew, the Maharaja of Travancore.
Maritime Heritage
Kovalam is also one of the oldest tourist enclaves in India, a well known part of the tourist circuit since the 1930s. Kovalam shot into the limelight in the early 1970s with the arrival of masses of hippies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Kovalam is most comfortable in January, February, March, July and December, when average daytime highs stay at or below 32°C and rainfall is low. The hottest month is April (average high 33°C) and the wettest months are April, May, June, August, September, October and November.
The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), about 12 km away. The nearest railway station is Nemom railway station, about 8 km away. See the How to Reach page for road, rail and air details.
Main attractions include Samudra Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Vizhinjam Lighthouse and Hawa Beach.
A stay of 1 day covers the main sights. Ready-made 1-day and 2-day itineraries are linked on this page.
Average highs range from 29°C to 33°C over the year, with about 1824 mm of rain in total.
Tour Packages for Kovalam
Your Kovalam Journey Starts Here
Explore top attractions, local culture, and the experiences that make this destination worth visiting.