Kovalam is a beach and seaside resort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. Kovalam is located southeast of the city center. The beaches around Kovalam are popular vacation destinations for both domestic and international travellers.
Etymology
Kovalam means "
coconut grove", after the coconut trees which are common there.
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 Union guests of the then
Travancore kingdom discovered the potential of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. In the early 1970s, many
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.
Geography
Beaches
Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the crescent of the Kovalam beach.
[Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 97, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ]
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Lighthouse Beach – the southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach, is named after the 118 feet (36 m) Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on top of the Kurumkal hillock.
[ Kovalam Travel Guide ]
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Hawah Beach – also known as Eve's Beach, consists of a high rock promontory and a bay, and is used by local fishermen.
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Samudra Beach – separated from the Lighthouse Beach by a large promontory, it is also used by local fishermen.
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Ashoka Beach – sea-wall to see the sea above the rocks and swimmable shallow waters
Places to visit
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Karamana River – Karamana River originates from the southern part of Western Ghats Range. The river predominantly flows through an outskirt region of Kovalam called Karmana, hence the nomenclature.
Tourist facilities
Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the
hippie era.
It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from
Europe and
Israel. Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several
Ayurveda salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.
[ Ayurveda Ayurveda in Kovalam]
One of the first hotels to open there was the Kovalam Beach Resort, which was designed by
Charles Correa from 1969 to 1974.
Transport
The nearest train station is Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, about away. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about away.
Politics
Kovalam assembly constituency is part of the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency.
In the 2016 Kerala Assembly elections, M Vincent of the Indian National Congress defeated the incumbent
Jameela Prakasam by over 2,500 votes.
Thiruvananthapuram International Cruise Terminal
Vizhinjam's location, with its proximity to beaches, historical sites, and cultural attractions, is a base for exploring Kerala's heritage. Visitors can take tours to nearby destinations such as Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.
The Vizhinjam Cruise Terminal is currently under construction by Adani Ports.
Gallery
Image:Lighthouse Kovalam.jpg|Kovalam Light House
Image:Kovalam Beach (TUI) - 2016.JPG|Kovalam Light House beach
Image:Kovalam Lighthouse Beach.JPG|Lighthouse beach
Image:Kovalam Hawah Beach.JPG|Hawwah beach (Eves beach)
Image:Kovalam Samodra Beach.JPG|Samudra beach
Image:Kovalam - view from the lighthouse.jpg|Kovalam beach – view from lighthouse
Image:FishingBoat-KovalamBeach-Kerala-India-May2002.jpg|Fishermen and bystanders bringing a fishing boat ashore on Kovalam (Lighthouse) beach (May 2002)
See also
A few other beaches in Kerala
External links
