Kovalam

Kovalam is a region in the city of Trivandrum, around 13 km southwest of the city center, whose beaches are a tourist destination.

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 guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. In the early 1970s many hippies came on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail, beginning the transformation of a casual fishing village of 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.

* Lighthouse Beach
:The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach, is the one most frequented by tourists. It got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on top of the Kurumkal hillock, 35 metres high. The lighthouse is built using stones, is colored in red and white bands and stands at a height of 118 feet (36 m).
* Hawah Beach
:Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second, in the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting out for sea. It consists of a high rock promontory and a bay.
* Samudra Beach
:A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.

Detour past Kovalam junction to land on Samudra Beach which is to the north of Ashoka Beach. One has the option to walk along the sea-wall too, where the sea can be sighted above the rocks.
Shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres are ideal for swimming. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer a variety of goods and services.

Places to visit

* Karamana River - Karamana River originates from the southern part of Sahyadri Range. The river predominantly flows through an outskirt region of Kovalam called Karmana, hence the nomenclature.
* Vellayani Lake
* Halcyon Castle
* Kovalam Art Gallery
* Valiyathura Pier
* Neyyar Dam
* Aruvikkara Dam
* Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple
* Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple

Tourist facilities

There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, churches and a mosque. The Proposed International Trans shipment Terminal at Vizhinjam is also close to Kovalam.

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy 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 Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.

One of the first hotels to open there was the Kovalam Beach Resort, which was designed by Charles Correa from 1969–74.

Transport

The nearest train station is Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, about away. The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, about away.

Politics

Kovalam assembly constituency is part of Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency). In 2016 Kerala Assembly elections, M Vincent of the Indian National Congress defeated incumbent Jameela Prakasham by over 2,500 votes.

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
File:Kovalam2011.JPG, Kovalam Beach - View from lighthouse (other side)
Image:Kovalam Leela.JPG, Kovalam beach with Leela Kovalam in the background
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
* Kollam Beach
* Varkala Beach
* Shankumugham Beach

References

External links

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Beaches of Kerala
Tourist attractions in Thiruvananthapuram
Villages in Thiruvananthapuram district
Populated coastal places in India