Kovalam is a small stretch of south Kerala coast, about 15 km from the state capital, where rocky headlands divide the shore into separate bays. The name is usually translated as a grove of coconut palms, and the palms are still there. The place first drew attention in the late 1920s, when the Regent Maharani of Travancore built a seaside retreat, Halcyon Castle, on the cliff. It became a stop on the hippie trail in the 1970s and has been a beach resort for foreign and Indian visitors ever since.
The resort is made of three beaches. Lighthouse Beach, at the southern end, is the busiest, with the red and white Vizhinjam Lighthouse above it and a long promenade of cafes, shops and guesthouses. Hawa Beach (also called Eve's Beach) is the next bay along, with a more local feel and surf that suits slightly stronger swimmers and surfers. Samudra Beach, beyond a large headland, is the quietest, and is where fishermen still haul in their nets. Away from the sand, the old fishing town of Vizhinjam, a rock-cut cave temple of the eighth century and a cliff-top Shiva temple with a 58-foot statue give the stay some substance beyond sunbathing.
Kovalam suits families and older travellers who are comfortable with a slow, mostly flat holiday. The promenade and the lighthouse area are easy to reach by car, hotels range from simple guesthouses to a clifftop resort, and Ayurvedic massage and treatment centres are common. Be careful about the sea itself: currents can be strong, swimming is safe only in the areas marked by lifeguards, and the monsoon months from June to September and again in October change the picture entirely. Come between December and February and Kovalam is easy company.
Before you plan
Kovalam at a glance
- Best months
- December to February is the most…December to February is the most comfortable and the driest; November and March are workable. June to October is monsoon, with rough seas and frequent rain.
- Ideal trip length
- 2 to 3 days for the beaches2 to 3 days for the beaches, lighthouse and Vizhinjam; add a night if you want Ayurveda sessions or the Poovar backwaters
- Airport
- Thiruvananthapuram International AirportThiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), about 10-12 km away; roughly 25-35 minutes by road, traffic dependent
- Railway station
- Thiruvananthapuram CentralThiruvananthapuram Central (TVC), about 13-16 km away; the usual railhead for Kovalam, reached by taxi, auto or bus
- Getting around
- Walkable along the beachfront promenadeWalkable along the beachfront promenade. Autos and taxis cover the beaches, Vizhinjam and Azhimala; a car and driver is easiest for Poovar and day trips.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,500-₹4,000 per person per…Roughly ₹1,500-₹4,000 per person per day excluding hotel, for meals, local transport and entry fees; varies widely with the type of restaurant and activity chosen
- Senior comfort
- Good in season: flat promenadeGood in season: flat promenade, easy car access, many hotels with lifts. The lighthouse involves steps, the beaches have loose sand, and sea currents need care.
- Language
- Malayalam locallyMalayalam locally; English is widely spoken in hotels, restaurants, shops and by guides, and Hindi is understood in tourist areas
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Kovalam: January, February, December. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Kovalam itinerary
One good day
1 day in Kovalam
Start early with a walk on Lighthouse Beach while the sand is cool and fishing boats are coming in. Climb the Vizhinjam Lighthouse for the view over all three bays, taking the lift as far as it runs if the steps are an issue. Have a late breakfast on the promenade, then walk or ride to Hawa Beach. Rest through the midday heat. In the late afternoon, drive the short distance to Vizhinjam harbour to watch boats and the sea before sunset, and return for dinner at a beachfront restaurant with a fresh fish order.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Kovalam
Start with the lighthouse climb early in the morning, when it is cooler and clearer, then spend an hour on the sand at Lighthouse Beach. Walk the promenade to Hawa Beach and, if your driver is available, continue to quieter Samudra Beach for the fishing nets. Rest at the hotel after lunch. In the evening, watch the light fade from the beach and have an early dinner.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Kovalam
Spend the first day without an agenda: a walk on Lighthouse Beach, a swim in the lifeguard-marked zone, an unhurried lunch on the promenade and a lighthouse climb in the late afternoon for the view and the sunset. Early dinner and early night.
Day-by-day plan →
