Kovalam - a small beach town on the Malabar Coast of India

Kovalam, a beautiful town alongside the Malabar Coast of Indian mainland, is a small part of Kerala. Popular for its long pristine beaches, the town is one of the country's premier beach destinations. During 1960s-70s, when more number of European hippies were converging to Indian beaches, Kovalam was became one of the prime tourist haunts. The tranquil scenic beaches with long streaks of palm trees and the vast Arabian sea on the other end were the favourite spots to hangout, relax, and rejuvenate.

Kovalam is about 16 k.m. away from Thiruvananthapuram, which is the most modernized city near to the tourist town. It also houses the nearest airport as well as the nearest railway station to Kovalam. Taxis and buses are available from outside of the railway station and airport. Besides, some budget hotels in Kovalam also offer airport and railway station pick and drop services.

The early history of the town is quite blurred. However, the town came into prominence during the reign of Maharaja of Travancore. There stands an old castle which was built by Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore in late 1920s. Halcyon Castle as the castle is called today was built for the purpose to be used as a resort. Following the queen, the castle was later used by the Maharaja of Travancore. He often used to visit the castle with his family and friends and spend some relaxing time here. Today, the castle has been transformed into a luxury hotel offering royal lodgings to its guests.

Being a beach town the economic activities in Kovalam are generally based on sea. Most of the locals are fishermen. However, the influx of modernization did provide some new opportunities to the locals to earn their livelihood. Life here is quite casual with culture being the most significant aspect of the town. For the foodies, the place is a heaven, especially for the seafood lovers. There are a number of beachfront restaurants with a long and varied food menu. There are some good options for the vegetarians as well, however, the Keralan style seafood is the specialty of the town. For shopping, there are not too many options. Some small shops can be found near the beach areas, selling pretty jewelry and beachwear.

Kovalam experiences a moderate climate. The maximum level that the temperature reaches during summer is 33 degree Celsius whereas the minimum recorded temperature during winters is 18 degree Celsius. Monsoon arrives in June and stays till August. However, the peak tourism time is during September to May, as it is the time when the temperature is most pleasant.

It doesn't takes much time to completely unravel all the attractions of the town as it is quite small in area. The most significant attractions of the town include: Castle Kovalam, Cave temple, Aruvikkara, Beach Paradise, Hawah Beach, Lighthouse Beach, Samudra beach, Napier Museum, Neyyar Dam, Ponmudi, Kowdiar Palace, Backwaters, and Veli Tourist Village. Appointing a tour guide is the best way to explore the town. Besides, some Kovalam hotels also offer tour services to their guests.