Kovalam Kerala

Famously known as the Paradise of the South, Kovalam in Kerala, India, is an alluring stretch of sandy beaches, laced with the rich greenery of coconut palms. A former fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city. Many families from different countries and cultures travel to Kerala, India and get together in Kovalam to spend their leisure time on its beautiful beaches.

A dreamy place for tourists, Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasant, tropical beach resort. Kovalam was brought to the public eye by the Maharaja of Travancore whose kingdom was included in the state of Kerala, India after the country gained independence in 1947. Over the past three decades, Kovalam in Kerala, India, has been well developed, and now figures prominently on the world tourism map. Tourists from across the world travel to Kerala, India, to enjoy the beautiful Kovalam beaches. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sports facilities make Kovalam a popular haven for tourists from all across the globe.

Kovalam consists of three successive crescent beaches. Once you are in Kovalam, many options are open to you - be it sun bathing, swimming, ayurvedic rejuvenation, yoga and meditation, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, catamaran cruising … the possibilities are many. The Kovalam lighthouse beach is where most visitors spend their time, when they travel to Kovalam in Kerala, India.

Places To Visit in Kovalam, Kerala:

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple - Situated 14 kilometers away from Kovalam in Trivandrum, when you travel to Kerala, India you will see the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, an imposing seven-storied tower, which is the most impressive landmark in the city. The temple is an excellent example of the Dravidian style of architecture. There are innumerable pillars, intricate carvings, and mural paintings.

Veli Lagoon (Tourist Village) - Veli Lagoon is a delightful waterfront park. An ideal picnic spot where the lake merges with sea! There is a wading pool, gardens, exquisite sculptures, a floating bridge and a wide range of aqua sports facilities. Many tourists travel to Veli Lagoon to enjoy the ambience.

Aruvi Waterfalls/ Vaiyanthol

Aruvi Waterfall is situated 60 km from Trivandrum. and 7 km from the Bonecaud estate in the Peppara forest range. The road accessibility is only till Bonecaud, from where you will have to trek with the tribesmen along the mountain path for around 7km to reach this waterfall. This is one of the most unspoiled spots in Kerala.

Peppara Wild Life Sanctuary

Situated 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, Peppara is accessible from Vithurai along the Thiruvananthapuram-Ponmudi Road. This sanctuary, with its rich fauna and flora, is emerging as a big attraction for wildlife enthusiasts. It is spread over an area of 53 sq km on the Western Ghats and is dotted with large hills and numerous hillocks. Elephants, Sambar, Leopard and Lion-tailed macaque are commonly seen here.

Kowdiar Palace

The home of the late Maharaja of Travancore, in present day Kerala, India, Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma and his family is off limits to visitors but you can still have a glimpse from the main gate. If a friendly guard is on duty, he might allow you to walk a bit inside the grounds where you can get a view of the grand old building at the end of its long drive.

Observatory

The Observatory, situated 60 m above sea level, is located on a hill near the Museum. This observatory in Kerala is one of the oldest in India. There is a well laid out garden in front of the hill, with a beautiful rose collection.

Shanghumugham Beach

This is a popular city beach adjacent to the airport. An indoor recreation club, children's traffic training park and a star shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at this beach in Kerala, India.