Kovalam - Land Of Sun, Sand And Surf

Located just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, south Kerala, Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse and include sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.

Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 kms away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday, it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city. Trivandrum has interesting places to visit like the Napier Museum, the Chitra Art Gallery, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Ponmudi hill station, Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace museum etc. SMSM Institute, a state-owned handicrafts emporium, is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles.

Though Kovalam is an all year destination, the best time to visit here is between September and March. Trivandrum Central Railway station is about 16 kms away and the International Airport is about 10 kms away.

Some of the other beaches in Trivandrum include Shankhumugham Beach just eight kms from the city, this is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to Trivandrum airport and Veli Tourist Village. An indoor recreation club, the Matsya Kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are some of the attractions here. Chacha Nehru Traffic Training Park here provides the opportunity for children to learn traffic rules. Varkala Beach is 41 kms away from Trivandrum city. Varkala is a seaside resort and spa, as well as an important Hindu centre

of pilgrimage. High cliffs with rich mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. The 2000- year-old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nehru Care Centre are the two main attractions here.