Kovalam Must Visit Places
Kovalam has three beautiful beaches – Samudra, Hawah (also called Eve’s Beach), and Lighthouse. Hawah Beach is the most crowded of all three with shops and eateries lined throughout the shore, and is perfect for an evening of fun and music. Lighthouse has a tall eponymous landmark in its southernmost tip which offers spectacular views of the beach and the nearby Vizhinzam Harbour. Samudra Beach is the quietest place in Kovalam owing to its exclusive resorts and hence, exclusive crowd. All the beaches have surfing, boating, and water sports facilities. Deck chairs are also available for hire on a daily basis. Only a few kilometres from Kovalam is Thiruvallom, where the rivers Killi and Karamana meet the Arabian Sea and offers a breathtaking sight. One can take boat rides to have a more intense experience of this marriage of backwaters with the open sea. 8kms from Kovalam is the serene Chowara Beach and Chowara Ayyappa Temple. If you are looking for solitude, come here as it’s bereft of noisy crowds.
Kovalam's Famous Cuisines
Kovalam owing to the huge inflow of foreign tourists has some great Continental offerings. Italian cuisine is a favourite at Cafe De La Mer and The Pizzeria. However when at the beach, try some delectable seafood preparations at Sea View on Hawah Beach. Lonely Planet on Lighthouse Beach has great vegetarian and also vegan fare. Kovalam has some wonderful bakeries like German Bakery and The Fusion Cafe where you find unusual items like cinnamon rolls along with more traditional baked food.
Kovalam Markets
Lighthouse and Eve’s are the places to shop in Kovalam. Locals sell an assortment of things like handicrafts and jewellery. Visit Yak Boutique for authentic Tibetan articles like carpets, shawls, accessories. For something exclusively from Kerala, head to Surabhi Handicrafts which stocks articles made of coir, bamboo, coconut and shells.
How To Reach Kovalam
Kovalam is reachable via Trivandrum. All major cities in India are well connected with the capital city by rail, road and air. Your destination is a pleasant bus ride from Trivandrum, though you can also hire a car from the airport.