Places To Visit In Kovalam Sightseeing

As the name suggests, the Lighthouse beach is characterized by its 35 meter tall Lighthouse and is one of the major tourist hotspots in the city. The beach is the largest of the 3 beaches in Kovalam and is frequented mostly by the foreign tourists due to it being more developed. The Lighthouse is placed atop a hillock called the Karumkal Hill and can be easily reached by foot.

Hawah Beach was named during the time when it got famous as the 1st and only topless beach India. The name Hawah translates to ‘the wind’ and is a pun on the topless European women that used to roam on the beach. Sadly (for men), topless bathing is banned now, but the beach still retains its natural beauty which is also a nice thing.

Samundra beach, unlike the other two is the most sparsely populated beach in Kovalam and is mostly used by fishermen. The beach is best for people who like to spend some quiet time and meditate amidst the sounds of the sea. Bathing alone is not advisable as the beach is often vacant and the shore is a bit rocky.

Starting near the Western Ghats, flowing into the Arabian Sea, the Karamana River is one of the major rivers in Trivandrum with two dams built on it. The river is one of the best places to visit in Kovalam to experience the fruits of nature that Kerala has been blessed with.

The Largest freshwater lake in Trivandrum, the Vellayani Lake is another amazing picnic spot in Kovalam. The water in the lake is amazingly calm and crystal clear. The lake is best viewed during a moonlit night or during the annual boat race during the festival of Onam.

Halcyon Castle was built by the Regent Queen Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore in 1932. The queen’s European guests were enchanted with the beauty of the town and led to the increased popularity of the town. Today, although the castle is converted into a luxury hotel, few areas can still be visited by non-guests for a fee.

The Valiyathura Pier is a 214 meter long pier located at the ancient port of Valiyathura and is another serene and relaxing beach location near Kovalam. The pier was used by fishermen during the high tide and is now a famous spot for angling and photography.

Parasurama is the sixth avatar of Vishnu and belongs to the Second Age, and is the son of a Brahmin father Jamadagni and mother Renuka in Hindu mythology. He is considered one of the seven immortal (Chiranjivi) humans. He received an axe after undertaking a terrible penance to please Shiva, from whom he learned the methods of warfare and other skills. He fought back the advancing seas thus saving the lands of Konkan and Malabar.

The Kovalam art gallery in Kovalam displays artifacts, paintings and art works. The paintings in this art gallery consist of ancient Indian paintings related to the Sanskrit culture. Europe and Western artists and art lovers are the major visitors in this gallery even though there are other visitors also. This gallery is a must visit for art lovers and artists alike. The place houses some beautiful sculptures and paintings, mostly representing the ancient Indian traditions. Heavily frequented by international visitors, the Kovalam Art Gallery is a true platform for artistic expression in the area.

The another main attraction in Kovalam is Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple contains the rock cut sculptures of 18-th century. The temple is dedicated to Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The unfinished sculptures of Lord Shiva and Parvathy are also major attractions in this place.The place of Vizhinjam was earlier the capital of the chieftains of Ay. These people ruled some part of South India in the 8 th century. This cave is located at a distance of 3 kilometres from Kovalam remained unnoticed for many years. Open on all days from 9 am to 6 pm except Mondays.

Aruvikkara dam is located 10 kilometers from Kovalam. It is a beautiful picnic spot on the shores of Karamana River. The Durga temple and fish tank are the main attractions. Aruvikkara dam provides water to the capital city. The place is easily accessible by road.This lake water has a lot of fishes that come to the surface, making it suitable for the visitors to feed them. The common belief attached to this is that feeding the fishes can cure many diseases like skin allergy. This place can be enjoyed through boat rides that are available from 9 am to 4 pm.

Edakallu is the popular sunset viewing point that lies between the Lighthouse Beach and Eve's Beach. It offers enchanting view of the red and orange sun setting in the horizon with amazing new patterns in the sky. It is one of the best places to view the sunset in Kovalam and the best place to capture the photos of different patterns of the beautiful sky. A famous hotspot for copious shutterbugs and sightseers. This famous tourist spot provides a natural bonanza for Kerala.