Kovalam

Not to be confused with Covelong, a fishing village in Chennai.

Beach and seaside resort in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Locality in Kerala, India

Kovalam

Locality

From top to bottom: 1. View of Kovalam Harbour

2.The Kovalam lighthouse

3.Development along the Karamana River

Kovalam

Show map of Kerala

Kovalam

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Coordinates: 8°24′01″N 76°58′43″E﻿ / ﻿8.4004°N 76.9787°E﻿ / 8.4004; 76.9787
Country| India
State| Kerala
District| Thiruvananthapuram district
Government

• Type| Municipal Corporation
• Body| Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram
Languages

• Official| Malayalam, English
Time zone| UTC+5:30 (IST)

Kovalam is a beach and seaside resort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. Kovalam is located 12.6 km (7.8 mi) southeast of the city center. The beaches around Kovalam are popular vacation destinations for both domestic and international travellers.[1]

## Etymology

[edit]

Kovalam means "coconut grove", after the coconut trees which are common there.

## History

[edit]

Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore.[2] The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potential of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. In the early 1970s many hippies came on their way to Ceylon via the hippie trail, beginning the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into a significant tourist destination.[3]

## Geography

[edit]

### Beaches

[edit]

Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the crescent of the Kovalam beach.[4][5]

* Lighthouse Beach – the southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach, is named after the 118 feet (36 m) Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on top of the Kurumkal hillock.[6] [7]

* Hawah Beach – also known as Eve's Beach, consists of a high rock promontory and a bay, and is used by local fishermen.

* Samudra Beach – separated from the Lighthouse Beach by a large promontory, it is also used by local fishermen.

* Ashoka Beach – sea-wall to see the sea above the rocks and swimmable shallow waters

### Places to visit

[edit]

* Karamana River – Karamana River originates from the southern part of Sahyadri Range. The river predominantly flows through an outskirt region of Kovalam called Karmana, hence the nomenclature.

* Vellayani Lake
* Halcyon Castle
* Kovalam Art Gallery
* Valiyathura Pier
* Neyyar Dam
* Aruvikkara Dam
* Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple
* Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple

### Tourist facilities

[edit]

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippie era.[citation needed] It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from Europe and Israel.[citation needed] Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists.[8] One of the first hotels to open there was the Kovalam Beach Resort, which was designed by Charles Correa from 1969 to 1974.[9][10]

### Transport

[edit]

The nearest train station is Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, about 16 km (9.94 mi) away. The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, about 10 km (6.21 mi) away.

## Politics

[edit]

Kovalam assembly constituency is part of Trivandrum (Lok Sabha constituency).[11] In 2016 Kerala Assembly elections, M Vincent of the Indian National Congress defeated incumbent Jameela Prakasham by over 2,500 votes.[12]

## Trivandrum International Cruise Terminal

[edit]

Vizhinjam's location, with its proximity to beaches, historical sites, and cultural attractions, is a base for exploring Kerala's heritage. Visitors can take tours to nearby destinations such as Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

The Vizhinjam Cruise Terminal is currently under construction by Adani Ports.[when?]

## Gallery

[edit]

* Kovalam Light House

* Kovalam Light House beach

* Lighthouse beach

* Hawwah beach (Eves beach)

* Samudra beach

* Kovalam beach – view from lighthouse

* Fishermen and bystanders bringing a fishing boat ashore on Kovalam (Lighthouse) beach (May 2002)

## See also

[edit]

A few other beaches in Kerala

* Kollam Beach
* Varkala Beach
* Shankumugham Beach

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Kovalam". KTDC. Archived from the original on 21 September 2012. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
2. ^ "Paradise of South India - Kovalam". kovalam.com. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
3. ^ "Kovalam". kovalam.hotels.com. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
4. ^ "Kovalam video". travel trends360.wordpress.com. Retrieved 7 January 2016.
5. ^ Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, p. 97, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ISBN 81-902505-2-3
6. ^ Kovalam Travel Guide Archived 2015-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
7. ^ "kovalam.org". kovalam.org. Archived from the original on 4 January 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2013.
8. ^ Ayurveda Archived 15 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Ayurveda in Kovalam
9. ^ "Kovalam Beach Resort by Charles Correa: Open to sky space Approach". 16 January 2021.
10. ^ "Kovalam Beach Resort". 13 March 2022.
11. ^ Assembly Constituencies - Corresponding Districts and Parliamentary Constituencies (PDF) (Report). Election Commission of India. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
12. ^ "Election trends". Archived from the original on 9 March 2021. Retrieved 5 August 2016.

## External links

[edit]

* Kovalam travel guide from Wikivoyage

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kovalam.

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* Karamana River
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* Kovalam
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Culture|

* International Film Festival of Kerala
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Lok Sabha constituencies|

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Informative articles|

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Airports|

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Archaeological sites|

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Beaches|

* Alappuzha Beach
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* Kappkadavu
* Kollam Beach
* Kovalam
* Kozhikode Beach
* Mappila Bay
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* Muziris beach
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* Vadakara Sandbank
* Kadalundi Nagaram beach
* Varkala Beach

Boat races|

* Aranmula Boat Race
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* Kandassankadavu Boat Race
* Nehru Trophy Boat Race
* Payippadu Vallam Kali
* President's Trophy Boat Race
* Sree Narayana Jayanthi Boat Race
* Triprayar Boat Race

Caves|

* Chovvanur burial cave
* Edakkal Caves
* Kottukal cave temple
* Nedumala caves, Piralimattam
* Vizhinjam rock caves

Dams|

* Banasura Sagar Dam
* Bhoothathankettu
* Cheruthoni Dam
* Chimmony Dam
* Idamalayar Dam
* Idukki Dam
* Kakki Reservoir
* Kanjirapuzha Dam
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* Mullaperiyar Dam
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* Pazhassi Dam
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* Ponmudi Dam
* Poomala Dam
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* India International Boat Show
* International Film Festival of Kerala
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* Thrissur Pooram
* Uthralikavu Pooram

Forts|

* Arikady Fort
* Anchuthengu Fort
* Bekal Fort
* Chandragiri Fort, Kerala
* Cranganore Fort
* East Fort
* Fort Emmanuel
* Hosdurg Fort
* Nedumkotta
* Overbury's Folly
* Palakkad Fort
* Paloor Kotta
* Pallipuram Fort
* St Thomas Fort, Tangasseri
* St. Angelo Fort
* Tellicherry Fort
* William Fort

Islands|

* Dharmadam Island
* Ezhumanthuruthu
* Gundu Island
* Islands of Kollam
* Kavvayi
* Kuruvadweep
* Munroe Island
* Parumala
* Pizhala
* Pulinkunnoo
* Ramanthuruthu
* Valiyaparamba
* Vallarpadam
* Balathiruthi Islands
* Vypin
* Willingdon Island

Lakes|

* Ashtamudi Lake
* Biyyam Lake
* Enamakkal Lake
* Mananchira
* Oranju Poika
* Padinjarechira
* Paravur Lake
* Pookode Lake
* Sasthamcotta Lake
* Veeranpuzha
* Vellayani Lake
* Vadakkechira
* Vanchikulam
* Vembanad

Lighthouses|

* Vizhinjam
* Tangasseri
* Kovilthottam
* Alappuzha
* Manakkodam
* Vypin
* Azhikode
* Chetwai
* Ponnani
* Beypore
* Kozhikode
* Kannur

Mountains|

* Aathanad
* Agastya Mala
* Ambanad Hills
* Ambukuthi mala
* Anamudi
* Anginda peak
* Arimbra hills
* Attappadi
* Banasura Hill
* Chekkunnu Mala
* Chembra Peak
* Cheriyam hill
* Elivai Malai
* Ilaveezha Poonchira
* Illickal Kallu
* Kodikuthimala
* Kunnathoor Padi
* Marayur
* Meenuliyan Para
* Mukurthi
* Nelliampathi
* Paithalmala
* Pandallur hills
* Ponmudi
* Poomala
* Urakam Hill
* Vagamon
* Vagavurrai
* Vavul Mala
* Vellarimala

Museums|

* 8 Point Gallery Cafe, Kollam
* Arakkal Museum
* Archaeological Museum, Thrissur
* Indian Business Museum
* Indo-Portuguese Museum
* Kerala Science and Technology Museum
* Kerala Soil Museum
* Lockhart Tea Museum
* Munnar Tea Museum
* Napier Museum
* Pazhassi Raja Archaeological Museum
* Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Police Museum, Kollam
* Teak Museum, Nilambur
* Wayanad Heritage Museum

Palaces|

* Arakkal Palace
* Aranmula Kottaram
* Bolgatty Palace
* British Residency
* Cheena Kottaram
* Halcyon Castle
* Hill Palace, Tripunithura
* Kanakakkunnu Palace
* Karimpuzha Kovilakam
* Kilimanoor Palace
* Kodungallur Kovilakam
* Kollengode Palace
* Kowdiar Palace
* Koyikkal Palace
* Krishnapuram Palace
* Kuthira Malika
* Lakshmipuram Palace
* Maipady Palace
* Mattancherry Palace
* Merry Lodge Palace
* Nilambur Kovilakam
* Paliam Kovilakam
* Pandalam Palace
* Punnathurkotta
* Puthen Kovilakam
* Shakthan Thampuran Palace
* Sri Moolam Thirunal Palace
* Thevally Palace

Ancient residences|

* Azhvanchery Mana
* Olappamanna Mana
* Poonthanam Illam
* Thunchan Samarakam
* Varikkasseri Mana

Waterfalls|

* Adyanpara Falls
* Aripara Falls
* Aruvikkuzhi Waterfalls
* Athirappilly Falls
* Ayyapanov Waterfalls
* Charpa Falls
* Cheeyappara
* Dhoni Waterfalls
* Kollam Kolli Falls
* Kozhippara Waterfalls
* Kudamutti Falls
* Kumbhavurutty Waterfalls
* Lakkom Water Falls
* Manalar Waterfalls
* Marmala waterfall
* Meenmutty Falls, Thiruvananthapuram
* Meenmutty Falls, Wayanad
* Meenvallam Waterfalls
* Oliyarik Waterfalls
* Palaruvi Falls
* Paloor Kotta Falls
* Panieli Poru waterfalls
* Pattathippara Falls
* Perunthenaruvi
* Perunthenaruvi Falls
* Siruvani Waterfalls
* Soochipara Falls
* Thommankuthu
* Thusharagiri Falls
* Thoovanam Waterfalls
* Vazhachal Falls
* Vazhvanthol waterfalls

Wildlife sanctuaries|

* Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
* Chimmony Wildlife Sanctuary
* Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kadalundi Bird Sanctuary
* Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary
* Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
* Kurinjimala Sanctuary
* Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary
* Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
* Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
* Pathiramanal
* Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
* Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
* Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
* Periyar Tiger Reserve
* Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
* Thattekad Bird Sanctuary
* Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary

Zoos|

* Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre
* Parassinikkadavu Snake Park
* Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
* Thrissur Zoo
* Thrissur Zoological Park Wildlife Conversation & Research Centre

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