Kovalam : The Essence of Kerala
Last Updated on November 15, 2025 by admin
So recently I had a few days to spare and since I have visited Goa and Kochi/Kumarakom mutiple times in recent years, I decided to head to Pondicherry ( Puducherry ) and Kovalam.
Kovalam: Where the Arabian Sea Meets Kerala’s Soul
Crescent-shaped beaches, swaying coconut palms, and the rhythmic crash of Arabian Sea waves—welcome to Kovalam, Kerala’s most celebrated coastal retreat. Just 16 kilometers south of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), this laid-back beach town has been drawing travelers since the 1930s, when the Maharaja of Travancore built his beach resort here. Today, Kovalam is a perfect blend of old-world Kerala charm and coastal ease. The town centers around three main beaches—Lighthouse Beach with its iconic red-and-white striped tower, the quieter Hawah Beach, and the more secluded Samudra Beach—each offering its own slice of paradise. Unlike some of India’s more crowded beach destinations, Kovalam maintains an unhurried pace where days are measured by tides rather than clocks. Beyond sunbathing and swimming, Kovalam has become synonymous with Ayurvedic wellness. The town is dotted with authentic treatment centers where ancient healing traditions are practiced with the same care they have been for centuries. Watch fishermen haul in their daily catch at dawn, savor fresh seafood at beachside shacks as the sun dips into the sea, or simply let the warm waters and Kerala’s legendary hospitality wash over you. This is Kovalam—a place where time slows down, the living is easy, and the Arabian Sea whispers secrets to those willing to listen.
I had booked us in Taj Green Cove resort and had called the hotel ahead for a pickup and we were at the property in around 15-20 mins. Now I have to confess it is a beautifully landscaped property, among the best I have seen. The only drawback is that it is built along a cliff and one really has to do a fair bit of walking to get around to the various restaurants and other facilities and although they have golf carts too.
Jasmine Bay is their multicuisine restaurant and it has very good views the infinity pool and beyond to the sea…The food quality, selection and service in all their restaurants/bar is very good.
So the next day we headed to the tours of the Backwaters In Poovar which is around 15 Kms from Kovalam Town. We took a motorboat from the Poovar jetty and very soon we were in in thick of the Backwaters..
It really was a very serene place and we had a wonderful couple of hours on the boat exploring the backwaters…
The next day we headed to the Neyyar Dam which is around 35 odd kms from Kovalam . Neyyar Dam has a wildlife sanctuary, a Lion Safari and beautiful lake ( of course ! ) ..
It was really thrilling to see the lions up close from a bus..
The Wildlife park had very few animals like deers . a crocodile enclosure etc but some of the paths and treks in the park were truly beautiful..
I would say that Kovalam is one place where you can easily spend 3-4 days and it really is a place you should visit once.
These are videos which show the places there..
Here are some of the pictures from my trip, do let me know in the comments below if you liked any of them….
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4 Comments
Chrissy
Thanks for that..lovely overview and photos….we are sitting awaiting more snow in Wales. Doing our last packing g before going to kerala next week……
admin
Thanks Chrissy for your kind comments, I wish you a terrific trip and look forward to reading about it in the forums…I also hope the weather improves in Wales soon….
Ruth Holt
Lovely to read about Kovalam. We visited last year. We needed a few days to relax so didn’t venture very far. Our kids loved the surfing and had lessons. We also loved a visit to SISP charity school which also runs the surfing lessons. We must return and visit the backwaters and Neyyar Dam.
admin
Thank you so much Ruth for appreciating the post, I missed out on the SISP charity school, next time maybe… Yes Neyyar dam is a beautiful and serene place…