Kovalam

Things to see

Lighthouse Beach

In the extreme south of Kovalam is the famous Lighthouse Beach. The name comes from the towering Vizhinjam lighthouse which is built on a rocky headland. Tourists are not allowed to go inside the lighthouse. Around the lighthouse are memorials of Ayyanappilla Asan and Ayyippilla Asan which are visited by tourists in abundance. The beach is a long sandy strip backed by an illuminated promenade and is a great area to eat out. Not surprisingly, all kinds of sea food are the speciality.

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)

Situated 87 km away from Thiruvananthapuram, it is located at a junction at the southernmost tip of India where the three water bodies, namely, Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. From here, one can see the sun rise from the Bay of Bengal and set in the Arabian Sea.It is a holy place for Hindus because of the Kanyakumari Temple. The Gandhi Smarak Mandir and Vivekananda Rock Memorial are additional tourist attractions.  A full day excursion to Kanyakumari could be organised whilst staying in Kovalam.

Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple

This ancient temple is the most dominating feature of Thiruvananthapuram. Overlooking the Padma Theertham Tank, the temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu who is depicted reclining on Sri Anantha, the hooded snake from which the city derives its name. Exquisite stone carvings and pavilions are worth admiring. The temple itself is open only to Hindus and dress regulations are strictly enforced.

Padmanabhapuram Palace

Located 54 kms from Thiruvananthapuram across the border in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district, the palace nestles at the foot of the Veli hills. Built during the 14th cenury it was called Darpakulangara, but later in the 18th century it was renovated and renamed as the Padmanabhapuram palace. A place of elaborate woodwork, it was the ancient seat of the Travancore rulers Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma till the capital was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram in 1780. It contains relics of historical and artistic value.

Places to Stay

Travancore Heritage

Travancore Heritage, a beachfront resort set in 14 acres of lush green coconut gardens, is located at Chowara, south of Kovalam, near Trivandrum. The resort stands on a high cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea and a long wide beach,  frequented more by local fishermen than tourists. The resort was conceived and developed as a heritage property which brings to life the age-old traditional architectural splendour of the region with its typical timber houses and ‘Nalukettus’ cottages with tiled roofing.  An ideal choice for a stop-over before flying to Maldives or for a beach resort which gives easy access to Kerala’s other main attractions.