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

Etymology

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

History

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. 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.

Geography

Beaches

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

Places to visit

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

Tourist facilities

Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippie era. It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from Europe and Israel. 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. One of the first hotels to open there was the Kovalam Beach Resort, which was designed by Charles Correa from 1969 to 1974.

Transport

The nearest train station is Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, about 16 km away. The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 10 km away.

Politics

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

Thiruvananthapuram International Cruise Terminal

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.

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