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KOVALAM
 This beach, 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram, is the
most popular in southern India .The main part of Kovalam consists of two
palm-fringed coves, separated from the beaches on either side by rocky
headlands. The southern headland is marked by a prominent lighthouse. The
northern headland is topped by the deluxe Ashok Beach Resort. There is
good surf but be wary of the rips, which can be dangerously strong.
Lifeguards patrol and flags indicate where it’s safe to swim. Kovalam
has a plethora of places to stay, ranging from cheap concrete boxes to
upmarket resorts. There’s an equally wide range of restaurants,
many-tuned n to the standard Asian travellers’ menus.
Despite its popularity with Western travellers, Kovalam is still
fairly mellow. Back from the beaches, the local people continue to
cultivate their crops, fishers still sail their boats out to sea each
night (though there’s usually an outboard bolted on the stern) and the
nets are still pulled in by hand.
 Shops
Kovalam Beach has numerous craft and carpet shops,
clothing stores, book exchanges, yoga schools and even massage parlours.
PLACES TO STAY
KOVALAM ASHOK BEACH RESORT, (Government Approved) 5
Star
KADALORAM BEACH RESORT, (Government Approved) 2 Star
AROUND KOVALAM
Vizhinjam
 Vizhinjam is one km south of Kovalam Beach. It has a
big artificial harbour dominated by a pink and green mosque on the
northern side and green mosque on the northern side and a huge Catholic
church to the south. From Kovalam Beach, you can hear them trading
amplified calls to prayer and mass in the early hours. The beach is packed
with boats which set out to fish at sunset. From the beach at night, you
can see their lights strung like a necklace along the horizon.
Vizhinjam (Vilinjam) was a capital of the 7th to 11th
–century Ay kingdom, and a number of rock-cut temples have been found
around the village –reminders of the period when the kingdom was under
Tamil influence.
Pulinkudi
& Somatheeram
At Pulinkudi, eight km south of Kovalam, there are
two interesting alternatives to Kovalam’s crowded beaches.
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