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Kerala

Kovalam

Crescent lighthouse beach, Kerala's original resort town

Beach

Best time to visit Kovalam

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to February
  • Shoulder: March and October to November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryDecember

Kovalam season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season - calm sea, sunny days, Lighthouse and Eve's beach busy with a mixed domestic/foreign crowd

Summer March to May Shoulder

Hot and humid; sea still swimmable in early March but conditions worsen through April-May

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Rough surf and strong rip currents make swimming genuinely dangerous on red-flag days; quieter and cheaper

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October-November sees the sea calm back down while prices stay below peak-season rates

What Kovalam is actually like

More resort-y than backpacker-dense, but promenade cafes are an easy spot to meet people

Things to do in Kovalam

The local places worth your time in and around Kovalam, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Vizhinjam Lighthouse

    Viewpoint · in town

    Striped tower on the headland at the south end of the beach; about 140 steps up the spiral for the view over the crescent.

  • Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple

    Heritage · 3 km out

    Eighth century Ay dynasty shrine cut into one boulder, the carvings inside left unfinished; free, ask at the house next door.

  • Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

    Temple · 16 km out

    The gold vault temple in Trivandrum, reclining Vishnu seen through three doors; mundu or sari required, Hindus only, no phones.

  • Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour

    Market · 3 km out

    The working fishing harbour a bay south of Kovalam; the auction runs as the boats land soon after dawn, wear old shoes.

  • Poovar Island

    Island · 25 km out

    Sand bar where the Neyyar meets the sea, reached only by boat from Poovar jetty; agree the fare first, two hours is enough.

  • Azhimala Siva Temple

    Temple · 10 km out

    Clifftop shrine south of Kovalam under a 58 foot Gangadhareswara statue; come for sunset, steep steps down to the rocks.

  • Napier Museum

    Museum · 16 km out

    Indo Saracenic 1880 building in Trivandrum's museum park, old bronzes and a Kathakali gallery; shut Mondays and Wednesday mornings.

Getting to Kovalam

Fly to Trivandrum airport, 20min taxi to Kovalam

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
2 days
Budget
Mid-range
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Fine solo
Altitude
0 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
8.4004, 76.9787

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Kovalam?

December to February is peak season in Kovalam. March and October to November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to September. Peak season - calm sea, sunny days, Lighthouse and Eve's beach busy with a mixed domestic/foreign crowd.

How many days do you need in Kovalam?

2 days is the usual stay. More resort-y than backpacker-dense, but promenade cafes are an easy spot to meet people.

How do you get to Kovalam?

Fly to Trivandrum airport, 20min taxi to Kovalam. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Kovalam expensive, and does it get crowded?

Mid-range by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Fine solo.

What are the best things to do in Kovalam?

Vizhinjam Lighthouse, Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour, Poovar Island and Azhimala Siva Temple, and more. Striped tower on the headland at the south end of the beach; about 140 steps up the spiral for the view over the crescent.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Kerala

All 38 destinations in Kerala