Beaches of Kerala

KOVALAM BEACH: 
(16 km from Thiruvananthapuram city): This internationally renownedbeach resort has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The southernmost, known as the Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular. Kovalam offers accommodation options to suit all budgets

VARKALA BEACH:
(41 km from Thiruvananthapuram city): Varkala is a  seaside resort an spa, as well as an important Hindu cente of pilgrimage. High cliffs with rich mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. The 2000 years old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre are the two main attraction here.

SHANGHUMUKHAM BEACH:
(8 km from Thiruvanathapuram city): This is a favorite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram airport and Veli Tourist Village. An indoor recreation club, the matsya kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid ) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are the major attractions here.

THANGASSERI BEACH:
( 5 km from Kollam town) This seaside village of historic importance has the ruins of an old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. The Thangasseri Lighthouse is open to visitors from 1530 – 1730 hrs

THIRUMULLAVARAM BEACH:
(6 km from Kollam town): This secluded beach is a beautiful picnic centre and has frequent bus connections to the town.

ALAPPUZHA BEACH:
This is one of the most popular picnic spots in Alappuzha. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is about 140 years old.

LAKSHADWEEP BEACHES:
Lakshadweep, a Union Territory of India, is a group of 36 islands located in the Arabian Sea, about 300 km off Kerala. Of these islands, Andort, Amini, Agatti, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadamat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti and Minicoy are inhabited and are well known tourism destinations.

TANUR:
The small coastal fishing town of Tanur was one of the earliest settlements of the Portuguese. It is believed that St. Francis Xavier visited the place in 1546. About 3 m south of Tanur town is Kerala deshapuram Temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu and believed to be one of the oldest temples in Kerala.

PADINHAREKARA BEACH:
At the end of the Tipu Sultan Road near Ponnani, the beach offers a breathtaking view of the confluence of the Bharathapuzha, the Tirur Puzha and the Arabian Sea.

VALLIKUNNU  BEACH:
A beach resort set in the middle of a coconut groves is the main attraction here. The Kadalundi bird sanctuary is just a short distance away.

BEYPORE  BEACH:
Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar river, Beypore one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre.

KAPPAD BEACH:
16 kms from Kozhikode (Calicut) (Calicut), this is the historic beach where Vasco-da-Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498, with 170 men in three vessels. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.

EZHIMALA  BEACH:
The beautiful beach here has a hillock nearby (286 m high). Carved stone pillars and an ancient burial chamber can be seen at the foot of the hills. The hills are noted for rare medicinal herbs. A naval academy is being developed here. Permission is required for entry.

FORT KOCHI BEACH:
12 kms from ernakulam city, a leisurely walk through the lanes of the city is the best way to discover historic fort kochi. An obscure fishing village that became the first european township in india, kochi has an eventful and colourful history. The town was shaped by the portuguese, the dutch and later the british. The result of these cultural interfaces are seen in the remains of the indo european architecture here.

MARARI BEACH:
Right in the heart of the “spice coast” just an hour from Cochin and even less to Alleppey (also known as Alpuzzha) is the most fabulous stretch of soft sandy beach fringed with palm, an idyllic retreat for those who want to “get away from it all”. Marari originates from “mararikulam”, one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience to local charm and traditional keralan hospitality at its best.