Beaches,
touristy and unexplored, galore along the 600 km Kerala coast. A
bunch of them have historical significance too. Kodungalore
coast near Kochi had been where St.Thomas, the Apostle of Christ
and first missionary in Indian coast, landed. Vasco De Gama, the
first European voyager, stranded at Kappad near Calicut
heralding the European invasion.
Sea has always been an inspiration for Malayali literati and
filmmakers. Keep your ears close to the pages of Malayalam
novels. You can hear roaring of sea and the poignant life on the
coastal Kerala. Ace novelist, late Thakazhi had set, Chemmen,
his masterpiece, against the background of sea. Many films have
coastal life as background screen.
At least rumble of a turbulent sea and billowing tidal waves are
used as symbols of an agitated mind. A traipse along coastal
hamlets will give a whiff of Kerala’s village life.
Kerala,
with its finest beaches, offers surf and sand unspoilt despite
being used by trippers from across the world.
Kerala beaches have a character unique. Cool, saline breeze
blowing on the coconut groves along the coast would function as
a balm to an agitated soul.
Lose your heart to the mesmerizing charm of the tropical beaches
such as Kovalam, Varkala, Shangumugham, Vizhinjam, Alappuzha,
Kappad, Payyambalam and Bekal.
Kovalam
Beach
World
famous Indian beach since 1930 where foreign and domestic
tourists throng. This post-card tropical beach, boarded by blue
waters and lush coconut gardens, once was a haunt of hippies
from European countries. Kovalam, more popular among backpacking
travelers, is a western cultural dot on a traditional and
orthodox Kerala physique.
"Kovalam" means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name
the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. The
crescent-shaped beach has three parts. The southern most beach,
and the most popular, is light house beach. It offers an amazing
sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern Samudra is a laidback
one and time, seems, stands still here. The middle, hawah, in
the early day, is a beehive of activities with fishermen setting
out for sea. With a high rock promontory and a calm bay of blue
waters, this beach paradise creates a unique aquarelle on
moonlit nights.
Azure water and favorable climate make Kovalam a favorite
year-round spot for swimming. Sea, here, is pacific and shallow
where you can take a dip in the saline waters. Landlubbers will
get lifeguards' service. The clean white sandy beach will arouse
a temptation irresistible: to lie in idle on the sands and tan
the body.
Feeling a spent-cartridge after aquatics and beach activities.
Get into an Ayurvedic massage centre-there are many such centres-
and lie down on the wooden lath for a herbal, body-toning
massage. To make the visit memorable, go for a shopping in
handicrafts, jewellery and cloth shops spread across the shore.
Food and accommodation suiting your purse is available along the
beach.
Chowara
Beach
A
virgin beach, 9 kms south of the renowned Kovalam Beach is the
hot spot these days for the traveler. It offers a harmonious
combination of nature where you can enjoy lush greeneries,
whispering sea breeze and the murmering surf. And it is a "must
visit" destinaation having heritage and Ayurvedic resorts like
Somatheeram, SuryaSamudra and Manaltheeram.
Shangumudham Beach
A
popular city beach near Thiruvananathapuram airport. On
holidays, the city comes out to the beach for a weekly
refreshing. Long and wide sandy beach can accommodate tens of
thousands. An indoor recreation club, children's park and a star
shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at the beach.
A large, enticing mermaid sculpture greets visitors. During
temple festivals, the beach witnesses ritual washing of temple
idols. That the beach is a fishermen village ensures an
interesting sight of fishermen having their daily catch.
Varkala Papanasam Beach
arkala
spa, 42 km away from Thiruvanathapuram, is the best spot along
Kerala coast for watching sunset. The sight of the sun melting
into the sea would
blossom your poetic sense.
During monsoon, bellowing waves engulf the beach lying beneath
towering cliff and mineral water spring. The mineral water
gushing from the hill is believed to have medicinal properties.
The Varkala sands has become an ideal spot for confluence of
cultures exotic and alien. Varkala also houses a leading pilgrim
centre in Kerala. The 800-year old Janardhana temple, dedicated
to Ayyappan and Hanuman, atop the hill has brought a sobriquet
for the region, Southern Kasi (Benares). Non-Hindus are not
permitted to enter the inner sanctum but can hang around the
temple.
Sree Narayana Guru(1855-1928), saint, social reformer,
philosopher and leader of Ezhava community, made Varkala his
headquarters. Sivagiri mutt, instituted by Sree Narayana Guru,
is another major pilgrim centre here.
Bakel
Beach
Bekal
fort, 14 km away from Kasargode, is the best preserved fort in
Kerala. The seashore fort along with its premise is being
designed into a major tourist resort. The fort, in its
domineering position on a promontory, offers a panoramic view of
palm-fringed beaches on both flanks. Shrubby hill slopes down
from the fort to rugged rocks before engaging itself with a
tête-à-tête with the frothy sea.A sauntering inside the fort
would transport to the battle days when rival forces fought for
wresting the fort, then a vantage position on Western coast. A
Navel academy is nearing completion at Ezhimala, in Kannur near
Bakal.
Alappey Beach |