Places to Visit in Kovalam: A Tourist Destination Exuding Charm and Elegance

Kovalam is a coastal city in God’s own country, Kerala and is as charming and aesthetic as its rumors. You’ll be mesmerized by this cosmopolitan city and the places to visit in Kovalam, which is perfect for a family holiday or even for honeymooners. This magical place is adorned with magnificent castles, gorgeous churches, dams, and much more. It also has a fascinating history as this is the place where Rani Laxmi Bai decided to build her castle for royal events.  So, let’s know all about the places you must cover when vacationing at this famous tourist destination.

Top Places to Visit in Kovalam: A Refreshing Getaway to this Touristy City

When it comes to Kerala, there are several breathtaking cities in this state; however, none of them stand close to Kovalam’s beauty and glory. This city is right out of a dreamy book with its lush greenery, picturesque views, and magnificent tourist attractions. You’ll feel like the main character while walking amidst these beautiful sceneries and magical places. Therefore, this city has a huge influx of tourists and now you’d be contributing to the same by traveling to these must-visit places in Kovalam.

1. Lighthouse Beach
2. Halcyon Castle
3. Padmanabhaswamy Temple
4. Edakallu Beach
5. Karamana River
6. Valiyathura Pier
7. Artificial Offshore Coral Reef
8. Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
9. Neyyar Dam
10. Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple

1. Lighthouse Beach: The Most Popular Tourist Beach

When it comes to Kovalam tourist places, this beach would always be mentioned because of the hype around its aesthetic beauty. The main attraction of this beach is the red and white lighthouse, where people climb up the stairs for a mesmerizing view of the place. Therefore, this beach is popularly known as the Lighthouse Beach. You can indulge in watersports here, such as surfing, parasailing, and many more. This beach is one of the major catalysts for increasing the tourist influx in this coastal city.

Best time to visit:

Tuesday to Sunday – 10 A.M to 6 P.M

Monday - Closed

Adventure activities: Parasailing, surfing, paragliding, sea diving, and swimming

Nearby Restaurants: German Bakery, Black Cat Restaurant, Beatles Café and Grill House

Time Required: 1 to 2 hours

Things to do: Relax on the beach, enjoy the beautiful sunset, munch on delicious food, take a walk on the shore, get an ayurveda massage, and click pictures from the top of the lighthouse

Nearby Hotels: Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, Little Elephant Beach Resort, and Unwind Hotels and Resorts

Nearby Shopping Places: Joseph and Sons, Kovalam Mall

Distance from the major airport: This beach is 11 mins away from Trivandrum Airport

Ideal for: Families, couples, group of friends or travelers

How to reach: You can get a cab from Trivandrum or board a local bus to reach here

2. Halcyon Castle: Feel Like Royalty for a Day

Halcyon Castle is one of the most attractive tourist spots in Kovalam as it was a family retreat for Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai. This castle has now been converted into a hotel, but you can still visit it to marvel at its gorgeous architecture, to dine in its grand dining hall, and much more. You can enjoy the luxurious amenities this hotel provides, which is why it’s recommended as one of the most famous tourist attractions in Kovalam. The view of the Kovalam beach and the stunning sunrise and sunset is a plus point.

Best time to visit: During the day

Nearby Restaurants: 3rd Rock, Bait, Curry Leaf, A Beach Café, Oyster Restaurant

Time Required: Approximately 1 hour

Things to do: Admire the beautiful architecture, click insta-worthy pictures, enjoy luxurious amenities, and eat delicacies in the dining hall

Nearby Hotels: Hotel Sea View Palace, Samudra Theeram Beach Resort, Country Club Kovalam Beach

Distance from the major airport: Halcyon Castle is half an hour away from the airport

Ideal for: Families, Couples, Friends

How to reach: You can walk, hire a cab or hail an auto rickshaw to visit this castle

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3. Padmanabhaswamy Temple: One of the Wealthiest Places of Worship

You can’t go to Kovalam and avoid visiting this auspicious and holy temple, which is among the 108 temples in India related to Vaishnavism. This gold-plated temple enshrines one of the avatars of Lord Vishnu and this place is only open to the Hindu population. The highlight is the intrigue behind this temple’s existence as some believe that it exists since Kali Yuga, which was 5000 years ago. This temple is also mentioned in the Bhagwad Gita, and there’s another legend related to it that this temple holds enough fortune to eradicate poverty and other issues; however, if anyone touches the vault, they are punished by the ancient curse. So, add this as one of the places to see in Kovalam.

Best time to visit:

3:15 A.M to 4:15 A.M

6:30 A.M to 7 A.M

8:30 A.M to 9:15 A.M

5 P.M to 6:15 P.M

6:45 P.M to 7:20 P.M

Nearby Restaurants: Azad Restaurant, Balaji Café, Classic Café

Time Required: 2 to 3 hours

Things to do: Soak in the positive vibes and seek blessings from God

Nearby Hotels: Roop Mahal Premier Inn, Hotel Rajdhani, Hotel Saj Luciya

Distance from the major airport: The temple is 11 mins away from the Trivandrum airport

Ideal for: Families

How to reach: You can board a train to Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station and then walk to the temple or take a bus to the Vizhinjam Bus Station, or hire a cab or auto rickshaw

4. Edakallu Beach: The Perfect Location for a Mesmerizing Sunset

Edakallu Beach is famous for the glorious sunsets that one can witness from here. The crystal clear, sparkling sea paired with the soft sand of the shore makes for an excellent location to view the sun setting into the water. Photographers would find the best clicks here and couples would find a romantic essence in everything surrounding them. However, as the night falls, the sea currents turn violent, so it’s not advised to stay there after dark. Don’t miss out on such breathtaking places to visit in Kerala.

Best time to visit: In the evening  

Nearby Restaurants: Curry Leaf, Lonely Planet, The Terrace, Molly’s Retreat Restaurant

Time Required:  Approximately 1 hour

Things to do: Witness the sunset of a lifetime, listen to the sound of the waves, and spend romantic time with your partner

Nearby Hotels:  Hotel Sea View Palace, Godsown Villa, Beach Hotel Neelakanta

Nearby Shopping Places: Kovalam Mall

Distance from the major airport: It takes approximately half an hour to reach this location

Ideal for: Couples and honeymooners

How to reach:  Since this beach is located between the Lighthouse beach and Hawa Beach, you can take a cab or an auto rickshaw to reach here

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5. Karamana River: A Gorgeous Lake for Boating

You can’t deny the beauty of the Karamana river, surrounded by coconut trees, rich vegetation and calm waters. The highlight of this location is the boating activity that one can indulge in for a relaxing time. You can enjoy the picturesque and charming views of the river and the serene atmosphere. You’ll come across coconut trees, tapioca, pepper and paddy plantations, and much more. It’ll be an engaging and entertaining boat ride with lots to see as you spend your leisure time away from the bustling cities. So do add this to your places to visit in Kovalam itinerary.

Best time to visit: 10 A.M to 6 P.M  

Adventure activities: Boating, canoeing, kayaking

Nearby Restaurants: Cultures, Sanjeevani Restaurant, The Tides, Lobster Pot

Time Required: 3 to 4 hours

Things to do: Relax in the boat and admire the greenery and alluring views around you

Nearby Hotels: Taj Green Cove Resort and Spa, Travancore Island Resort, The Leela

Distance from the major airport: The river’s around 20 mins away from the airport

Ideal for: Families, couples

How to reach: You can hire a cab from the city center or board a tourist bus

6. Valiyathura Pier: Popular Sightseeing Destination for Tourists

Are you ready to be mesmerized by the gorgeous views of the sea and lush greenery? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The Valiyathura Pier offers magnificent views of the Arabian Sea and Malabar Coast and is an excellent sightseeing location. You can spend some peaceful downtime here with your partner and feel the romantic vibe as the sun sets and the sky changes color. The shallow waters here work well for the fishermen to take their catamarans out to the sea. All this makes it one of the most excellent places to visit in Kovalam.

Best time to visit: 10 A.M to 5 P.M

Nearby Restaurants: Hotel Choice, Village Maya Heritage Restaurant, Buhari Restaurant

Time Required: 1 to 2 hours

Things to do: Watch the glorious view of the sun setting into the sea

Nearby Hotels: Hotel Sunday, Roop Mahal Premier Inn, Seaside Homestay  

Distance from the major airport: This pier is approximately 16 mins away from the airport

Ideal for: Couples

How to reach: Buses and taxis are easily available to take you to this location

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7. Artificial Offshore Coral Reef: One of its Kind Tourist Attraction

This artificial offshore coral reef is the first one in India, which is built to protect the environment and enhance its quality. It has been able to achieve this aim successfully by creating a survivable ecosystem for marine life. Apart from this feature, this place is also an excellent location for surfing, which has contributed to the rising popularity of this destination. You can surf as well as dive underwater to explore this artificial beauty. This brainchild of Kerala has worked wonders for the environment, so consider this among the must-visit places to travel in India.

Best time to visit: 10 A.M to 5 P.M

Adventure activities: Surfing and diving

Nearby Restaurants: Coral Reef Restaurant, Sea Gull Restaurant, Ocean Breeze Grill House

Time Required: 1 to 2 hours

Things to do: Explore this one-of-a-kind artificial coral reef, surf the waves, go underwater diving

Nearby Hotels: The Leela, Taj Green Cove Resort and Spa, Rockholm

Nearby Shopping Places: Classic Mini Market, Oriental Arts Emporium, Chandragiri Supermarket

Ideal for: Families, friends, couples, and group travelers

8. Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary: A Magical Sight for Nature and Animal Lovers

If you’re looking for Kovalam places to visit, then this wildlife sanctuary should undoubtedly be on your list. You can indulge in several adventure activities here, such as Lion Safari, and also come across a rehabilitation center for elephants, a crocodile farm, and much more. In addition, the beauty of this place is enhanced due to the confluence of three rivers and the rich vegetation. There are 30 wild animals and 176 bird species inhabiting this sanctuary, which is why it’s an important tourist spot.

Best time to visit:

Tuesday to Sunday – 9 A.M to 4 P.M

Monday – Closed

Entry fee: Around INR 300

Adventure activities: Lion safari, crocodile farm, rehabilitation center for elephants

Nearby Restaurants: The Gourmet House, Neyyar Seafood Restaurant, Velvet Dawn Cafe

Time Required: 2 to 3 hours

Things to do: Admire the lush greenery, the exotic animals and bird species

Nearby Hotels: Atiya, KTDC Tamarind, Neyyar Homestay  

Distance from the major airport:  It takes around 1 hour 30 minutes to reach this sanctuary

Ideal for: Families, friends, and group of travelers

How to reach: You can either hail a cab or board a bus from Trivandrum

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9. Neyyar Dam: The Perfect Picnic Spot for Families

Neyyar Dam, also known as the Gravity Dam is a gorgeous Kovalam sightseeing location, and its placement forms a lake where people can plan a picnic. You can look out to the calm lake, the greenery surrounding you and relax, away from the city life. This area is also home to several animals, such as Sloth Bears, Nilgiri Langurs, Jungle Cats, Nilgiri Tahr, wild Elephants, and many more species. Apart from enjoying the glorious view from the dam, you can also visit a yoga center for some relaxing time.

Best time to visit:  

Tuesday to Sunday – 9 A.M to 4 P.M

Monday - Closed

Adventure activities: Boating and safari

Nearby Restaurants: Banana Leaf, Mullapanthal Restaurant, Neyyar Seafood Restaurant

Time Required: 1 to 2 hours

Things to do: Boat in the lake, go for a safari, enjoy a picnic, and marvel at the beautiful view

Nearby Hotels: Atiya, Amritham Holidays Homestay, Anantya Resorts

Distance from the major airport: It’ll take approx. 1 hour 15 minutes to reach your destination

Ideal for: Families, couples

How to reach: You can take a taxi or drive there on your own

10. Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple: Pray at One of the Oldest Rock Shrines

The Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple is one of the oldest rock cut temples, which was built in the 8th century. It has an unfinished rock cut sculpture of Lord Shiva on the exterior wall with a bow and Parvathi on both sides. This one cell shrine is the abode of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi and is under the Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction. You’d be amazed by the talent showcased in this temple and the attention to detail. It’s one of the things to do in Kovalam that you can’t miss out on.

Best time to visit:

Tuesday to Sunday - 9 A.M to 6 P.M

Monday - Closed  

Nearby Restaurants: Bismillah Fast Food Restaurant, Sabith Fast Food, Ifthar Seafood and Family Restaurant

Time Required: 2 to 3 hours

Things to do: Seek blessings in this temple and marvel at the sculpture of Gods

Nearby Hotels: The Heaven of Kovalam, Hotel Sea View Palace, Sky Palace Beach Hotel

Nearby Shopping Places: Spencer's Neighborhood Store, Kedaram Shopping Complex

Distance from the major airport: It takes around 30 minutes to reach this temple

Ideal for: Families

How to reach: You can reach this location by boarding a bus

Kovalam is the gem of Kerala and there’s no point denying that. This city is a beautifully maintained tourist destination and the places to visit in Kovalam enhance its significance even more. From gorgeous temples to glorious beaches, everything here would amuse and bedazzle you. Therefore, planning a trip to Kovalam should be on your bucket list and our India travel packages would help you plan the best vacation to this city.

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