#1 Kovalam Tourist Places | Places to visit in Kovalam

Hawah Beach

Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second, 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.

Lighthouse Beach

The southernmost beach, the Lighthouse Beach is the one most frequented by tourists; Lighthouse Beach got its name due to the old Vizhinjam Lighthouse located on a 35 meter high on top of the Kurumkal hillock. The lighthouse is built using stones, is colored in red and white bands and enjoys a height of 118 feet. It’s intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm.

Karamana River

Karamana River originates from the southern part of Sahyadri Range. The river predominantly flows through an outskirt region of Kovalam called Karmana, hence the nomenclature.

Samudra Beach

A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn’t have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Dravidian style (kovil) of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram. The principal deity Vishnu is enshrined in the “Anantha Shayanam” posture, the eternal yogic sleep on the serpent Adisheshan. While the Moolasthanam of the temple is the Ananthapuram Temple in Kasargod, architecturally to some extent, the temple is a replica of the Adikesava Perumal temple located in Kanyakumari District. It is the richest Hindu temple in the world. In terms of gold assets and precious stones, it is by far the wealthiest institution and place of worship of any kind in the recorded history of the world, with an estimated $22 billion worth of gold and jewels stored in underground vaults (not accounting for historical value). At the time of writing, only 5 of the 8 underground vaults had been opened and explored.

Trivandrum Zoo

The Zoo (also known as Trivandrum Zoo) is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, India. It occupies 55 acres (22 ha) of woodland, lakes, and lawns. It is the oldest zoo in India and Asia. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is home to 82 species from around the world. Indigenous species at the zoo include lion-tailed macaque, Nilgiri langur, Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, royal Bengal tiger, white tiger and leopard, as well a nine Asian elephants (as of March 31, 2009).Animals from Africa include giraffes, hippos, zebras, and Cape buffalos. The zoo also includes a snake farm called The Reptile House, which exhibits both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes and also have 7 Anacondas.

Vellayani Lake

Vellayani Lake, or Vellayani Kayal as known in local language, is the largest fresh water lake in Thiruvananthapuram district, of Kerala. This lake attracts a lot of tourists. Once in Kovalam, a visitor should not allow to miss the opportunity of seeing this wonder lake of freshwater. Its crystal-clear calm water, especially during moonlit nights, is a craze for the minds. The locals say a side of the lake is Kochu Kovalam, meaning tiny Kovalam.

Shangumugham Beach

Shankumugham Beach is a beach in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, south India. The beach is on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and very near to Trivandrum International Airport. The vast stretch of white sand and the serene atmosphere, away from the crowd in the city, provide all the ingredients for relaxation and for spending an ideal evening

Aruvikkara Dam

Aruvikkara is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. It is located on the banks of the Karamana River 15 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala in South India. The reservoir and garden makes it a tourist spot. It is famous for the ancient Bhagavathi temple dedicated to Durga, the divine embodiment of female power, which is built on a rock. The stream in front of the temple contains large fishes, which are fed by the devotees visiting the shrine. The headquarters of the Wellington Water Distribution project is located here. The small Aruvikkara dam (mini dam) which provides water to the state capital Thiruvananthapuram is also located in Aruvikkara.

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot. Lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, Neyyar Dam has a scenic lake.

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Caves contains the rock cut sculptures of the 8th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India. The granite cave encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half-complete reliefs of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi. It is about 17 kilometers from the city centre. The cave was left unnoticed for a number of years.

Thiruvallam Parasurama Temple

Thiruvallam Sree Parasurama Swami Temple is one of the most ancient temples of South India. It is situated on the banks of Karamana River near Thiruvallam, Thiruvananthapuram. It is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Lord Parasurama. The temple is 6 km from Kovalam Beach and 5 km from Trivandrum International Airport and 3 km from Thiruvananthapuram.