Kerala · Beaches
Kovalam
Kovalam is a beach town just south of Thiruvananthapuram, with crescent beaches separated by rocky headlands. It is about 680 km from Mysuru, about 14 hours by road. Most visitors plan 1–2 days. December to March is the driest time around Kovalam, with little rain and days of about 32-33°C.
Why travellers go
It is an easy beach break close to Kerala’s capital and its airport.
- Suggested time
- 1–2 days
- State
- Kerala
- Good for
- Beaches
Best-known sights in Kovalam
- Lighthouse Beach: The largest and southernmost of Kovalam's crescent beaches, named after the lighthouse on Kurumkal hillock.
- Hawa Beach (Eve's Beach): The second-largest beach, a short walk from Lighthouse Beach.
- Samudra Beach: The northernmost crescent, busy at weekends and quiet during the week.
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse: A 36 m lighthouse on the Kurumkal hillock above Lighthouse Beach; visitors can climb it for views of the coast.
- Vizhinjam Rock-Cut Cave Temple: A granite cave with a one-celled shrine near Vizhinjam.
- Vizhinjam harbour: A fishing harbour next to Kovalam, lively at sunset as boats come and go.
- Chowara Beach: A quieter beach about 6.4 km south of Kovalam, with sunset views from a nearby cliff.
- Azhimala Shiva Temple: A seaside temple south of Kovalam known for an 18 m Gangadhareshwara sculpture.
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram: A Vishnu temple in Thiruvananthapuram, where the deity is shown reclining on the serpent Shesha. Only Hindus may enter. Men wear a white vesti with a shawl; women wear a sari.
How many days do you need in Kovalam?
Plans for one, two or three days. A starting point only, not a Travel Trendzz package.
One day
- Lighthouse Beach in the morning
- Vizhinjam Lighthouse
- Hawa Beach
- Sunset over the bay
Two days
- Day 1: Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, Samudra Beach, Sunset over the bay
- Day 2: Vizhinjam Lighthouse, Vizhinjam Rock-Cut Cave Temple, Vizhinjam harbour at sunset
Three days
- Day 1: Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, Sunset over the bay
- Day 2: Vizhinjam Lighthouse, Vizhinjam Rock-Cut Cave Temple, Azhimala Shiva Temple, Chowara Beach
- Day 3: Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Samudra Beach in the evening
How to reach Kovalam from Mysuru and Bengaluru
From Mysuru
- By road
- About 550 km, about 8-9 hours of driving, via Kerala to Thiruvananthapuram; Kovalam is about 13-17 km beyond the city. Night traffic through Bandipur forest is restricted from 9pm to 6am.
- By train
- The daily Mysuru-Thiruvananthapuram North Express (16315/16316) runs direct from Mysuru Junction to Thiruvananthapuram North, about 20 hours. From there take a taxi or bus to Kovalam.
- By bus
- A KSRTC bus runs once daily from Mysuru to Thiruvananthapuram, about 15 hours; buses and autos go on to Kovalam.
- By air
- Fly from Bengaluru to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 10-15 km from Kovalam.
From Bengaluru
- By road
- About 730 km, about 13-14 hours, via Salem, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Thrissur, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
- By train
- The daily Mysuru-Thiruvananthapuram North Express (16315) stops at KSR Bengaluru and Bengaluru Cantonment and runs to Thiruvananthapuram North. Thiruvananthapuram Central is about 16 km from Kovalam, and Neyyattinkara station about 8 km.
- By bus
- Check KSRTC and private operators for current Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram buses, then a local bus or taxi to Kovalam.
- By air
- Fly to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 10-15 km from Kovalam; a taxi takes about 20 minutes.
Road times are approximate; check current timings for trains and buses before you travel.
Best time to visit Kovalam
December to March is the driest time around Kovalam, with little rain and days of about 32-33°C. The south-west monsoon arrives in early June, and the retreating north-east monsoon brings heavy showers again in October and November.
| Month | Weather and what to know |
|---|---|
| Jan | Dry and warm, about 22-32°C About 18 mm of rain (IMD normals, Thiruvananthapuram city). |
| Feb | Dry and warm, about 23-33°C |
| Mar | Hot and mostly dry, about 24-34°C |
| Apr | Hot and humid, first showers, about 25-33°C |
| May | Hot, pre-monsoon rain, about 25-33°C |
| Jun | Monsoon arrives, wettest month, about 24-30°C About 308 mm of rain; first monsoon showers usually in early June. The sea is rough. |
| Jul | Monsoon rain, about 23-30°C |
| Aug | Rainy, about 23-30°C |
| Sep | Rainy spells, about 24-31°C |
| Oct | Heavy showers from the north-east monsoon, about 24-31°C About 297 mm of rain. |
| Nov | Showers, about 23-31°C About 213 mm of rain. |
| Dec | Mostly dry, about 23-32°C |
Tips for visiting Kovalam
- Currents can pull swimmers out to sea and people have drowned at Kovalam. Swim only in the areas marked by lifeguards.
- Watch for jellyfish in the water; the small orange ones can sting badly.
- Agree the auto-rickshaw fare before you set off.
- Kovalam Junction has no traffic lights and little street lighting, so take care there after dark.
- For scuba diving or parasailing, Kerala Tourism advises using accredited adventure operators.
Photos
Travel Trendzz packages that include Kovalam
Prices are given on request; the team sends a quote for your dates and group.
Questions about Kovalam
What is the best time to visit Kovalam?
December to March is the best time to visit Kovalam, as these are the driest months and the sea is calmer. The south-west monsoon arrives in early June and makes the sea rough. October and November also bring heavy showers from the retreating monsoon, so beach days are less certain.
How far is Kovalam from Bengaluru and Mysuru?
Kovalam is about 730 km from Bengaluru by road, roughly 13-14 hours. From Mysuru, it is about 550 km. Many families take the daily Mysuru-Thiruvananthapuram North Express instead, or fly to Thiruvananthapuram, which is only about 10-15 km from Kovalam.
Is it safe to swim at Kovalam beach?
Swim only with care, in the areas marked by lifeguards. Currents at Kovalam can pull swimmers out to sea, and people have drowned here. Avoid the water in the monsoon when the sea is rough, keep children close, and watch out for jellyfish, especially the small orange ones.
How many days are enough for Kovalam?
Two to three days are enough for Kovalam. Spend a day on Lighthouse, Hawa and Samudra beaches, and a second day at Vizhinjam for the lighthouse, cave temple and harbour. A third day lets you visit Chowara, Azhimala and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram.
Does Travel Trendzz have a package for Kovalam?
Yes. Kerala Hills & Coast: Munnar to Kovalam (6 Nights / 7 Days) are published Travel Trendzz packages.
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Sources
Facts on this page were checked against these sources in November 2026. Rules such as entry passes, timings and road closures change, so check before you travel.
- en.wikivoyage.org › Kovalam
- keralatourism.org › 236
- en.wikipedia.org › Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- traveltriangle.com › how to reach from bangalore
- rome2rio.com › Kovalam
- en.wikipedia.org › Mysuru–Thiruvananthapuram North Express
- en.wikipedia.org › Kovalam
- holidify.com › how to reach
- en.wikipedia.org › Bandipur National Park
- en.wikipedia.org › Thiruvananthapuram
Plan your Kovalam trip
Tell the trip planner your dates, group and budget. Nothing is booked until you confirm with the team.
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