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Population: 18000
STD Code: 0471
Thirty years ago
Kovalam was a hippie cliché: a tropical beach with a fishing
village offering seafood, fruit and toddy. Today this tiny
beach is the focus of a multimillion dollar business, drawing
thousands of tourists for a two-week dose of UV and a sanitized
Indian 'experience'.
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a helpful tourist office inside the entrance to Ashok Beach Resort
and another at Hawah Beach Restaurant.
There are numerous
money changers along the beach. Wilson Tourist Home has
official money changing facilities as does Pournami Handicrafts.
The GPO is open 9am
to 5pm daily and there are STD/ISD, fax and email facilities.
There are huge number of travel agencies which arrange ticketing,
tours and car hire.
Kovalam - Dangers
& Annoyances
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A local
newspaper reported that beach goers get hassled by hawkers
every three minutes on average, even if they're sleeping.
Theft does
occur, from hotels and the beach. Lock your doors and
windows and watch your possessions at the beach. Strong
rips at both ends of Lighthouse beach carry away several
swimmers every year. Swim only between the flags, in the
area patrolled by lifeguards.
Kovalam has
frequent blackouts and the footpath behind Lighthouse beach
are unlit and so carry a torch (flashlight) after dark.
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Kovalam - Places to
Stay
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Kovalam is
packed with hotels but it is always better to get your hotel
rooms booked in Kovalam to avoid last minute disappointment.
You can
book your hotel online by Clicking
here.
If you own
a hotel in Kovalam and wanted to be listed here, please email
us.
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Kovalam - Places to
Eat
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Open-air
restaurants line the beach area and are scattered through the
coconut palms behind it. Almost all the restaurants
offer a standard travelers' menu including porridge, muesli,
eggs, toast, idli and dosa for breakfast and curries or
seafood with chips and salad for dinner.
At night, you
stroll along the breach front and select your fish - the range
includes seer, barracudas, sea bass, catfish, king and tiger
prawns. You can also select the method of preparation:
tandoor (delicious but on the dry side), sizzler (fried in
garlic and other herbs) or grilled. Always check the
prices before you order. Fish and chips with salad
typically costs Rs. 100-150, depending on your variety and
portion size; tiger prawns will push the price beyond Rs. 400.
There's
plenty of competition so doesn't be afraid to negotiate.
Quality can vary; ask other travelers for their
recommendations. Beer is available, expect to pay Rs. 80
for the same.
If you own
a restaurant in Kovalam and wanted to be listed here, please email
us.
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Kovalam -
Entertainment
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During the
holiday season, a shortened version of Kathakali is performed
every night except Sunday: On Monday, Wednesday and Saturday
you can see it at Hotel Neptune and on Tuesday and Friday at
Ashok Beach Resort. You can watch make-up and dressing
from 5 to 6.45pm. The performance is from 6.45 to 8.15pm
and entry cost is Rs. 100.
For less
cultural pursuits, Western Videos are shown twice a night in a
few restaurants. There are no nightclubs or discos, just
bars, where people drink and listen to an endless soundtrack
of reggae, trance music and classic rock.
If you
provide entertainment in Kovalam and wanted to be listed here,
please email
us.
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Kovalam - Shopping
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Kovalam Beach
has numerous craft and carpet shops (usually Tibetan, Kashmiri
and Rajasthani origin), clothing stores (ready to wear and
made to order), book exchanges, general stores selling everything
from cornflakes to sunscreen, travel agencies and even yoga
schools. Beach vendors sell batik lungies (sarongs),
beach mats, sunglasses and leaf paintings.
Do you own
a Handicraft store or shopping store in Kovalam? Please email
us to get listed here.
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Kovalam - Getting
there and Away
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Bus
The local No. 111 bus between Thiruvanthapuram and Kovalam
Beach runs every 30 minutes between 5.30am to 9.30pm and costs
Rs. 5. The bus leaves Thiruvanthapuram, East Fort, Stand
19 on M G Road, 100m south of the municipal bus stand.
At Kovalam, the buses start and finish at the entrance to the
Ashok Beach Resort.
Taxi &
Auto rickshaw A taxi between
Thiruvananthapuram and Kovalam Beach costs approximately Rs.
250; auto rickshaws cost about Rs. 100. It's best to
arrive at the lighthouse end of the beach because it's closer
to the hotels and there are fewer touts. Prepaid taxis
from Thiruvananthapuram
airport to the beach cost around Rs. 190 to 225. Don't
assume that auto rickshaw will be cheaper than a taxi - shop
around.
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