KOVALAM
Kovalam, a pristine and internationally known beach which is located near the capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum. The village of Kovalam was initially a fisherman’s village, which was later transformed into a tourism destination by the queen of Travancore back in the 1930s. The beach is currently developed to be a main tourism destination of Kerala with shops, restaurants and resorts. The 1 km coastline is divided into three main beaches – Hawa beach, Lighthouse beach (Kovalam beach) and Samudra beach. With Lighthouse beach attracting the most people. Activities like surfing, sunbathing and ayurvedic massages happen at Lighthouse beach. Also one of the main attractions on the beach is the Vizhinjam lighthouse. The 30 m tall lighthouse gives you a panoramic view of the Kovalam village. Early in the morning, you could also get involved with fishermen activities along with them.
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport – 12 km
Nearest Railway station: Trivandrum Railway Station – 14 km
VARKALA
Varkala is considered to be one of the best beaches in Kerala and the best thing to do here is to just relax. It’s the only beach flanked with rocky cliffs in Kerala. Get on top off the cliff to a good cafe, get something to drink and just enjoy one of the best sunsets you will see during your visit to Kerala. There are also some good ayurvedic and yoga centres to really bring your mind and body to relax. You can also get involved in some adrenaline-pumping activities like surfing and jumping straight off the cliff too if weather permits.
There are also some good beaches and other historic places to visit nearby Varkala. Right of the Varkala cliff is the Papanasam beach, which is considered to be a religious beach. As myths say a swim at this beach could wash away your sins! Towards the south of Varkala cliff is the Black beach which gets its name from the glistening black soil also this place is less crowded and much cleaner. Taking a ride through the beautiful Edava Kappil road is an amazing experience. As you reach the bridge you will be in between the backwaters and the beach. Enroute Kappil is another quiet and clean Odayam beach where you will spot vibrant boats along the shoreline. Beyond beaches, there are a couple of historical places too. Anjengo Fort and Lighthouse which is around 12 km from the cliff. Built by the East India Company, the fort was England’s entry point into the country from the Malabar coast. The fort is well maintained with lush green lawns and a view of the Anjengo beach in the backdrop. You can also visit the lighthouse for a perfect aerial view of the area. Also, try to visit the 2000-year-old Janardhanaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
Nearest Airport: Trivandrum International Airport – 41 km
Nearest Railway station: Varkala – 2 km
MARARI OR MARARIKULAM
Marari is one of the cleanest white sand beaches in the state, lined with coconut trees its a beautiful sight of paradise. Marari isn’t a tourist beach with a lot of facilities, but rather a calm place to relax and unwind. Those who visit Marari look forward to the slow pace of life and soaking up the serenity. There are some good resorts that you can spend your time in with private areas to the beach which would be the preferred stay while you are here. This beach could be considered as a one day stop between your journey from Fort Kochi to the backwaters of Alappuzha. As mentioned Marari is a fisherman village town and you can see and get engaged in their day to day activities. Mararikulam is not a heavily commercialized beach for the same reason you won’t find as many shacks or cafes compared to Varkala. The best time to visit Marari is during the weekdays as it won’t be overcrowded with local tourists.
Nearest Airport: Cochin International Airport – 73 km
Nearest Railway station: Mararikulam – 3 km
KOZHIKODE BEACH
The town of Kozhikode or Calicut is the most famous for the food they prepare, and the best place to explore local street food of Kerala is Kozhikode beach! Unlike the other beaches mentioned here, Kozhikode beach is completely different. Firstly, this beach is located in the heart of the city. Secondly, you will find a lot of locals flowing into the beach to have some good time with their families from evening till midnight. Even in the midst of the business of Kozhikode beach, you can still get yourself immersed in experiencing a beautiful sunset. This is also a good place to socialize with the locals, get into playing games like football and cricket, but also good for flying kites!
Nearest Airport: Kozhikode International Airport – 31 km
Nearest Railway station: Kozhikode Railway station – 3 km
MUZHAPPILANGAD BEACH
The longest drive-in beach of Asia is located in the state of Kannur, in northern Kerala. The beach spans to an overall length of 5.5 km. So if you are planning to travel around Kerala by renting a car, a bike or even tuktuk, make sure this one of a kind beach of Kerala is on your list. The beach has many black rocks which stops the high tide reaching the banks making it an amazing place to swim. Another main attraction people visit when they are at Muzhappilangad is a small offshore island known as Kakkathuruthu or the island of crows. During the low tides, we could walk towards the island as the water is shallow.
Nearest Airport: Kannur International Airport – 27 km
Nearest Railway station: Kannur Railway station – 17 km
BEKAL BEACH
Bekal beach is located 16 km’s south to the district of Kasargod. In addition to the beauty and serenity of this amazing golden beach also lies the magnificent fort which brings a picturesque beauty to it. Bekal Fort is the biggest fortress of the state constructed in the year 1650. The fort that sits at a height of 130 feet from the sea-level gives you a beautiful view of the Bekal beach. To promote more tourism activities in the village of Bekal, the locals of the village have introduced quite some activities amongst which one, is a charming candlelight dinner along the banks of Bekal beach! This is a very exquisite experience that shouldn’t be missed when at Bekal Beach!
Nearest Airport: Mangalore International Airport – 75 km
Nearest Railway station: Bekal Railway Station – 3 km
BEST WAY TO EXPERIENCE BEACHES IN KERALA
Unlike the beaches in the southern and central part of Kerala, the one important thing you will notice is beaches in Northern Kerala are less touristy. Most of the people present will be the locals of the region. To really experience this local lifestyle to the fullest, it is now possible to rent your own tuktuk/auto/rickshaw from Fort Kochi or elsewhere and drive around God’s Own Country yourself! The only requirement you need is an International Driver’s Permit with class B endorsement (car / motor-vehicle) on it. Head over to tuktukrental.com, make a booking and we will take care of the rest!
