ALAPUZHA BEACH
Location: Alappuzha beach, near Alappuzha town, south Kerala.
Referred to as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha has always enjoyed an important place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.
Referred to as the Venice of the East, Alappuzha has always enjoyed an important place in the maritime history of Kerala. Today, it is famous for its boat races, backwater holidays, beaches, marine products and coir industry. Alappuzha beach is a popular picnic spot. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is over 137 years old. Entertainment facilities at the Vijaya Beach Park add to the attraction of the beach. There is also an old lighthouse nearby which is greatly fascinating to visitors.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station : Alappuzha, about 5 km from the beach.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 85 km from Alappuzha town
BEKAL BEACH
Location: About a kilometre from Bekal Fort, about 16 km south of Kasaragod on the national highway, Kasaragod district, north Kerala.Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala is renowned as the land of gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful beaches. The imposing fort at Bekal is one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala. The beautiful expanse of the shallow beach near the Bekal fort known as Bekal Fort Beach has been developed as an exotic beach location by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC).Beautification: Beautification of the site includes installation of two sculptures of Theyyam created using laterite at the beach and a shed with walls adorned with murals created by artisans from Nilambur. Apart from these a rock garden at the parking area has been developed where laterite boulders of various sizes have been utilised. Under the social forestry scheme, trees have been planted in the beach area.
Location: About a kilometre from Bekal Fort, about 16 km south of Kasaragod on the national highway, Kasaragod district, north Kerala.Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala is renowned as the land of gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful beaches. The imposing fort at Bekal is one of the largest and best preserved forts in Kerala. The beautiful expanse of the shallow beach near the Bekal fort known as Bekal Fort Beach has been developed as an exotic beach location by the Bekal Resorts Development Corporation (BRDC).Beautification: Beautification of the site includes installation of two sculptures of Theyyam created using laterite at the beach and a shed with walls adorned with murals created by artisans from Nilambur. Apart from these a rock garden at the parking area has been developed where laterite boulders of various sizes have been utilised. Under the social forestry scheme, trees have been planted in the beach area.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, on the Kozhikode-Mangalore-Mumbai route.
Nearest railway station: Kasaragod, on the Kozhikode-Mangalore-Mumbai route.
Nearest airport: Mangalore about 50 km from Kasaragod town; Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode, about 200 km from Kasaragod town.
CHERAI BEACH
Location : Near Vypeen Island accessible by boat (30 minutes, journey) from Ernakulam
The lovely beach bordering the Vypeen island is ideal for swimming. The sea on the western side and the backwaters on the east give this upcoming tourist destination a uniqueness which can be found only in Kerala. Thick coconut groves and chinese fishing nets on the waterfront are added attractions.
Getting there :
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam Junction, about one km from the main boat jetty.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam town.
Location : Near Vypeen Island accessible by boat (30 minutes, journey) from Ernakulam
The lovely beach bordering the Vypeen island is ideal for swimming. The sea on the western side and the backwaters on the east give this upcoming tourist destination a uniqueness which can be found only in Kerala. Thick coconut groves and chinese fishing nets on the waterfront are added attractions.
Getting there :
Nearest railway station : Ernakulam Junction, about one km from the main boat jetty.
Nearest airport : Cochin International Airport, about 20 km from Ernakulam town.
KAPPAD BEACH
Location: About 16 km from Kozhikode town.For the people of Kozhikode, this pleasant stretch of rock studded beach is Kappakkadavu. To the tourist it is one of the most charming of Kerala's beaches. Kappad finds mention in history and geography texts as the gateway to the Malabar coast. Here, 501 years ago, 170 men led by the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) sailed in and stepped into Kerala to create a new chapter in history, the story of a long and tumultuous socio-political relationship between India and Europe. It was the spices and wealth of Malabar that first brought the Arabs, the Phoenicans, the Greeks, the Romans, the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English to Kerala. Kappad has witnessed many such landings. Kozhikode was then the most important trade centre of the Malabar region and the Zamorins who ruled this mighty land were powerful and shrewd. Though the Portuguese were welcomed in Kozhikode they were not too well encouraged or entertained for long by the Zamorins, which might be the reason they shifted their base to Kochi and Kollam down south. Today only a little stone monument is left at the Kappad beach to speak of its great historic importance. On the rocks nearby is a temple believed to be 800 years old. To the tourist, however, this little seafaring town is a haven. The best route to Kappad is along the backwaters. Unspoilt and uncrowded, the picturesque backwaters of Kozhikode offer a bewitching experience. A ride down the backwaters through the Korappuzha river brings you to the beach.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station: Kozhikode, about 16 km.
Nearest airport:Karipur International Airport, Kozhikode about 23 km from Kozhikode town.
KOVALAM BEACH
Location :Just 16 km from Thiruvananthapuram city,south Kerala.
Best time to visit: September to March, though it is an all year destination.
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches.It has been a favourite haunt of tourists,especially Europeans,since the 1930s.A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse-sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages,special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc.The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes.Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages,Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres etc.Thiruvananthapuram,the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle.But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city.Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery,the Padmanabhaswamy Temple,Ponmudi hill station etc.SMSM Institute, a State owned handicrafts emporium,is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles.To know more about the crafts on sale here see Treasure Chest from the Archives dated 14 January '99 to 15 July '99.
Best time to visit: September to March, though it is an all year destination.
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches.It has been a favourite haunt of tourists,especially Europeans,since the 1930s.A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse-sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages,special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising etc.The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes.Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages,Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres etc.Thiruvananthapuram,the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle.But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city.Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery,the Padmanabhaswamy Temple,Ponmudi hill station etc.SMSM Institute, a State owned handicrafts emporium,is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles.To know more about the crafts on sale here see Treasure Chest from the Archives dated 14 January '99 to 15 July '99.
Getting there:
Nearest Railway Station:Thiruvananthapuram central,about 16 km
Nearest airport :Thiruvananthapuram International Airport,about 10 km.
Nearest Railway Station:Thiruvananthapuram central,about 16 km
Nearest airport :Thiruvananthapuram International Airport,about 10 km.
SHANGUMUKHAM BEACH
Location:Just 8 km from the city, this is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Veli Tourist Village. An indoor recreation club, the matsya kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are some of the attractions here. Chacha Nehru Traffic Training Park here provides opportunity for children to learn the traffic rules.
VARKALA BEACH
Location : 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram district, south Kerala.
Attractions: Beach, mineral watersprings, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000 year old Vishnu temple Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000 year old Vishnu temple and the ashramam- 'Sivagiri Mutt' a little distance from the beach.At the serene Varkala beach is a quiet sea resort rich in mineral water springs.A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins. Hence the name 'Papanasam beach'
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