FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: KOVALAM BEACH KERALA

FROM the eyes of DR AJAY KUMAR OJHA: 

KOVALAM BEACH KERALA

(All the images are subject to IPR)

Kovalam is a beach town by the Arabian Sea in Thiruvananthapuram city, Kerala, India, located around 16 km from the city centre.

Photo(c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and true to its name the village offers an endless sight of coconut trees. It is also known as the paradise of the south.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam first received attention when the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi of Travancore constructed her beach resort, Halcyon Castle, here towards the end of the 1920s. Thereafter the place was brought to the public eye by her nephew the Maharaja of Travancore. The European guests of the then Travancore kingdom discovered the potentiality of Kovalam beach as a tourist destination in the 1930s. However, Kovalam shot into limelight in the early seventies with arrivals of the masses of hippies on their way to Ceylon in the Hippie Trail. This exodus started the transformation of a casual fishing village of Kerala into one of the most important tourist destinations in all India.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent 

of the Kovalam beach

• 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 rocky promontory here. Its intermittent beams at night render the beach with an unearthly charm. 

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

• Hawah Beach

Eve’s Beach, more commonly known as Hawa Beach, ranks second, in the early days, 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.

Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha

• 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.

Jelly Fish
Photo (c) Dr Ajay Kumar Ojha