Kerala has a 600 km long shoreline", dotted with some of the finest, most charming beaches of the world, coconut groves, natural harbors, lagoons and sheltered coves. All of it as peaceful as the rest of the land, washed by the pleasant tropical sun and as pristine as ever.
Throughout the world, the beaches of Kerala in India are renowned for their breathtaking beauty. The blues of the sky and the blue waters of the beaches of Kerala come together to take away your blues. Amongst the popular beaches of Kerala are the Kovalam Beach and Varkala beach. The other much-visited beaches of Kerala are Thanagasseri Beach, Cheria Beach, Tanur Beach, Padinharekara Beach, Beypore Beach and Kappad Beach. There are several other beaches of India that are worth visiting such as Ezhimala beach,Fort Kochi beach,Vallikunnu beach,Bekal beach and Alappuzha beach.
A brief description of some of the prominent beaches
Allepey beach-Allepey beach is quite a popular tourist spot in Kerala, known to provide relaxation. The pier, which extends into the sea here, is around 140 years old. Blessed with nature's green beauties such as lagoons, vast lakes and numerous fresh water rivers, Alappuzha is a natural wonderland of Kerala state. The Alappuzha (Alleppey) beach is spectacular.It is approximately 5 kms away from Allepey railway station
Bekal beach-Bekal is a sleepy village on the coast of Arabian Sea and it is 64 km south of Mangalore. Centuries old Fort, virgin beaches and pristine backwaters are the key attractions here. This is the only Special Tourism Area declared by the Govt. of India, in God's Own Country. Bekal is fast developing as an international beach destination.
This extraordinary part of Kerala, with its scintillating natural features is aptly marked by a number of ancient temples, forts and festivals. Virgin beaches, serene backwaters, and scenic mountain ranges in this part of God’s own country offer a mixed bag of amusement to visitors coming from different parts of the world. Bekal Fort is the largest fort in Kasargod District of Kerala, south India. The fort faces the Arabian Sea. Bekal fort stands on a promontory between two long classically beautiful palm fringed beaches. This is the largest, best preserved fort in kerala.It is approximately 8 kms away from Kasargod.
Beypore beach-Located at the mouth of the Chaliyar River in Kozhikode district, Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre. The boat building yard here is famous for the construction of the Uru, the traditional Arabian trading vessel.Peace and serenity wrap you in a warm embrace as you relax at the Beypore beach and gaze into the vast blue expanse of the Arabian Sea. 10 km south of Kozhikode, located at the mouth of chliyar river, beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient kerala was an important trade and maritime centre..It is 11 kms away from Calicut.
Cherai beach-15 Kilometre long Cherai Beach is the best clean golden beach of Kerala and is rightly called “ The Prnicess of the Queen of the Arabian sea”. It is a lovely beach bordering vypeen island. Dolphins are occasionally seen here. A typical kerala village with paddy fields and coconut groves nearby is an added attraction.It is 30 kms away from Cochin.
Fort Kochi beach-A favourite haunt of Kochiites, the beach at Fort Kochi is a tranquil experience at any time of the day. Do it alone or in the company of your loved ones, it offers the ideal ambiance to relax and to let your thoughts soar to new heights of creativity. A leisurely walk through the lanes of the city is the best way to discover historic fort kochi. An obscure fishing village that became the first european township in india, Kochi has an eventful and colourful history.It is 12 kms away from Cochin city.
Kappad beach-16 kms from Kozhikode (Calicut),this is the historic beach where Vasco-da-Gama landed on the 27th of May 1498, with 170 men in three vessels. A monument on the beach commemorates this historic event. The rock studded beach is locally known as Kappakadavu. An interesting feature of the landscape is the sprawling rock that protrudes into the sea. The temple on the rock is believed to be 800 years old.
The beach is gentle and partly. To the tourist, however, this little sea faring town is a haven. A ride down the backwaters through the Korappuzha river brings you to the beach.It is 16 mks away from Calicut.
Kovalam beach-Kovalam is a world-famous beach resort, which has been a favorite spot for tourists since 1930s. This beach has lovely coconut palms fringe the golden sands. Foreigners throng Ayurvedic parlors, yoga and meditation centers, that have sprung up all over the place. There are a number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples and big churches.
It was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists (mostly European) even now the glory of this beach attracting more and more tourists(western). Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a slew of Ayurvedic treatments for the tourists. The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite. There are two main beaches at Kovalam, separated by a high cliff. There is small light house in the Eve's beach.It is close to 18 kms away from Trivandrum city.
Thangasseri beach-This beach is situated at a distance of about 5 kms from Kollam town. There are many historical sites that you can explore while at the Thangasseri Beach. You can see the ruins of an Old Portuguese fort and churches built in the 18th century. One of the major attractions is the Thangasseri Lighthouse, open to all visitors. The Thangasseri beach is 3km long and is 5km from Kollam.
Varkala beach-Varkala beach is famous for mineral springs and a fantastic massage, so don't forget to bring aromatherapy massage oil and sun protection. The mineral springs here are said to have curative properties. The massage technique has been a closely guarded secret for thousands of years, but for many tourists it's a welcome revival from the toils of the road. Varkala Beach is also famous for its landscape. A high rocky cliff ends abruptly and a stretch of clear sand extends down to the sea. The contrast between the cliffs, sand and sea makes Varkala Beach a striking sight. The sunset at Varakala Beach is truly breathtaking with the sun sinking into the sky like a ball of molten gold as the sun and sea are tinged with crimson and vermilion.It is 75 kms away from Kollam.
