Kerala popularly known as God’s Own Country is filled with backwaters, lush greenery and untouched environs. But Kerala is also famous for many stunning beaches. With a coastline as wide as 550 km, looking for the best beach to explore might be a daunting task. The coastline also symbolizes the culture, traditions of Kerala. From laid back beaches, secluded beaches to party beaches, there are a plethora of beaches in Kerala meant for every type of traveler. Whether you are travelling, in groups, with friends or with your loved one, Kerala has it all. Coconut trees, hammocks and a pleasant climate, nothing can get better than experiencing these in the alluring beaches of Kerala. Every year Kerala sees millions of tourists just to enjoy in the company of nature. The views of the surrounding area are breathtaking. From Kozhikhode to Alappuzha, on your next trip to Kerala, make sure you explore these beautiful beaches.
We have picked the best beaches of Kerala so that you know where you should be on your next vacation in Kerala.
Alappuzha Beach
Alappuzha beach is one of the most popular and stunning beaches of Kerala. Situated in Alappuzha, a place known for backwaters and houseboats, the beach is also one attraction that you must visit. Tourists from all over come to this beach. The beach also has a very ancient pier that is said to be around 150 years old. You can take a leisure stroll or just sit by the beach enjoying the sight of the beach waves touching the sand amidst greenery and picturesque landscapes. You can also explore the beach for the festival that it hosts every year. The Sand art is one of the many festivals that it hosts. The sand art festival was the first of its kind in Kerala and it was held on April 26 last year. Sand artists from all over took part in this festival and displayed their skills. This festival is organized by the Tourism department of Kerala and also the Alleppey foundation. Initially the Alappuzha beach hosted camel safaris as well but then it later got banned by authorities.
Known as the Venice of the East, the beach is indeed an attraction hat you must explore. However apart from this, you should also visit the lighthouse situated close to the beach.
Where to stay: When you are visiting Alappuzha and its beach, you can opt for some great stay options. Ramada Alleppey(0477 224 0001, Tariff- Rs 4800 approx), Lake Palace Resort(0477 223 9701, Tariff- Rs 6400 approx), White Saand Alappey(094971 07494, Tariff- Rs 2500 approx) and Casamaria Beach Resort(094465 44001, Tariff- Rs 2700 approx) are some of the great stay options. They are all situated very close to the beach and it ensures that your stay is a comfortable one.
How to reach: You can board a flight to Kochi and then call a cab till Alapuzzha. It is 56 km away from the airport. It also has a railway station of its own and hence traveling to Alappuzha is easy.
Chavakkad Beach
The cool breeze, swaying coconut trees, alluring waters and serenity is what perfectly describes the Chavakkad beach. Situated in the Chavakkad municipality of Thrissur, the Chavakkad beach also shares proximity with the Arabian coast and hence is a scenic beach. Thought the Chavakkad beach is pretty known and loved among locals and people from neighboring places, the fact is that it is still comparatively less crowded. That gives you more reasons to visit the beach if you are looking for solitude and some peaceful moments with friends and family. And if you are a nature lover, you are sure to love this beach especially with the views of a beautiful estuary created here. The meeting point of the river with the sea is also called as Azhimokam. The Chavakkad beach is also closely located to Gurvayoor temple which is one of the most revered temples in Kerala. Escape from the city chaos and bask in the solitude and serenity of nature that can be best experienced only here.
There are many activities that one can indulge in this serene beach. You can take a long walk, swim, sun bathe or even play beach games like volleyball. This place is also paradise for bird watchers. Numerous migratory birds parade around the beach making for a wonderful view. You can also the sight of locals fishing which is the main activity of this region and maybe with the help of these fishermen also be a part of it. And if hunger pangs strike you can also eat out in the many shacks that serve delicious regional food. You will know all about Kerala cuisines here.
Where to stay: Chavakkad beach does offer many stay options ranging from mid range to luxury hotels and even resorts. Golden Beach Resort (0487 250 8489), Rajah Island (0487 253 2352) and Meiveda(0487 254 5040). These are some of the best accommodation options near Chavakkad beach. You can call on these numbers to enquire about their tariff that may change with season.
How to reach: The nearest railway station is the Guruvayoor railway station which is 5 km away from the beach. And if you want to take a flight, the nearest airport is the Cochin airport which is 79 km away from this beach.
Kollam Beach
Situated in the quaint Kollam, the Kollam beach that is also known as Mahatma Gandhi beach is one of the most popular beaches in Kerala. The reason why it is called the Mahatma Gandhi Beach is the park that was inaugurated in 1961 that is a part of this beach. They have maintained international standards with this park. Of the many beaches in Kerala, only few have lifeguard outposts for safety purposes; and the Kollam beach is one of them. Kollam got its lifeguard posts in 2005.
Another attraction on the beach is also a beautiful Marine aquarium. The construction of this aquarium started just two years ago and is said to be one of its kind I Kerala. It has been set up on the eastern side of the beach and it will exhibit myriad collection of marine life. This gives visitors stronger reasons to visit the beach. Unlike other beaches, you do not have to stick to taking a beach walk or just enjoying the sunset, there are so many other things like we mentioned to keep you entertained.
Where to stay: Hotel Allseason(0474 275 7575, Tariff- Rs 4000 approx), The Quilon Beach Hotel & Convention Centre(0474 276 9999, Tariff- Rs 4200 approx) Cambay Palm Lagoon(0474 254 9500) and Fragrant Nature(0474 251 4000, Tariff –Rs 5700 approx) are some of the several accommodation options near Kollam beach. These hotels and resorts have some of the best facilities and are closely located to the beach ensuring that you have a comfortable stay here.
How to reach: To reach Kollam beach you can board a train and get down at Kollam Junction railway station which is about 4 km away from the airport. The nearest airport is Trivandrum airport which is 68 km away.
Varkala Beach
Among the several stunning beaches of Kerala, another beautiful one is the Varkala beach located in Varkala. The main beach however is called as the Papanasam beach. There are two different parts of this beach- one is the Northern area and the other one is the southern area. The Northern part of this beach is the main attraction and sees large number of tourists, whereas, as you walk along the southern art it will take you to a temple nearby. And because the beach is situated at the bottom of a stunning cliff; this beach is pretty scenic and offers breath taking views. The beach ahs many shacks and shops that will let you eat your favorite cuisines. In fact, you can also just lay back and relax enjoying the views of the ocean waters and pristine white sands. Tourists–both domestic and international love coming here. Though it may not be as popular as Kovalam beach, it does have a large number of tourists visiting every year and the surprising part is that in spite of this, the beach is less crowded. The Varkala beach is also one of the best options for newlywed couples. It provides a perfect romantic ambiance and setting with not much noise and chaos.
Take a boat ride on the beautiful Lake Kappil amidst picturesque landscapes to view nature closely. There are many restaurants like the Coffee temple, Abba restaurant and several other where you can eat from. There are also many resorts and hotels that provide comfortable stay options.
Where to stay: Varkala beach is one of the biggest tourist attractions of the state. Hence there is no dearth of accommodation options in Varakala. From budget, mid-range to luxury hotels and resorts, there is a lot that you can choose from. However some of the best options here are Hindustan Beach Retreat (0470 260 4254, Tariff- Rs 460 approx), The Haiwa Beach Residency(0470 205 1033, tariff- Rs 1000 approx), Hill View Beach Resort(0470 260 5744), Deshadan Cliff & Beach Resort(094474 59912, tariff- Rs 3000 approx). Located just few km away from the beach, these stay options are some of the best that you can have.
How to reach: The nearest airport is the Trivdandrum airport which is 51 km away from your destination and the nearest railway station is Varkala station that is just 3 km away from Varkala beach. You can also opt to travel by road for Varkala is well connected to every major city of India.
Marari Beach
Situated in Alleppey district is this breathtaking Marari beach. It is located exactly 11 km away from the main town of Alappuzha. Of all the reasons as to why Marari beach is one of the best, the biggest one is the fact that it has been rated as one of the world’s top five Hammock beach according to the National Geographic survey. The sandy shores, stretch of coconut trees and serene ambiance, this beach is everything that a tourist looks- peaceful, beautiful and rejuvenating. The Marari beach is popular among couples and is also known to be lovers’ paradise. And because it is located in Alleppey , you can also opt to explore other parts of this beautiful land of backwaters. You will hardly see any tourist here and hence this is where you should be. The vistas of white sands and surfing options, the beach is this and more. You will also get to experience the traditional and simple life of the locals here. Fishing being their main activity, their lifestyle is a refreshing sight from what most city dwellers know of. When in Alappuzha you will be surprised and happy at the hospitality of the locals. And this is a part of the Keralite culture. For a short vacation, you must definitely visit Marari beach and we are sure you will come back happier and rejuvenated. Who doesn’t need breaks like these from routine lives?
So while you explore the desolate Marari beach you can also take a house boat ride on Alleppey’s backwaters. You also do not have to worry about the food because when in God’s own country, the food served is also god-like. There are many shacks and restaurants in and around the beach that also serves one of the finest delicacies of Kerala.
Where to stay: Marari beach has many accommodation options in and around it. You do not have to stay too far away from the beach since there are many accommodation options nearby. Punnamada Backwater Resort(0477 223 3691, Tariff- Rs 6200 approx), Abad Turtle Beach(0478 286 0965, Tariff- Rs 5500 approx), Marari Nest Beach Homestay(091421 06400, Tariff- Rs 1500 approx), Mayas Beach House(098471 02030, Tariff- Rs 6400 approx) and Marari dreamz(087144 14309, Tariff- Rs 3700 approx) are some of the several options that one can look for.
How to reach: The nearest railway station is Alleppey station which is about 30 km away from the beach. You can take an autorickshaw from there that will cost you about Rs 300 approximately.
Kovalam Beach
Kovalam is known as a beach town situated in Thiruvananthapuram by the Arabian Sea. The literal meaning of Kovalam is grove of coconut trees and that is exactly what you get to witness here. It is one of the most popular beaches in Kerala. The low tide and the shallow waters is the main reason why this beach sees so many tourists even today. In the early seventies, this reason was the transformation point of the beach the also the locals where the regular fishing village suddenly shot to fame to become one of the biggest tourist attractions.
It was later Prince G V Raja who took up the responsibility of promoting this region everywhere else since he realized that this pace does have a tourist potential. He invited Thomas Cook and Sons and asked them to develop this attraction. In fact even the Maharaja of Travancore hosted many state programs here and made sure he accommodates all his European guests in Kovalam. The Kovalam beach has three different beaches that are popular- The light house beach, Crescent beach and the Hawah beach. It is said that you can do top less sunbathing at Hawah beach. The food, the ambiance and the serenity makes the Kovalam beach much more peacefully and better as compared to the other beaches of Kerala. You could also do surfing or take a simple wooden boat ride in any of these beaches. There are the two main activities that people prefer doing. This beach also has other activities like snorkeling, catamaran rides and for those who do not want anything too thrilling, you could also rent a cycle and ride by the beach. Meanwhile, for nature lovers, the Kovalam beach is an excellent place to enjoy sunset viewing amidst such breathtakingly picturesque landscapes.
Now for a little bit of information on all the three beaches that we mentioned above:
The Lighthouse beach is the one that is most visited by travelers. It got this name owing to the beautiful Lighthouse that is situated on the top of the beautiful Kurumkal hills. The lighthouse is painted in red and white and the views at night are amazing. The light from here that falls on the beach gives it an unearthly allure.
The Hawah beach also known as the Hawa beach is the second most popular among the three. The serene blue waters and the local activities make this beach a perfect setting to spend a quiet evening. This beach is also the first topless beach in India, however now it has been banned except of you are in a private resort.
The third and the last beach is the Samudra beach that is situated on the southern part. This one doesn’t have too many tourists visiting but it isn’t too far behind in terms of beauty and charm. You can take a leisure walk by the sea wall and the views of the waves touching the rocks are a stunning one. These are the three beaches that make the Kovalam beach. Now you know why this beach is so popular among tourists. On your visit to Kovalam, you will also find some great eating out options as well as accommodation options.
Where to stay: There are many homestays, resorts and hotels in Kovalam that caters to every type of traveler. Ranging from budget to mid range and also luxury, there are all kinds of accommodation options here. Almost all these hotels have the best facilities and delicious food served. So you do not really have to worry about anything. Thapovan Heritage Home(0471 248 0453, Tariff- Rs 2000 approx), Sagara Beach Resort(0471 399 9000, Tarif- Rs 2800 approx), Hotel Sea View Palace(081119 63233, Tariff- Rs 1300 approx), Pappukutty Beach Resort(0471 248 0235, Tariff- Rs 1900 approx) are some of the great options that you will find in and around Kovalam beach. Most of these stay options are located at a close distance from the beach.
How to reach: The nearest railway station is the Trivandrum central station that is approximately 11 km from Kovalam. From here you can hire cab to reach Kovalam and it should not cost you more than Rs 300.
Kappad Beach
Kappad beach is a very famous beach situated in Calicut( Kozhikode). This is the beach where the renowned Portuguese explorer Vaso Da Gama landed in 1498. It was his journey that established a sea route from Europe to India. This route has served as a journey point for many European merchant companies that also eventually led to the ruling of the East India Company the also the British colonial ruling. Kappad beach also locally known as Kappkadavu still has a stone inscription that reads, “Vasco Da Gama Landed here, Kappakadavu in the year 1948.” The beach is not only beautiful but also has a rich and interesting historical significance. The rock studded Kappad beach is what you should definitely explore on your next trip to Calicut. You will also find a quaint temple near the beach that is said to be 800 years old. Untouched and less crowded, the picturesque landscapes and alluring backwaters of Kozhikode offers a memorable experience. A scenic ride on the beautiful Korappuzha River is all it takes to reach the beach. This place paradise for every tourist and you need to see it to believe it. So when you are busy planning to visit the other places of Kerala, do put this one down in your list and do not miss out one exploring this one.
Where to stay: There are many beautiful stay options in and around the alluring Kappad beach. Vasco Dagama Beach Resort(085899 91172, Tariff- Rs 4000 approx), Renai Kappad Beach Resort(0496 268 8777, Tariff- Rs 3300 approx) are the best options for stay. They have some of the best facilities and also delicious food served. Kozihkode is known for its food and hence your stay here is going to be a fulfilling one.
How to reach: The nearest railway station is Kozhikode (Calicut) ,approximately 35 km away and the nearest airport is Calicut International airport that is 45 km away from Kappad.