Search results for: Kerala Map - Thiruvanthapuram

 

KOVALAM One of world's great beaches, now a magnificent resort of sun, sea and surf. A beach paradise: your time goes endless in experiencing and enjoying the boundless blue of the Arabian Sea and the unwinding miles of fine-sanded beaches washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of the long-standing palms. Yet Kovalam is not just a beach resort. At the Yoga and Health Centre in a shady grove, the intricacies and the dynamics of yoga and transcedental meditation are taught by experts. You can try out rejuvinating Ayurvedic massages and oil baths that date back thousands of years. And in the quitude of the evening take in a performance of Kathakali, the spectacular dance-drama of Kerala. Drawing from the rich heritage of Hindu epics, Kathakali depicts in chant and dance, the tales of gods, heroes, demons and the fabulous beasts of Indian legends. It is richly costumed and unrivalled in dramatic splendour.

 

GETTING  To KOVALAM
By Road	Being close to Thiruvananthapuram, access is hardly a consideration. Taxis are easily available from Thiruvananthapuram and KSRTC operates very frequent services of buses between the two centres.
Area code	04723
State	Kerala
ACCOMMODATION	Luxury Hotels : Kovalam Ashok Beach Resort, Tel: 480101 Fax: 481522. Hotel Samudra (KTDC) , Tel: 480242, 480089. Standard Hotels : Hotel Palmashore, Vizhinjam. Tel: 480494/495. Hotel Neptune, Light House Beach. Tel: 480222. Hotel Seaweed, Light House Road Tel: 480391/791 Surya Samudra, Pulinkudi, Mullur P.O. Tel: 480413; Fax: 481124. Kadaloram Beach Resort. Tel: 481115; Fax: 62762. Rockholm , Light House Road Tel: 480306.
Shopping	Kovalam Beach has numerous craft and carpet shops (usually of Tibetan, Kashmiri and Rajasthani origin), clothing stores (ready to wear and made to order), book exchanges, general stores selling everything from toilet paper to sunscreen, travel agents, yoga schools and even massage parlours. There are also guys on the beach selling batik lungis, beach mats and leaf paintings. Plenty of others offer cheap Kerala grass.
Banks	Central Bank of India Timings :  Monday to Friday from 10.30 am to 2 pm and on Saturday from 10.30 am to noon.  The Wilson Tourist Home has an official money change counter which offers exactly the same rates and is open longer hours. Of course, there are plenty of 'change money' people around.
TOURIST  INFORMATION  CENTRE	It is just inside the entrance to the Ashok Beach Resort.

KOVALAM This is the legendary Malabar coast where King Solomon's ships came to collect timber for building the Temple of the Lord, So too came Marco Polo, and when he spoke of the wonders of this believed him. Kerala was a wonder. And not too far from its borders was Cape Comorin where the land of India ended, and a temple to the virgin goddess Kanya Kumari watched over the phenomenon of three seas mingling with each other.

KOVALAM - A place in the sun One of world's great beaches, now a magnificent resort of sun, surf and sea. A beach paradise, the boundless blue of the Arabian sea and the un- winding miles of fine-sanded beaches washed by a surf which roars and hisses at the feet of the stalwart palms. Plus the wonders of Kerala : exquisite shrines, lush backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries, brilliant temple festival celebrations of music and traditional dance. And just a quick air connection away from India's other attractions. With direct flights from Dubai and Colombo too.

At the Kovalam Ashok Beach Resort, there's the magnificent Kovalam Hotel, Built as an extension of a hill that overlooks the Kovalam Bay, the five tiered hotel gently descends to the beach following the contours of the land. Nearby is Kovalam Grove, a beach village with 42 airconditioned Kudils or cottages set in a grove of lush palm trees. On the other side of Kovalam Hotel is Halcyon Castle, the summer retreat of the former kings, with two deluxe suites and mini conference facilities. Between the Hotel and the Grove is the Beach centre with typical south Indian circular kiosks with thatched conical roofs and facilities for popular aquatic sports.

At the Yoga and Health Centre in a shady grove,the intricacies and the dynamic of yoga and transcendental meditation are taught by experts. You can try out rejuvenating Ayurvedic massages and oil baths that date back thousands of years. And in the quie- tude of the evening take in a performance of Kathakali, the spectacular dance drama of Kerala. Drawing from the rich heritage of Hindu epics, Kathakali depicts in chant and dance, the tales of gods, heroes, demons and the fabulous beasts of Indian legends.

It is richly costumed and unrivaled in dramatic splendour. Car hire and tour facilities take you to fabled Cochin through plantations of tea, coffee and fragrant spices ; to Thekkady ( or Periyar) sanctuary for a close view of wild elephants to lands end at kanya Kumari to the temple city of Madurai and beyond. Kerala is one of India's richest, most dramatic experiences. Kovalam is part of it.

KANYAKUMARI

The land, three seas and the sky The virgin goddess Kanya Kumari has watched over the phenomenon since the beginning of time : standing at the tip of the country in, as if, an unend- ing vigil, with the waters of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal drawing to her feet. It is believed that here goddess Parvati in her incarnation as Devi Kanya practiced penance so that she could marry Shiva. A temple stands here today, dedicated to the virgin goddess. Not far from the borders of Kerala (86 km from Trivandrum), and worth and excursion. Elemental nature has hallowed this place where the land, three seas and the sky meet, and called out to people of all faiths.

More recently, two saints of modern India - Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi, found sanctuary here where now stand everlasting representation to their memories. From the edge of the land, two rocks jut out into the sea. One of these is called `Sripada Paraj', the rock blessed with the touch of the goddess feet. It was on this rock that Swami Vivekananda sat in meditation, and so it is now named after him. In 1970, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built. Among other things, it houses a statue of the great saint. The architecture of the complex comprises the styles of all the regions in the country.

A boat service operates between the mainland and the Memorial. Standing on the rocks, you can look into the mainland in a view otherwise possible only from a ship on the sea. And if you look out towards the sea, sunrise and sunset offer rare views ; incredulous on a day of full moon, when sunset and moonrise happen at the same time. And on one day in the year - the full moon day in April (Chaitra), the sun and the moon are visible on the same horizon ! Part of the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were sent to Kanya Kumari to be im- mersed in the three seas. At the spot where the urn carrying his ashes was kept for public view was raised Gandhi Mandapam, a memorial to the Mahatma.