The beach is perfect - but you will not be the first to realise this

Kovalam Beach is a very suitable place to be with children, even from a very young age on. You will find plenty of fellow travellers with children of every age.

Kovalam is highly touristy, but still lacks high-rise concrete hotels that would spoil the tranquil atmosphere of the crescent beach. But be free of illusions: The former fishing village has now turned into an assembly of hotels, restaurants, shops and email-offices. You wouldn't find real indian live, but everything a tourist needs.

Mainly four different groups of tourists populate Kovalam: charter tourists, Ayurveda clients, single travellers and overwinterers who try to escape the european snow. Together, they create the typical beach-resort-feeling.

Unfortunately the beach shows a shrinking tendency. Every year some precious meters of the perfect sand are irrevocably gone. So be prepared for the crowd getting thicker on the beach.

Kovalam beach stretches over two coves, Lighthouse beach and Hawah beach. The main part of the village faces Lighthouse beach, whereas only a few hotels and restaurants face Hawah beach. On the south end of Lighthouse beach, the Lighthouse form a highly visible landmark. The actual town Kovalam is 1.5 km away, next to the main road to Trivandrum

Asides from all beach-related activities there is not a lot to do with children. You have to strech your phantasy to find interesting things to do.

Beachlife: Swimming in the sea is perfect in the early morning hours and the evening. During the hot time of the day a swimming pool can be a good alternative. map

The prominent lighthouse is visible nearly from everywhere in Kovalam

Lighthouse: Climbing up the spiralling staircase of the lighthouse is fun. From the platform up there you have a phantastic view over Kovalam and its beaches. map

Open: daily 3pm to 5pm
Price: 10 Rs/ 25 Rs for non-Indians

Due to the intelligent layout of the zoo you can watch all animals from surprisingly close distance

Zoo of Trivandrum: The zoo is spacious, shows tigers, lions, elephants, crocodiles and many other species and is said to be one of the best in India. It is lovingly created with concrete stables resembling trees and metal handrails imitating bamboo. Children above the age of two will enjoy a visit. Bring enough water to drink and enough food, because inside the zoo there are no food- or drink-stalls. The area is shaded by big trees, one resting area is found next to the elephants. Definitely worth a visit. The riksha from Varkala is around 250 Rs, including 2h waiting time.

Open: daily except Mondays, 9:15am to 5 pm
Price: Adults: 10 RS, Children 6-12: 5 Rs

Kovalam is full of Hotels in every price range. Finding a room is therefore no problem - except perhaps the time around christmas when the season reaches it's maximum. Places set back from the sea are generally cheaper than those on the beachfront.

Green Valley Cottages offer quiet rooms in a palm grove

Green Valley : Green Valley is laid back from the frenzy of the beach next to the former rice-paddies. From the rooms you have a nice view into coconut-palms. The rooms are basic, have attached bathroom and are equipped with a next to perfect moskito protection on every opening. From there it is only three min walking to the beach. map

Address: near Light House Beach, Vizinjam OP
Tel: 0471 2480636 (office), 09746355509 (Manager), 0471-2442725 (Ravi)
Email: indira_ravi@hotmail.com
Price: 700 Rs, (450 Rs single room)

The pool in the garden of Wilson Tourist Home is well-kept

Wilson Tourist Home: Wilson Tourist Home stands out because the rooms group around a swimming pool in the well-kept garden. Since the pool is partely shaded most of the day, swimming is possible nearly all the time even with fair-skinned children. The pricing of the rooms is inconsistent. Consecutive guests payed prices ranging from 500 to 1000 Rs for the same room. So be prepared to bargain. map

Tel: 0471 2480051
Price: 500 to 1000

Hotel Orion on the beachfront

Hotel Orion: Direktly on the beach, between Lighthouse and German Bakery is the traditional Orion Hotel. Having four storeys and a roof, it's the tallest building on the beachfront. The rooms are small, but upstair rooms have balconies. The main advantage is the easy access to the beach. map

Address: Lighthouse Beach
Tel: 0471-2480999 (land)
Email: orionbeachresort@hotmail.com
Website: orionbeachresort.com
Price: 500 to 2500

Hotel Rockholm: Hotel Rockholm offers spacious, classical rooms that are all facing the sea and enjoy fresh air and light. Most of the rooms have their private balcony. It's a good place to arrive in India after a long and tiring flight. map

Address: Light House Road, Vizhinjam, Trivandrum 695521
Tel: 0471-2480306/2480406/2480407/2480606
Email: rockholm@asianetindia.com
Website: www.rockholm.com
Price: Rs. 2000, A/C: Rs. 2250, Penthouse: Rs. 5000

Finding food in Kovalam is no problem. The beach is lined with restaurants and so are the little alley in the back. All of the restaurants cater to the western taste, you might rather run into problems finding real Keralan food. So finding food suitable for children is easy.
Even in the rush of the main season, restaurant owners and staff are very friendly towards children.

Next to the impressive scenery of Kovalam you find good indian thali and the usual western stuff

Keerthi-Restaurant: Keerthi Restaurant back in the lane starting left from the German Bakery is one the few places that serve original Keralan Thali. They even have a small babies-section on their menue. map

Price: Mains from 30 to 100 Rs

The terrace of Hotel Rockholm makes you feel distinguished

Hotel Rockholm: For a good breakfast, the terrace of Hotel Rockholm is a perfect choice: The palms give shade, the distinguished waiters enjoy your senses and the sea makes the music to it. Enjoy a cup of tea the old english way. map

Address: Light House Road
Tel: 0471 2480-306 / -406
Email: info@rockholm.com
Website: www.rockholm.com

The German Bakery in the first storey offers good food and a superb view over the beach

German Bakery: Upstairs "Wave", a stylish German Bakery at the seafront, you find an airy and shaded place where you can hang out during the hot period of the day. They serve decent european dishes, demand good money for that and offer a perfect view over the beach. map

Price: main dishes from 100 Rs to 950 Rs

Good food and a lovely lake is to be found in Lonely Planet restaurant

Lonely Planet: This vegetarian restaurant offers good food and a small pond in the back, where children could watch the fishes swimming and could even spot the (concrete) tiger hidden in the bushes. map

Tel: 09387695674
Price: mains 50 to 120

You get a perfect view on the beach and sand for the children to play in Old Santana

Old Santana Restaurant: This beachfront restaurant just next to Hotel Orion offers a shaded place, good seafood, a collection of the usual items - and clean sand underneath the tables, where children could play. map

Overlooking Hawah beach, Sea View restaurant sits in a quiet location and serves excellent fish

Sea View Restaurant: Situated on the northmost end of Hawah beach, this restaurant offers excellent seafood and a superb view over the unspoilt Hawah beach map

Price: seafood typically 250 Rs

Fusion restaurant just on the beach front serves fancy dishes

Fusion: This fancy and stylish restaurant tries its best to invent a mixture of indian an continental dishes. The menue is split in three parts: Western food, eastern food and fusion. The fusion meals are specially recommendable. map

Tel: 0471 2484753
Email: fusion_in_kovalam@yahoo.co.in
Price: mains 100 to 900 Rs

Dr. Chandrasenan cares for children in the small Upasana Hospital up the steep road between Hawah and Lighthouse beach. Tel. 0471 2480632

The most convenient way to reach Kovalam from Trivandrum Airport is to take a prepaid Taxi (500 Rs, half an hour) to Kovalam Beach.