Kovalam’s Beaches: Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra


Kovalam’s Beaches: Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra

Kovalam consists of three main beaches; the southernmost, known for obvious reasons as Lighthouse beach, is where most visitors spend their time.
Lighthouse beach is a tourists dream come true.- a sheltered natural bay with cool soothing palms and gentle waves.

Roughly ten minutes' trudge through the sand from end to end (none of it is paved), it's bordered with cheek-to-cheek low-rise concrete guesthouses and restaurants. The red-and-white lighthouse stands on the promontory at the southern end of the beach, but is closed to the public.

Hawah, the middle beach, overlooked from a rocky headland by the five-star Ashok resort, functions each morning as a base for local fishermen, who drag a massive net through the shallows to scoop up thrashing multi-hued minnows, singing and coiling endless piles of coir rope as they work. North of the Ashok, though in full view of its distinctive sloping terraces, the final, northernmost beach, Samudra ,is the least affected of all by the changing times, dotted with a few rudimentary wooden fishing vessels.

Warning: Swimming Safety
Due to unpredictable rip currents and a strong undertow, especially during the monsoons, swimming from Kovalam's beaches is not always safe. The recent introduction of lifeguards (noticeable by their blue shirts) has reduced the annual death toll, but at least a couple of tourists still drown here each year, and many more get into difficulties. Follow the warnings of the safety flags at all times and keep a close eye on children. There's a first-aid post midway along Lighthouse beach.

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