The surf, the sea, the sun and the sand at Kovalam beach

One is writing this from the air-conditioned comfort of one's sea facing room at the homely yet
modern Rockholm Beach Resort at Kovalam. Kovalam is a paradise for all those who love the
sun, the sea, the sand and the surf. Rockholm is a short walk away from the Kovalam beach,
one of the many beaches that dot the coastal highway from Kanniyakumari to Kozhikode.
Kovalam is one of several tourist attractions at Kerala. One can find old wooden houses and
narrow streets with antique shops and several traditional South Indian restaurants overlooking
the bay. The view from my room is nothing short of spectacular. I can see the snow-white surf
laden waves crash with a roaring sound on to the craggy rocks. I can hear the chirping of the
birds as the darkness fades into light at dawn. I can also hear the songs of the crickets as the
light disappears at dusk. The coconut groves surrounding my cosy abode add a patch of green
to the picturesque view. >A view of the greenery around Rockholm Beach Resort.
As one walks along the mud road that leads to the beach, One can meet tourists from all over
Europe, bargaining with the vendors at the colourful kiosks that dot Kovalam beach. One can
find several shops selling handicrafts, sarongs and bermudas along the street corners.
Rockholm Beach Resort is a quaint little resort, tucked away in the quietest corner of Kovalam,
located a few hundred metres away from Kovalam beach. One can reach Kovalam beach from
the resort after a leisurely five minute stroll.
As one heads towards Kovalam beach, one walks under the canopy of giant trees that surround
my cottage. One passes several ancient tile-roofed houses along the way. Kerala is dotted with
several beautiful beaches and the colour of the sea is turquoise. Several coral islands are
scattered around the coast and are easily accessible by boats. The beach at Rockholm is a
relatively quiet beach. The sea is calm and the greenery starts where the beach ends! Chowara
beach is another beach at Kerala located near Kovalam. As one walks into the lobby of
Rockholm, one can hear the giant roar of the surf laden waves landing on the giant rocks that
flank both sides of the beach. The view from the resort is exceptional. You can see a rust
coloured beach to your left, which ends where the coal black rocks start. The unique feature of
Rockholm beach resort is its proximity to the sea and its strategic location overlooking the
beach as well as the rocky shore.
The turquoise waters of the Arabian Sea stretch from horizon to horizon, the snow white clouds
suspended above the water. The light blue sky, offers a stark contrast to the waters. The
crimson sunset streaks the clouds with a golden hue. Watching the sun set over the waters is a
memorable experience. Capturing this elusive moment on your digital camera is a challenge!
There are several beautiful beaches near Kerala but the most beautiful of them is at Kovalam.
This beach boasts of gentle waves, clear transparent waters and a panoramic view of the
verdant hills that surround this oasis of tranquility.
The view from Rockholm resort is soothing to the eyes. Rust coloured sands, stretch for
kilometers on end. One enjoys soaking in the warm waters of the sea, feeling the gentle waves
lapping at your feet. Kovalam is a beautiful beach which is ideal for relaxation. One can have a
wonderful view of the sunset, while enjoying the cool ocean breeze and sway to the gurgle of
the sea. One can close one's eyes and relax to the sights and sounds of nature.
Once the novelty of the water wears off, one can explore the beach which is full of rocks. A few
stalls selling souvenirs, coconut-water and snacks surround the beach. The view from Kovalam
beach is picturesque. One can see the silvery sands, the wide arced bay, the swaying palms
and the green treetops. The ocean breeze is cool and rejuvenating. Meditating here is a divine
experience. Sitting on the rocks and creatively visualising one's goals at dusk is a powerful
experience. Kovalam is an ideal setting for powerful self-affirmations termed auto-suggestion
in ZeNLP.
Kovalam lets you to be with just the sky the sun, the beach and the roar of the ocean. One
exists in the present and all worries, tensions and stress seems to dissolve into thin air. After
swimming in the crystal clear blue waters, one enjoys the warm water in the afternoon and

returns to one's resort to sip coconut water under the canopy of giant trees that dot Rockholm
Beach Resort.
It is difficult to believe that a short drive from Thiruvananthapuram station, will bring one
to an almost secluded cove surrounded by pristine pure waters, rust coloured sand and
colourful corals. In a region as lush as Kerala's coast one would expect to see a rain-cloud or
two at certain times of the year. There is a rainy season but not day-long torrential rain, but a
few isolated showers towards the evening. Kerala is a year round destination where beaches
are open regardless of the season.
The beach at Kovalam is a rust-coloured flat beach and is ideal for meditation. One can be
alone with the elements and enjoy peace, tranquility, serenity and calmness while relaxing on
the edges of the water. At six-monthly intervals, there is a gentle swing in the winds from the
south-west to the south-east. Thus, if one beach faces the wind and breakers, another is
blessed by calm waters and soft breezes. Almost all afternoon drizzles are followed by strong
cooling breezes from the ocean. Chowara is the popular beach after Kovalam and Poovar.
Beach children love the surfy waters of this paradise on earth! There are several other tourist
attractions around Kovalam including Poovar island. Local handicrafts, sarongs, pottery and
traditional clothes are sold at the night-bazaars of Kerala.
How to get there:
By air:
The nearest international airport to reach Kovalam is at Thiruvananthapuram. There are
several options for Indian tourists to get to Kovalam from Thiruvananthapuram.
By bus:
The easiest and way to get to Kovalam from Thiruvananthapuram is by bus. This 18 km. trip
takes 25 minutes by KSRTC bus. Buses leave KSRTC Bus Station located near the railway
station every 30 minutes.
By taxi:
Taxis charge Rs. 800/- from Thiruvananthapuram to Rockholm Beach Resort and can be
arranged on request by the resort.
By train:
There are several trains available to Thiruvananthapuram from all major cities of India.
Rockholm Beach Resort is a 18 km. drive from Thiruvananthapuram station and Kovalam beach
is located 2 km. away from Rockholm Beach Resort.
However, Rockholm is located 100 metres away from their own private beach.
Where to stay:
Rockholm Beach Resort Resort is an affordable place to stay. They are extremely affordable by
Indian standards even during October to March which is the high season. A standard doubleroom costs approximately Rs.2500+taxes (inclusive of breakfast) during the high season.
Budget conscious Indian tourists frequent this eco-friendly resort throughout the year. The
rooms are spacious and can comfortably accommodate a family of four (with extra beds). The
bathrooms are comfortable with hot water showers. Rockholm offers a special 25% discount
between April to September.(Rs. 1875 + taxes).
Where to eat:
Few small restaurants serving pure vegetarian cuisine dot Kerala. Freshly steamed potatoes
with coconut milk, served with hoppers (idiappam) steamed in an earthen oven, is a local dish
which melts in the mouth. There are several vegetarian Punjabi dhabas near Kovalam beach.
The food at the high profile restaurants is only for the gastronomically adventurous who like
greasy food floating in oil. Fresh fruits including mangoes, tender-coconuts, bananas and jackfruits are available at the local market.

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Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and
author based at Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of "ZeNLPLearning through stories" published by The Written Word Publications,
"ZeNLP-the power to succeed" published by Sage publications and
ZeNLP-the power to relax by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at
ceo@tips4ceos.com
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