Guide to the 30 beaches of Kerala including little known beaches

Pristine blue skies bathed in golden tropical sunlight, a shoreline spanning 600 kilometers lined by evergreen palm trees extending far beyond one’s line of vision, and the tranquil, crystalline, inviting waters of the Arabian Sea. Kerala is not called ‘God’s own country’ for nothing. It is a known fact that the southern state of Kerala boasts of some of the most exquisite beaches in all of Asia, maybe even the world. What is not known, but can only be experienced, is the fact that these beaches have divine powers of attraction, pulling back the already overawed tourist into their magnificent, deep blue waters.

The entire coastline of Kerala is dotted with numerous beaches, bays, and lagoons and these are a major source of attraction for tourists from all over the world. While every single beach is a unique experience in itself, and difficult to put down in words, a humble attempt has been made to capture the essence of this divine beach state in the following paragraphs. Read on, drink in, and laze along the shores of beautiful Kerala.

Alappuzha beach, located in the district of Alappuzha (Alleppey), is one of the most popular beach picnic spots in Kerala. The long, sandy beach is lined with lush palm groves and the pier extending into the sea is about 140 years old. There is also an old lighthouse that adds to the beauty of the beach city of Alleppey. These natural attractions apart, there are several man-made entertainment spots on Alappuzha beach, like a park for children and facilities for boating.

Located at a distance of 14 kilometers from Kasargod, Bekal beach has, as its backdrop, the 300-year-old Bekal fort, the largest and most well-maintained fort in Kerala. As with other beaches in Kerala, the Bekal beach is characterized by huge palm trees and clear white sands. The rocky coast just off the Bekal fort extends into a huge stretch of sandy beach right down to the sea. The view of Bekal beach from the Bekal fort is breathtaking: the green of the palm trees, the white of the sandy beach, and the blue of the sea mingling with the pale blue of the sky, give the place an ethereal feel.

Beypore is a small coastal town located at the mouth of the river Chaliyar. 10 kilometers south of Kozhikode, this town is among the most flourishing ports and fishing harbours of Kerala. The Beypore beach used to be an important marine industrial zone, with traders and merchants setting up their yards for constructing various fishing boats and ships. Even today, the ship building industry continues to dominate the other activities around the beach.

Cherai beach is located at a distance of 45 kilometers from Ernakulam city and borders the island of Vypeen. A calm beach, Cherai is famous for deep sea swimming and water surfing. The occasional presence of dolphins is another welcome treat at this beach. The entire shoreline is adorned with paddy fields and coconut groves, making Cherai beach one of the most frequented beaches in Kerala.

Dharmadam island, earlier known as Dharmattanam, is 3 kilometers from Thalassery and is a beautiful 5-acre private island full of coconut palms and evergreen trees. The view from the beach is absolutely awesome. It is believed that Dharmadam island once housed a Buddhist monastery and archaeologists have excavated stone figurines of the Buddha here.

This beach forms the northern boundary of Kannur. Ezhimala literally means "seven peaks" and the beach gets its name from the seven peaks forming the range bordering it. The Ezhimala mountain range is home to some rare medicinal herbs and has a mythological significance, dating back to the days of the Ramayana. The Mount Deli lighthouse, another attraction of the beach, is a very old tower and is maintained by the Indian Navy, making it a restricted area for public visits. A unique feature of the Ezhimala beach is that the sands are of a different texture than those of other beaches and even the colour of the sea is a shade darker than in other places. The Ettikulam bay is fast becoming a major tourist attraction, and people flock here to watch dolphins at play.

Kochi is 12 kilometers from Ernakulam, and houses the famous Kochi fort. Originally a small fishing village, Kochi later went on to become the first European township in India. The town of Kochi was developed by the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. The influence of these three cultures can be seen everywhere in the town, especially in Fort Kochi, visited by tourists every year, to admire the remains of Indo-European architecture. Needless to say, the beach at Fort Kochi is not only beautiful, but it also has a historic touch to it, with the lofty Fort Kochi bordering its shores.

Kappad beach is located at a distance of 16 kilometers from Kozhikode and is of historic significance, because this is where the great traveller, Vasco-da-Gama landed in the year 1498, with his crew. Locals call this beach Kappakadavu. Besides the virgin, pristine beach, the landscape is another factor that attracts tourists; an 800-year-old temple on a sprawling rock jutting into the sea, draws tourists to this beautiful, historic beach.

Kappil beach is a remote and sequestered beach, located at a distance of 6 kilometers from Bekal fort. Close to the Kappil beach is the Kodi cliff which offers a panoramic view of the magnificent Arabian Sea.

Touted as one of the major tourist destinations in India, Kovalam beach, a sheltered natural bay, located to the south of Thiruvananthapuram, is one of Kerala’s most prized possessions. Three beaches make up Kovalam. These crescent-shaped beaches are the Lighthouse beach, the Hawah beach and the Samudra beach. Of these, the Lighthouse beach is the most popular. Tourists flock to Kovalam particularly for the breathtaking views of sunrise and sunset that it offers.

The Marari beach is located between Cochin and Alappuzha and is a long stretch of golden sands extending into clear blue waters. This beach is named after the nearby fishing village of Mararikulam and even today, one can witness the local fishermen going out to sea in their fishing boats and trawlers for their daily catch. Marari beach is famous for water sports and is a big hit with tourists.