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Kovalam Tour

Kovalam Tour

If inertia or boredom does set in, and you need a break from the beaches, it’s time to get out and about. For many people, this just means a leisurely stroll up onto the headland, to visit Kovalam Town. For something more rewarding, try the following short excursion:

Fishing Village (morning)
This walk is a treat. Be down on the beach at 7 am, to watch the fishermen putting out to sea, then take the high road running up from the lighthouse to the top of the headland. From here, it’s a scenic 2-km (1 1/4-mile) stroll,  offering beautiful views along the coastline, to the small decorative Muslim shrine perched on the cliff edge. There’s a path here, which takes you down to the beach again. Keeping to your left, you’ll shortly arrive at the fishing village. Here is a friendly community of simple fisherfolk who continue to make their living from the sea. The beach is lined with the hulks of long, primitive wooden dugouts and the way to introduce yourself (they don’t see a lot of tourists) is to lend a hand with a fishing rope, net or boat.

At the back of the beach, you’ll see the charming tiered Catholic shrine housing a red-faced Jesus and Mary, the community’s patron saints. Climb the rise behind this for a cold drink and stunning coastline views. Then drop in on the village, an interesting collection of thatched dwellings and narrow, cobbled streets, with wide courtyards for drying out the fish. Behind the village, back on the main road, you’ll find the modern seaside town, with Portuguese-style bungalows, little knick-knack shops, a couple of cafes and lots of locals on holiday. From here, it’s a leisurely 45-minute walk back up the headland to Kovalam Beach for a well-earned rest in the sun.

SHOPPING
The most common buys at Kovalam are sun-oil, beach clothes and mosquito repellent. You can find all this stuff, plus cigarettes and confectionery, at the small general stores by the bus-stand. Seashells, sarongs and (fake) jewellery are hawked by children on the beach, but Kovalam just isn’t a buyers’ market. Like Goa, it’s a place to sell things. Unload any unwanted film, cameras, Walkmans, and even snorkel equipment here. You’ll have no problem swapping books either. Most people, remember, spend all day on the beach reading!

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