Beaches in Kerala

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Muzhappilangad Beach is the longest drive-in beach in Asia Muzhappilangad Drive-in Beach 2.jpg
Muzhappilangad Beach is the longest drive-in beach in Asia
Kovalam Beach in Trivandrum city 01KovalamBeach&Kerala.jpg
Kovalam Beach in Trivandrum city
Bekal fort beach Bekalfortbeach.JPG
Bekal fort beach
Puthuponnani promontary beach, Malappuram Puthuponnani (2).JPG
Puthuponnani promontary beach, Malappuram

Beaches in the Indian state of Kerala are spread along the 550-km Arabian Sea coastline. Kerala is an Indian state occupying the south-west corner of the subcontinent. The topography of the coastline is distinctive and changes abruptly as one proceeds from north to south. In the northern parts of Kerala, in places such as Bekal, Thalassery and Kannur, the headlands rise above the shore from the fringe of the beaches. The highlands are dotted with forts built by the colonial powers – the Portuguese, the Dutch and the British. The view of the surrounding area is mesmerizing. From Kozhikode, once the hub of the Malabar coast, the view changes to flat lands with rocky outcroppings jutting out. One feature is common all through – the coconut tree in large numbers. Dense groves of coconut trees line the coast and extend to the interiors. [1]

Contents

Tourism

Kappad beach Kappad beach kerala.jpg
Kappad beach
Payyambalam beach, Kannur Payyambalam Beach Back Water.jpg
Payyambalam beach, Kannur
Natural Harbour at Chaliyam, Kozhikode Chaliyam Harbour, Calicut.jpg
Natural Harbour at Chaliyam, Kozhikode

The long coastline of Kerala is inextricably entwined with the culture, life and traditions of the state. Memories of early seafarers and traders have faded, but boats of various types and styles have survived. Kerala's beaches, or Kovalam to be more specific, were rediscovered by back-packers and tan-seekers in the sixties. [1] [2] Hordes of hippies followed in the seventies. That started the transformation of the casual fishing village into a busy tourist destination. [3] In 2002, there were 66 hotels in Kovalam, and that too in a place that is just 16 km from the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. [4]

From a measly 29,000 overseas tourists visiting Kerala in 1979, the number rose to 225,000 in 2000 [4] and the number of tourists is growing rapidly. Foreign tourist arrivals in Kerala in 2006 was 428,534, an increase of 23.68% over the previous year. Domestic tourist arrivals were 6,271,724, an increase of 5.47% over the previous year. [5] The ABC of Kerala tourism is ayurveda, beaches, (backwater) canals. [6]

While details of incoming tourists are not available, indications of a survey are that domestic tourists are high from Gujarat and Maharashtra both located on the west coast of India, and international tourists are mostly from Europe. Beaches were amongst the favourite destination of foreign tourists. [7]

Lying between north latitudes 8°18' and 12°48' . [8] Kerala is well within the humid equatorial tropics. The mean annual temperature ranges from 25.0 to 27.5 °C in the coastal lowlands. [9] With 120–140 rainy days per year, Kerala is also influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon. [10]

Tsunami

Tsunami waves diffracted around the Indian peninsula, hitting Kerala on the west coast on the afternoon of 26 December 2004. The death toll in Kerala was 170 against 7,923 in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. [11] However, there was panic all around. In the Thiruvananthapuram area alone, 100,000 people were evacuated from coastal villages by the district administration and 57 relief camps were opened. [12] [13]

Trinkets

Kadalundi River estuary beach Kadaloondi puzha.jpg
Kadalundi River estuary beach
Kozhikode Beach Kozhikode Beach Coastline.jpg
Kozhikode Beach

The fun of sea and sun bathing or watching the wave crash are not the only attractions of beaches. There is a belief that a dip in waters of Papanasam Beach at Varkala, of Trivandrum district, 40 km north of Trivandrum city, washes away sins (papam). Priests from the 2,000-year-old Janardhana temple are there to assist believers to perform the rituals. The main bell of the temple was presented by the Dutch captain of a sailing ship in the 17th century. Comparatively lower hotel tariffs and cheap food draw in European backpackers and domestic tourists with lower budget to the place. [1]

The plaque at Kappkadavu beach Kappkadavu pookkayil.jpg
The plaque at Kappkadavu beach

The Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed at Kappkadavu (Kappad), a small coastal village in the Kozhikode district, on 27 May 1498, thereby marking the opening of a sea route from Europe to India. A plaque on the beach commemorates the arrival. Kozhikode was earlier visited by Marco Polo (1254-1324) and Ibn Battuta (1304-1368 or 1377). [14]

There is a Hindu burial ground near Payyambalam Beach, 2 km from Kannur town. The remains of Communist leaders such as A. K. Gopalan and E. K. Nayanar are interred there. [1] [15] [16]

Mentioned below are some of the most popular beaches in Kerala.

SeaFromBakel.jpg
Panoramic view from inside Bekal Fort, which is also the largest fort in Kerala, and the surrounded beach
Alappuzha Beach Alleppey beach.jpg
Alappuzha Beach
3 km long Kollam Beach is the second longest beach in Kerala Kollam, Kerala.jpg
3 km long Kollam Beach is the second longest beach in Kerala
Huge crowd at Thekkumbhagam-Kappil Beach in Paravur Thekkumbhagam Estuary, Paravur.jpg
Huge crowd at Thekkumbhagam-Kappil Beach in Paravur
Golden beach at Nadal, Kannur Golden Beach of Nadal.jpg
Golden beach at Nadal, Kannur

Beaches in North Kerala

DistrictBeach
Kasaragod
  1. Bekal,
  2. Chembirika,
  3. Kanhangad
  4. Hosdurg,
  5. Valiyaparamba
  6. Cherangai
  7. Kappil,
  8. Pallikere
Kannur
  1. Kannur Beach,
  2. Payyambalam Beach
  3. Meenkunnu Beach,
  4. Muzhappilangad Beach
Kozhikode
  1. Kozhikode Beach,
  2. Kadalundi,
  3. Kappad,
  4. Kappkadavu,
  5. Payyoli
Malappuram
  1. Padinjarekkara Beach,
  2. Ponnani
  3. Tanur Beach

Beaches in Central Kerala

DistrictBeach
Thrissur
  1. Chavakkad Beach
  2. Munakkal Beach
  3. Snehatheeram Beach
Ernakulam
  1. Cherai Beach
  2. Vypin Beach
  3. Puthuvype Beach
  4. Kuzhuppilly Beach
  5. Chellanam Beach

Beaches in South Kerala

DistrictBeach
Alappuzha
  1. Alappuzha Beach
  2. Marari Beach
  3. Azheekal Beach
  4. Arthunkal Beach
  5. Thottappally Beach
  6. Pallana Beach
  7. Thumpoly
Kollam
  1. Kollam Beach
  2. Thirumullavaram Beach
  3. Thanni Beach
  4. Azheekal Beach
  5. Mundakkal Beach
  6. Thekkumbhagam Beach
  7. Pozhikara Beach
Thiruvananthapuram
  1. Kovalam Beach
  2. Varkala Beach,
  3. Shankumugham Beach
  4. Poovar Beach
  5. Thumba
  6. Kappil Beach
  7. Perumathura

Development

The total revenue created by tourism in 2006 was Rs. 912.6 billion. [5] This has in turn inspired the Government to spend more on tourism. The beaches of Kerala are ready to look prettier, with the Kerala Tourism launching a Rs. 1,000 million plan for the development of 22 beaches, including Kovalam, Alappuzha, Nattika, Cherai, Muzhappilangad, Bekal and Kappad. The beach conservation and development works will be completed by the 2008 year-end tourism season. [17]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kovalam</span> Beach and seaside resort in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala

Kovalam is a beach and seaside resort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. Kovalam is located 12.6 km (7.8 mi) southeast of the city center. The beaches around Kovalam are popular vacation destinations for both domestic and international travellers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasaragod</span> Municipal city in Kerala, India

Kasaragod is a municipal town and administrative headquarters of Kasaragod district in the state of Kerala, India. Established in 1966, Kasaragod was the first municipal town in the district. It is the northernmost district of Kerala and is also known as Sapta Bhasha Sangama Bhumi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bekal Fort</span> Place in Kerala, India

Bekal Fort is a medieval fort built by Shivappa Nayaka of Keladi in 1650 AD, at Bekal. It is the largest fort in Kerala, spreading over 40 acres (160,000 m2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thalassery</span> City in Kerala, India

Thalassery, formerly Tellicherry, is a municipality and commercial city on the Malabar Coast in Kannur district in the state of Kerala, India, bordered by the districts of Mahe, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kasaragod and Kodagu (Karnataka). Thalassery municipality has a population of just under 100,000 as of 2011 census. Thalassery Heritage City has an area of 23.98 square kilometres (9.26 sq mi). Thalassery has an altitude ranging from 2.5 to 30 metres above mean sea-level.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala backwaters</span> Lagoon network in India

The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and canals lying parallel to the Arabian Sea of the Malabar coast of Kerala state in south-western India. It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to bayous. The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises. There are 34 backwaters in Kerala. Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to the sea. The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kappad</span> Beach and village in Kerala, India

Kappad, or Kappakadavu locally, is a beach and village near Koyilandy, in the Kozhikode district, Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of Saint Francis, Kochi</span> Church in Kerala, India

Saint Francis Church, in Fort Kochi, Kochi, originally built in 1503, is one of the oldest European churches in India and has historical significance as a witness to the European colonial ambitions in the subcontinent. The Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama died in Kochi in 1524 when he was on his third visit to India. His body was originally buried in this church, but after fourteen years his remains were relocated to Lisbon and is now interred at Jerónimos Monastery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muzhappilangad Beach</span> Tourist destination in north Kerala

Muzhappilangad Beach near Thalassery (formerly Tellicherry) is a drive-in beach in the Kannur district of Kerala, on the Malabar Coast of India. It stretches across 4 kilometers in length. In 2016, it was featured among the six "best beaches for driving in the world" in an article published by BBC - Autos. This beach is currently under major renovation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bekal</span> Town in Kasargod District, Kerala, India

Bekal is a small town in the Kasaragod district on the West coast of the state of Kerala, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koyilandy</span> Town in Kerala, India

Koyilandy is a major town municipality and a taluk in Kozhikode district, Kerala on the Malabar Coast. The historical town is located right in the middle of the coast of Kozhikode district, between Kozhikode and Kannur, on National Highway 66.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourism in Kerala</span>

Kerala, a state situated on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. Named as one of the ten paradises of the world by National Geographic Traveler, Kerala is famous especially for its ecotourism initiatives and beautiful backwaters. Kerala has unique culture and traditions coupled with its varied demography. Several international agencies ranging from UNESCO to National Geographic have recognised the state's tourism potential. Kerala was named by TIME magazine in 2022 among the 50 extraordinary destinations to explore in its list of the World's Greatest Places. In 2023, Kerala was listed at the 13th spot in The New York Times' annual list of places to visit and was the only tourist destination listed from India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala</span> State in southwestern India

Kerala, is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Canara, and Travancore. Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the 21st largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea to the west. With 33 million inhabitants as per the 2011 census, Kerala is the 13th-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kerala Tourism Development Corporation</span> Public sector undertaking

Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities in the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts, and tourist rest houses in key locations in the state. Its official slogan is "Official host to God's own country." It is one of the most profitable ventures of the Kerala government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kasaragod district</span> District in Kerala, India

Kasaragod (Malayalam:[kaːsɐrɡoːɖɨ̆] is one of the 14 districts in the southern Indian state of Kerala. Its northern border Thalappady is located just 9 km south to Ullal, which is the southernmost portion of the major port city Mangalore, on the southwestern Malabar coast of India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Akalapuzha Lake</span> Lake in Kerala, India

Akalapuzha is a lake situated in the Kozhikode, Kerala. Flowing as a distributary of Korapuzha from Kanayankodu in Koyilandy, Akalapuzha flows northwest to meet the Kuttiyadipuzha at Payyoli Chirp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tourist Resorts (Kerala)</span>

Tourist Resorts (Kerala) Ltd or (TRKL) is a Government of Kerala undertaking under Kerala Tourism Department, established in August 1989 to promote tourism investment and to develop Tourism infrastructure in the Indian state of Kerala. TRKL was conceived to identify tourism infrastructure needs of the state and bridge any identified gaps. Kerala is today growing at an amazing pace in tourism, adhering to the principles of indigenousness, environmental sustainability and community participation. Kerala's beaches, hill stations, backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries, historical monuments, etc. attract foreign as well as domestic tourists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Malabar Coast</span> Southwestern coast of the India

The Malabar Coast is the southwestern region of the Indian subcontinent. It generally refers to the western coastline of India stretching from Konkan to Kanyakumari. Geographically, it comprises one of the wettest regions of the subcontinent, which includes the Kanara region of Karnataka, all of Kerala and Kanyakumari region of Tamil Nadu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kannur Municipal Corporation</span> Local civic body in Kannur, Kerala, India

The Kannur Municipal Corporation is the municipal corporation that administers the city of Kannur, Kerala. Established in 2015, the Corporation's first mayor was E. P. Latha. Kannur Corporation has two assembly constituencies – Kannur Assembly constituency and Azhikode Assembly constituency – both of which are part of the Kannur parliamentary constituency. The Corporation is headed by a Mayor and council, and manages 78.35 km2 of Kannur city, with a population of about 232,486 within that area. Kannur Municipal Corporation has been formed with functions to improve the infrastructure of town.

Waterways have always been an important mode of transport in Kerala. The total length of navigable route in Kerala was 1,900 kilometres and the navigable rivers constitute about 54 per cent of the waterways. The 41 West-flowing rivers together with the backwaters are an integrated part of the inland navigation system in Kerala. In Kerala water transportation through these channels are mainly small distant passenger services, informal country boats, freight transportation to PSU's such as Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore, Kochi etc.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ayub, Akber (ed), Kerala: Maps & More, Coastal Circuit, 2006 edition 2007 reprint, pp. 96-112, Stark World Publishing, Bangalore, ISBN   81-902505-2-3
  2. ↑ Govind, M.Harish. "Ramparts by the Arabian Sea". Magazine. The Hindu, 19 June 2005. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  3. ↑ "Kovalam". kovalam.hotels.com. Archived from the original on 2 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
  4. 1 2 Chandrasekhar, Hariharan. "It's simple… No nature, no tourism". Metro Plus Coimbatore. The Hindu, 28 July 2002. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  5. 1 2 "Tourist Statistics – 2006" (PDF). Kerala Tourism. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 December 2007. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  6. ↑ Parthasarathy, Anand. "Kerala opens the doors". Business. The Hindu, 27 January 2003. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  7. ↑ "Week-long tourism survey launched". The Hindu, 20 January 2006. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  8. ↑ "Official Web Portal - About Kerala". Government of Kerala. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
  9. ↑ Brenkert & Malone 2003 , p. 65.
  10. ↑ Chacko & Renuka 2002 , p. 80.
  11. ↑ Menon, Parvathi. "Rebuilding lives". Frontline, 15–28 January 2005. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  12. ↑ "Tsunami fear grips Kerala coast". The Hindu, 31 December 2004. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  13. ↑ Radhakrishnan, S. Anil. "Panic grips travel, hospitality sectors". Kerala. The Hindu, 28 December 2004. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  14. ↑ Ayub, Akber (ed), p.52
  15. ↑ Mathew, Mony K. "Going beyond God's own country". The Hindu Business Line, 13 July 2000. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  16. ↑ "Beaches to get new look". The Hindu . Chennai, India. 15 September 2007. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
  17. ↑ "22 Beaches in the state to the spruced up". News Bytes For You. Kerala Tourism Issue 173, 1 January 2008. Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 8 January 2008.

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