Looking around this sun-and-sand paradise, it is difficult to imagine that this was once just a fishing village with a pretty beach, until the hippies discovered this hidden jewel. The seaport of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a Muslim shrine.

The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse - sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes, Catamaran cruising and so on. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night.

Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons, and recuperation and regeneration resorts that provide a slew of Ayurvedic treatments for the tourists. The virgin beaches on the southern side of Kovalam up to Poovar are enchanting. The sea view from the hillocks of Poomkulam on a sunny day is simply awe-inspiring.

Shangumugham Beach is perhaps the best place in Thiruvananthapuram to catch the play of light. It has always been more hospitable than the farther located Kovalam beach. It is closer to the town and fantastically flat. For some reason it continues to be patronized with restraint by inland and foreign tourists and hence retains a virgin appeal.

One can get a glimpse of rural Kerala and Prawn farming (Cherai's main industry) in the nearby villages. The scenic beauty of coconut groves and paddy fields surrounding Cherai beach is a must see.

A moss-covered monument on this beach marks this famous historical event. On the rocks nearby is a temple believed to be 800 years old. The best route to Kappad is along the backwaters. Unspoiled and non-crowded, the picturesque backwaters of Kozhikode offer a bewitching experience.

Beypore Beach is located at the mouth of the Chaliyar River in Kozhikode district. Beypore, one of the prominent ports and fishing harbours of ancient Kerala was an important trade and maritime centre. Beypore for centuries has been a famous shipbuilding center. Its Uru or country craft built by traditional Khalasis still has a huge market and continues to attract buyers from Middle East. One can see large boats (some 65 mt long and 700 tonne weight) being worked on often by expert Khalasis. All the work including rolling the huge beams into place is done manually. It takes almost a year to carve and shape an Uru out of teak and Jackfruit timber.

The Beypore Beach has a bridge built nearly 2 kms into the sea. It is actually made up of huge stones piled together for nearly 2 kms making a pathway into the sea.

Thangasseri Beach is a three-kilometer long beach on the picturesque seaside village of Thangasseri. On the beach stands a 144 feet tall lighthouse - a silent sentinel warning seamen of the treacherous reefs of the Thangasseri, since 1902.

Thangasseri was once a favourite settlement of the Portuguese, the Dutch and the English in succession.Today, it showcases a few ruined forts built by the Portuguese, and the Dutch and some 18th century churches.

Varkala Beach blesses every visitor with the undiluted joy of being an explorer, even if for the short duration of a memorable journey. If you were a mariner sailing towards the coast of south Kerala, at Varkala a ragged line of red cliffs would greet you. The green coconut palms and the deep blue sky add a stunning contrast to this silhouette.

The northern cliff from Varkala descends into the Thiruvambady Black Sand Beach � a short stretch for those seeking silence and serenity by the sea. It is also possible to climb down from the Northern cliff or drive down to reach here. This beach offers all amenities of the north cliff minus the bustle of the shops.

Papanasham Beach is located near Varkala beach and a dip in the sea here is considered holy. The panorama of the crescent-shaped beach is heightened by the long stretch of red laterite cliffs, which is an irresistible feature of the beach. A natural spring said to have curative powers originates from the cliff. The 2000-year-old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple, Nature Care Centre and the final resting place of the great social reformer, Sree Narayana Guru atop a hill called Sivagiri are the other main attractions here.

According to a myth, sage Narada was approached by a group of mendicants who confessed to having sinned. Narada threw his valkkalam (cloth made of the bark of a tree) into the air, and the place where it landed was subsequently named Varkala. The mendicants were directed by Narada to offer their prayers in the newly created place by the seashore. The place where they prayed for redemption came to be known as the Papanasham Beach (Papanasham means redemption from sins).

Padinjarekkara Beach is at the end of the Tipu Sultan road near Ponnani. The beach offers a breathtaking view of the confluence of the Bharatha puzha, the Tirur puzha, and the Arabian Sea.

Bekal Beach is a shallow beach that offers unmatched experience of the sun, sea and the sand. The beach is located in Kasaragod, the northernmost district of Kerala. Kasaragod is renowned as the land of gods, forts, rivers, hills and beautiful beaches.

The imposing circular fort at Bekal is one of the largest and best-preserved forts in Kerala. The historic Bekal fort offers a superb view of the Arabian Sea from its tall observation towers, where a few centuries ago huge cannons used to be placed. Today, the Bekal fort and its surroundings are fast becoming an international tourist destination and a favorite shooting locale for filmmakers.

Muzhappilangad is a stretch of coastline garlanded with lovely beaches in Thalassery. Muzhappilangad beach is among the longest in Kerala and perhaps the only drive-in beach in Asia. You can drive all the way up to Kannur on the tightly packed sand. A ring of black rock protects the shallow sea from the currents of the deeper ocean.

Payyambalam is the biggest beach in Kannur, and hence attracts the maximum number of people. At the entrance is a garden with a huge sculpture of a mother and child by noted sculptor Kannayi Kunhiraman.

Kozhikode Beach is a good spot within the city limits to while away the time. A walk along the beach with the sea breeze in your face is a soothing experience. Stand at the tip of the old bridge over the breaking waves and one may even spot a dolphin or two far out in the sea. This is also called Dolphin Point.

Thikkodi Lighthouse remains a guiding beacon for many a seafarer in Kozhikode. The lighthouse can be seen from Kappad beach itself. Climb up the long winding stairs to the top of the lighthouse and enjoy a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea.

Payyoli in Kozhikode is synonymous with P T Usha, India's sprint queen, who hails form this tiny village. The Payyoli beach has seen her perfect her sport on its sands.

Chavakkad Beach in Trichur is an inviting stretch that lies bare, without any shacks, hotels or food stalls. There is the charming 100ft lighthouse and once you climb the 145 steps, you get a panoramic view of the sea in front and a vast canopy of tightly packed thickets of coconut plantations at the back.

Fort Kochi Beach is a quite small but clean stretch. It has a pretty lighthouse at one end. People can recline on the white sands to watch ships proceeding to Lakshadweep.

Alleppey Beach: Alappuzha was once the busiest coast of South India and its canals and backwaters helped in the passage of cargo. The lighthouse and the 1000-ft long pier, built by Captain Hugh Crawford, helped the boats ferry across. Today the pier is a mere skeleton of its past, bricks fallen off or been washed away by the sea and its too risky to walk on it. Yet it exudes an unmistakable colonial air.