Easily the most famous beach resort area in Kerala, Kovalam is a far cry from its tranquil past when it was first ‘discovered’ by backpackers in the 60s and 70s. However despite the increase in development and the attendant shopkeepers and souvenir sellers, Kovalam remains a lovely place to relax for a few days with nothing more demanding than an occasional swim or an Ayurvedic massage to disrupt the restful atmosphere. The two main beaches are small coves of golden sand with coconut plantations reaching almost to the beach itself. .