Travellers are drawn to Kerala’s’s palm-tree laden beaches of white sand, colourful religious festivals and – most significantly – progressive attitude to health and education; factors which contribute to the state’s enviable reputation elsewhere in India. Although it is a tourist friendly destination, be prepared for a drastic culture shock, nonetheless.

Tourist Friendly Destination

Those in search of a resort which succeeds in maintaining its unique Indian charm will be sure to delight in Kovalam: Situated on the south coast and characterised by a series of sandy bays and authentic fishing villages, the region is one of the Government’s prime tourist centres. Having long been a haven for Western backpackers, Kovalam has more recently become popular with European travellers on package tours, seduced by the safety of a generous selection of Western-style hotels. But in a broader economic sense, Kovalam is the least touristy tourist location one is ever likely to encounter.

Travellers may well be struck by the poverty of the locals and their frugal living arrangements; communities synonymous with the impoverished televised images of the Third World one is accustomed to seeing are rife in the region. Small, bedraggled huts line the roads, their scant contents visible to all, and locals club together on the roadside, watching – simply watching life go by. Goats and cows roam nonchalantly amongst the people and modest stalls displaying jars of fruit, tobacco and spices stand between the huts.