There’s a reason why we call Kerala God’s Own Country; the natural beauty of the place is enough to make you fall in love with it. The Malayali cuisine, local festivals, backwaters, ancestral homes, and coconut farms in the state are the backbone of tourism. But there’s really nothing like sitting on the beach drinking toddy and watching the sunset on the horizon. Just dig your feet into the sand and take a dip in the cool water on a hot day to release all those stress knots and empty your mind of its thoughts. Sounds like a plan? Make it happen with the best beaches in Kerala. Here's a whole list of them.
From Waves To Massages: Tick Off Kerala's Best Beaches From Your List
Kovalam Beach
Kovalam is a popular beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. The rocky projection on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for a nice dip. You’ll also find some lovely homestays with yoga and ayurvedic centers perfect to detox during a relaxing holiday. If you’re travelling with bae, Kovalam also has some lovely spots for a romantic date.
Varkala Beach
Varkala is a calm and quiet settlement on the outskirts of the capital city of Kerala. Apart from a beautiful beach, it hosts a 2000-year-old Vishnu temple and a natural spring. The beach also has a surf club which is a great place to engross yourself in the culture of Varkala. With high cliffs and affordable stay and food, this makes for a quick getaway from the city. Read more about Varkala here.
Bekal Beach
Popular for its backwaters, forts, and scenic beauty, Bekal is a small region in Kasaragod, Kerala. It's usually crowded during January and February, because of the Theyyam festival which is considered a big deal in these parts. The beach is home to many forts in various stages of ruin, and a set of 45 caves called the Nityanandashram caves which are beautiful and of historical significance as well.
Marari Beach
Although not considered as popular as Kovalam or Varkala, Marari has its own charm. Less frequented than the others, this beach is clean and dotted with fishing boats. Located in Alleppey, come here to experience the simplicity and even spend a day touring in the houseboats here to enjoy the beauty of the backwaters.
Valiyaparamba Beach
Hidden away in the island of Valiyaparamba, the beach is a 28 km stretch with backwaters on the other side of the island. With beautiful homestays, hot oil massages, delicious local fare, and cycling visits to nearby temples head here for some alone time with bae (or some quality time with yourself!).
Payyoli Beach
Located on the west coast of Kozhikode, Payyoli beach boasts of a perfect mix of Dutch, British, and Indian culture making it a unique trait of the place. The palm-fringed beaches and lively people make it a nature lover’s spot. It is also home to an indigenous breed of turtles and a lovely lighthouse.
Muzhappilangad Beach
Known for being Kerala’s only drive-in beach, Muzhanppilangad is a four km stretch of sand that lets you soak up the beautiful Malabar Coast. It is a swimmer's paradise as the black rocks protect the beach from deep currents, letting you enjoy the waters. Parasailing, paragliding, and microlight flights are a few sports you could indulge in. It is also one of Asia's longest tribal inhabited beaches!
Cherai Beach
An offbeat part of the coastline, Cherai, known as the 'The Princess Of The Arabian Sea' is drawing tourists because of its untouched beauty. For those of you who love to swim, this will become your new favourite haunt with gorgeous coconut groves as backdrops.
Pro Tip
Surely you were not trooping off the beaches without swimwear! If you're on the lookout for tried-and-tested swimwear that is size inclusive, check out our best picks here. Trend-conscious ladies, get yourself monokinis, bikinis, trikinis and all kinds of swimsuits here. Want our top favourites? Agua Bendita on Nykaa Fashion's global store is a solid hit, with Beach Riot a close second!
