In the winter of 1998, a friend and I embarked on a trip along the West Coast of India beginning at Honnavar (Karnataka) and ending at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) 10 days later. It was a hop on, hop off trip, one of the best trips I have ever undertaken, and a trip that I remember for various reasons.
While in Thiruvananthapuram, we took a spur of the moment decision to spend the night at one of the hotels on Kovalam Beach. That turned into quite an experience—being the only Indians staying back, being the subject of countless stares and comments, and dealing with plate-sized spiders in our room. After a sleepless night (you didn’t really expect us to sleep with the spiders around, did you?), we stumbled out of our room at daybreak—all red-eyed and cranky—to see a glorious sunrise.
- Sunrise at Kovalam Beach, Thiruvananthapuram

And what a sunrise it was ! The soothing morning hues, songs of the fisherfolk and the gentle sound of the waves was so relaxing. The madness, chaos and sleeplessness of the previous night vanished in an instant, and we were ready to face a new day once again.
With a sunrise like that, you would agree with me, wouldn’t you? 🙂
दो साल पहले की गयी इस स्थल की यात्रा याद आ गयी है।
इसके दूसरे छोर पर नहीं गये जहाँ एक मस्जिद बनी हुई है।
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Aur hum masjid nahin dekh paaye. Suryoday hi dekhte rah gaye 🙂
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Sunrises are the most rejuvenating sights on earth just as sunsets are the most relaxing. 🙂
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What a beautiful way to describe sunrises and sunsets. I never thought of them like that, but you are so right ! Thanks, Zephyr 🙂
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A beautiful sunrise gives a perfect start for the day. Here the nature is at its best and one can’t afford to miss the scenic beauty of ‘sunrise at Kovalam beach’ in their lives……Thanx a lot for sharing!!!
From: http://www.sriramnivas.com
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That is what the day was like. After witnessing the beautiful sunrise, we actually went to Cherai beach, which was also very beautiful, and then in the evening we went to the Padmanabhaswamy temple and watched it being lit up with lamps. I think it was Karthikai that day 🙂
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Beautiful clicks 🙂
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Thank you, Gautam. Good to see you here and thank you for stopping by and commenting 🙂
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Of course I agree with you. What a serene view! A perfect morning capture. 🙂
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Thanks, Harsha. Glad you agree 🙂
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undoubtedly!! superb!!
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Thanks, magiceye. Have you been to Kovalam?
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yes a couple of decades back 🙂
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Beautiful.. I would like to do a similar tour along the west coast of South India..
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And if you plan it well, it could be your most memorable trip ever. I would suggest concentrating more on coastal Karnataka, as it is simply superb.
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You have such a great way of focusing on the positives in any situation. Had it been me, I’d have never gotten over the spider part and that’s all anyone would have heard of my vacation. So many lessons to learn. I used to think wisdom comes with age. Here I’m aging and there’s no sign of any wisdom at all 😦
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If you had seen the sunrise, you would have forgotten the spiders, the lecherous glances and comments and the sleepless night too. It really was a rejuvenating sight, Meera.
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Whoa ! Thats an SLR !
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An SLR camera? No, Puru. This was an ordinary Kodak dabba, which took some absolutely fantastic photos. Check out these photos taken from the same camera:
https://thatandthisinmumbai.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/travel-shot-st-marys-island/
https://thatandthisinmumbai.wordpress.com/2010/12/20/travel-shot-brihadeeshwara-temple/
https://thatandthisinmumbai.wordpress.com/2010/08/09/travel-shot-howrah-station-and-bridge/
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There is a Kovalam near Chennai…btb I guess you’ll get better sunset pics than sunrise ones in west coast
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I have visited the Kovalam of the East coast, but at that time I did not have a camera. I remember a small, clean and beautiful beach, a smelly fishing village and hot sun.
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Made me remember my visit! Beautiful! 🙂
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Welcome here, Sid, and thank you for stopping by and commenting. Glad the post and pictures brought back happy memories. 🙂
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Beautiful.
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Thank you so much, Seema.
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Superb shots!!
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Thanks, Ashwini.
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Must have been an experience in itself with your friend. You mentioned about this somewhere else also.
I visited Kovalam just for a few hours but could capture the beautiful sunset. 🙂
Here are the photos. http://www.lemonicks.com/Travel/2010/03/06/kovalam-beach/
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I was at Kovalam for the sunset too, but was too busy in the water to take a picture. Your photographs are beautiful 🙂
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Let me use me cousin’s favourite word – Mindblowing!! Take me there!
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So, when do you want to go? 😀
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