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Head down to the harbour at sunset for some spectacular shots of the area with the seaside mosque in the background. The atmosphere is quite lively with fisherman heading to and from the sea. Note: Once the sun is down, it is probably best to head back to Kovalam unless you are with a guide. While hostility/violence to foreigners is very rare, you do not want to get caught up in a scuffle between the rivaling Christian and Muslim communities.
The old lighthouse, at the southern beach is a local landmark, for being one of the oldest lighthouses of Kerala, guiding ships to the nearby Vizhnjam port. The lighthouse can be visited 3-5PM daily.
The Tamil-style koil is known for the 18 m tall Gangadhareshwara sculpture, the tallest Shiva sculpture in Kerala.
The largest and southernmost beach of Kovalam, known for its 35-m-high lighthouse which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock. Most of the foreigners stay on Lighthouse Beach. Many hotels, restaurants, lodges and shops are here. There are some vendors on the beach, but they are not too pushy.
The second-largest beach of Kovala, and it takes less than five minutes to walk from Lighthouse Beach. It is named for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India, although topless bathing is banned now.
The northernmost crescent, usually crowded on weekends. It is very popular with the locals, day-travellers, and passing-by tourist buses. During the week it's quiet. A large promontory separates this part from the southern side. Samudra Beach doesn't have tourists thronging there or hectic business. The local fishermen ply their trade on this part.