Surfing in Southern India
A brief trip down India’s Kerala coast is a great way to check out two of India's best surf spots.
After arriving by plane in Kochin, and a death defying afternoon in a taxi we found ourselves in the beautifully scenic village of Varkala. Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea, and it's along these cliffs that the village perches, some several hundred feet above the sea.
Accommodation here is pretty basic, but in a cheap and cheerful way, and the main diet is freshly caught seafood at one of the many restaurants overlooking the bay.
The end of the monsoon season is the best time to visit, when there are still decent waves rolling in, but the rains have eased and it really starts to heat up.
After a day in the waves check out the nightlife at the arts café, it’s relatively spacious, plays whatever music you want, and tends to stay open the latest.
Another half day in an antiquated cab and we reach the town of Kovalam, nestled over two bays and overlooked by a lighthouse. 30 years ago there were only a handful of houses here, but today it is host to a variety of hotels ranging from cheap backpackers’ guesthouse to five star resorts.
Kovalam beach is known as the ‘Paradise of the South’, and the shallows of the bay make for fantastic swimming and relaxing, while further out below the lighthouse there is great year-round surfing.
We recommend The Leela, for some serious Indian luxury and breath-taking sunsets.
If you don't fancy getting wet though, a great way to while away a bit of time is by renting a houseboat and cruising through Kerala's backwaters. Trips can range from a few hours to several days with lunch, dinner, bed and breakfast.
