The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach for its 35 metre high light house 
The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to hang out there. 

The sands on the beaches in Kovalam are partially black in
colour due to the presence of ilmenite and thorazite. The normal tourist season is from September to May.
Ashoka beach is also the part of Kovalam beach.The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish,old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. 

Kovalam is finding a new significance in the light of several Ayurvedic salons,
and recuperation and regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic
treatments for tourists.