Kerala enjoys an extraordinary kinship with the sea. Mythically born from it, Kerala’s bond with the sea is that of a child and mother. By the virtue of having most of India’s finest beaches, Kerala offers you surf, spice and sand like no other place. Though extremely popular worldwide, the beaches remain strangely unspoilt and bewitching. The cool breeze that blows on the beaches will work like a balm to your soul. You will find the communing with air, water and sand at the beaches of Kerala a supreme rejuvenation. Here are some beautiful beaches in the God’s Own Country with a short description....

This little island known by the same name as the beach, Pathiramanal, in the backwaters of Kerala literally means the 'Sands of night' The island lies between Thaneermukkom and Kumarakom and is accessible only by boat. Surrounded by the Vembanad Lake, stretching from Alappuzha to Kochi and the Kayamkulam Lake, the island and the beach is home to hundreds of migatory birds, which take a rest on their long journey from the cool climes of Siberia.
Legend has it that a young Brahmin dived into the Vembanad Lake to perfom his evening ablutions and the water made way for the land to rise from below which saw the creation of Pathiramanal. The nearest airports are the Cochin International Airport, about 85 km north of Alappuzha and Thiruvananthapuram, about 150 km towards the south. Alappuzha is the nearest railway station

Located 8 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city, the Shankhumugham Beach is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Veli Tourist Village.

An indoor recreation club, the 'Matsya Kanyaka', a gigantic 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are the major attractions here. The long stretch of clean sand is located near the airport. The water here, however, is not suitable for bathing.

Shankhumugham Beach is a popular city beach situated near to the airport. This beach provides good facilities like an indoor recreation club, children's traffic training park and a star shaped restaurant.
 

Thirumullavaram Beach is roughly 6km north of Kollam, Thirumullavaram is a beautiful beach that's well linked by road and with good facilities. This beautiful beach filled with coconut palms is ideal for an early morning walk as one can see fishermen gliding into the sea for the days catch. The beach has good bathing facilities.
 

Located at 54 kms from Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala is a sea side resort and also an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. It's a beautiful beach that has a more than 2000 years old shrine of Lord Vishnu.

The 2000 year old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Centre are the two main attractions here. A dip in the holy waters of this beach is believed to purify the body and the soul of all the sins hence the name 'Papanashini (destroyer of sin)' for this shore.