Introduction

About 8 kilometers (5 miles) from the main city and adjacent to the Trivandrum Airport, Shankhumugham Beach is a favorite haunt of sunset lovers. ‘Aarattmandapam’ (aaratt meaning holy bath of the deity) - an iconic stone pavilion on the beach for use by the Padmanabha Swamy Temple – is synonymous with Shankhumugham. The beach starts to get crowded near evening when it is cast in a soft orange glow. The sea at Shankhumugham is a splendid blue and flat, making sunset watching an incredibly dramatic experience. Stroll down its brown sandy expanse and enjoy the wind in your face. You will see locals relaxing on the sand and enjoying a little picnic. A few hawkers saunter about selling peanuts, popcorn, ice-cream etc. - but are not a cause of nuisance or annoyance. It is to be remembered that the waters are not ideal for swimming. Watch the massive red orb slip into the Arabian Sea leaving a palette of colors across the sky. It makes for a wonderful picture!

If you wish to spend more time watching the darkening sea, head to the beach restaurant shaped like a starfish and enjoy sea views while sipping delicious filter coffee (a South Indian specialty) to go with snacks. A major draw to the beach is the 35-meter-long (117 feet) sculpture of ‘matsya kanya’ or sea mermaid. The place also has an indoor recreation club and a traffic training park for children.

Visit Shankhumugham for its lively ambience and breathtaking sunsets.

Special Attributes

The beach is very popular with sunset lovers.

Nuisance

The site is peaceful, and free of irritants.

Dressing restrictions

Dress in whatever you find comfortable.

Connectivity

You can take a taxi or auto-rickshaw from Trivandrum city centre. The beach is a walking distance from the airport.

Enjoyed by

Families, Backpackers, Senior Citizens, Kids, Honeymooners

Exposure

You will be under the open sky. In the morning and evening, the weather remains pleasant. But noon gets quite warm and the sun rays are rather strong. You are advised to wear a lot of sunscreen lotion, carry along sunshades and a bottle of drinking water.

Avoidable Season

April, May, June, July

Facilities

Shankhumugham has a coffee shop, an indoor recreation club and a traffic training park for children. After a stroll on the beach, head to the Veli Tourist Village adjacent to it.

Things Not Allowed

No such restriction

Tip

The beach is not ideal for swimming. Plan a trip here near sundown.

Type of site

Beach, Sun and Sand