Gear up, you can soon visit eight beaches in just 24 kms

Are you a beach buff? We have good news for you. Vypin is gearing up to emerge as the most impressive beach-tourism belt in Kerala. The 24 km stretch from Vypin to Munambam consists of eight conginent beaches. It is expected that the infrastructural development works will take-off within a few weeks.

The administrative and technical authorities have given their nod for the development of Vypin beach. The project linking eight beaches will commence work within a few weeks. The officials are currently giving finishing touches to the detailed project report. Project execution will be entrusted to Harbour Engineering Department. Amendments could be made to the project report as per the requirements of the department. It is also proposed to construct scaffolds at several points in order to prevent sand-mining. The decision has already been taken to release funds for 14 scaffolds.

Boost to rural areas and tourism 

Tourism is bound to develop in this region – from Fort Kochi, a traditional spot, to Munambam-Muziris area. Though Fort Kochi is part of the Kochi Municipality area, all the other places covered under the project are rural areas. Once the project comes into effect, facilities including better quality roads could increase the number of tourists visiting the area. Homestays and food outlets are likely to pop up when tourists start flowing in.  What makes this project unique is the fact that there is no other region in the state which promotes tourism by linking up these many beaches. 

Cherai Beach

Cherai beach is an important tourist spot in the district. Security guards are  at hand in the event of any emergency. The shadow of the Casuarina trees on the northern side of the beach shades the visitors who sit down to enjoy the cool sea breeze. Though the shores are washed off by the tempest waves during the rainy season, the visitors can safely stand on the walkway watching the ferocious mood of the sea. Food-outlets ranging from fast-food joints  to high-class hotels are operating by the beach-side. 

Munambam-Muziris Beach

After Cherai, Muziris beach located at the northern tip of the island is the one that attracts most tourists. A special feature of this beach is the half-a-kilometre long and very wide scaffold constructed on the sea. This has been beautifully laid out with tiles so that it can be used as a walkway. There is a snacks center and a park attached to the beach.

Kuzhuppilly Beach

Probably, Kuzhuppilly beach stands immediately next to Cherai, in being admired the most by the travelers. Large umbrella-shaped shelters, fabricated with coconut fibre and leaves, provide the much needed relief from the scorching sun. Though there is an open-air auditorium and allied facilities, these have not become operational yet. The beach is generally calm, and the sand bed is extensive.

Chatthangad Beach

Chatthangad beach which lies close on the southern end of Kuzhuppilly beach is characterized by its extensive sand bed. The sea shore was formed as a result of the two enormous scaffolds built here following the tsunami disaster. The flowers which blossom in large numbers give a violet brilliance to the shore. The remains of the buildings destroyed by the tsunami waves are still present here and these bring back the memories of the disaster once again.

Veliyattham Parambu Beach

The tourism potential of the Veliyattham Parambu beach has remained underutilized so far. Well connected from the State highway, the beach sports coconut trees all along the edge of the coast and the white sand provides a distinctive view. Though a few tourism fairs have been held at this beach, nothing worthwhile has been done for the development of the beach. Nevertheless, the number of visitors to this beach is not very less though.

Arattuvazhy Beach

The road westward from Hospital Junction at Njarackal proceeds to join at Arattuvazhy beach. The sand wall is unusually high and a flight of steps in between has to be climbed to enter the beach. The shore is not so extensive; still, it is reported that the beach gives a beautiful view of the sunset. This is one of the beaches which need to be developed.

Chappa Beach

Chappa sea shore lies adjacent to the Arattuvazhy beach. Several fishing boats and other boats used to operate from this sea shore. This shore is not on the tourism map yet. Though, at the moment, there are not many visitors due to the bottlenecks in transportation facilities to this shore, the present situation would change if developmental works are undertaken here.

Puthuvype Beach

Puthuvype Beach is the easiest to reach for those who come from the city-side. Covering the Goshree bridge, one can soon reach here by the State highway and the LNG road. The distinctive feature of this beach is its very extensive sand bed. Large-scale projects including LNG Terminal are situated close to the beach. Another attraction of the beach is the Light House which gives a bird’s eye-view of the nearby places including the city of Kochi.

Limitations of the beaches

1) The transportation facility to most of the beaches is not up to mark. There are no sign boards giving the direction and the roads are not in good condition. 

2) Safety is as essential as entertainment on the beaches. Other than Cherai, none of the beaches have life guards. The number of guards deployed is very inadequate considering the number of visitors there. 

3) Rainy season is at odds with the beaches. The shores are completely washed off by strong tidal waves. Though it is impossible to prevent wind and rain, the impact of the tidal waves can be controlled and the shores protected if scaffolds are constructed. It will help in the formation of newer shores as well. But such scaffolds have been built only at Chatthangad. 

4) Structural limitations of the sea walls prove to be a setback to beach tourism. The waves that gush through the gaps and forcibly spill over the wall destroy the road, and where there is a lack of roads, the visitors keep away.  Another problem is that the beach road in Vypin is not complete until now. Yet another problem is that it is not possible to move from one beach to another without touching the State highway.

5) Even the basic facilities are not provided at most of the beaches. There is no provision for toilets at the beaches except at Kuzhuppilly and Cherai. Though lighting devices including high-mast lamps have been installed at the beaches, many of these do not work.

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