Overview
Lighthouse Beach is India's premier surfing destination, a sand-bottomed beach break in Kerala that peels both left and right. Its reputation grew after Kerala Tourism commissioned ASR to build a multi-purpose artificial surf reef, the Kovalam reef, completed in early 2010. Early footage of the new reef showed an organised, peeling lip line with a top-to-bottom power this coastline rarely produces. Since the monsoon, though, the geo-textile bags have shifted and the reef at the southern end no longer works as cleanly, and beach erosion remains an ongoing factor here.
When It Works
The beach draws swell from south through west-southwest to northwest (S-WSW-NW), with south swell the best match. It works from 0.3 m / 1 ft to 2.4 m / 8 ft. Beyond the reef peak, there are other peaks at the north end and the centre of the beach. It is moderately consistent, and the season runs from November, when the northeast winds set in, through to late May, when the surf closes out more often and the wind swings from southwest to northwest.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast offshore wind. The beach can work through low, mid, and high tide, with a rising tide generally the better call.
Local Tips
This is a beginner-friendly beach, and you can expect a moderately busy lineup when it works. The local scene is growing through the Kovalam Surf Club and the NGO S.I.S.P., which give poverty-stricken kids free surf instruction and equipment in return for attending school classes. Boards are available to rent, and travellers can help by donating any spare gear to keep these kids in the water.
