Muzhappilangad Beach In North Kerala

Experience South India’s Five Kilometre Long Drive-In Beach

Feb 3, 2009

Muzhappilangad Beach in is a beautiful tropical South Indian beach, but few come here to swim or sunbathe. Instead, it is India's longest drive-in beach.

Muzhappilangad Beach in North Kerala, near Thalasseri, is one of those strange experiences one comes across when travelling through India. It is a five kilometres long beach complete with white sand, coconut groves and an inviting ocean – but nobody comes here to swim. Instead, it is the most famous drive-in beach in South India.

Famous Kerala Sunset On Muzhappilangad Beach

During the day the beach remains quiet and peaceful, and the only people around are local fishermen sorting out their day’s catch in the morning. It is possible to walk from one end of the beach to the other, and see hardly anyone on the way.

But around 4.00 pm the crowds start to arrive: large families in equally large cars, young men on scooters, husbands giving driving lessons to their nervous wives, young couples who come here to watch Muzhappilangad’s famous sunset (apparently one of the best in India), ice cream vendors, schoolchildren and rickshaw drivers blaring music out of their radios. Muslim women in black head-to-toe burkas and Hindu ladies in colourful saris dip their toes into the water, while their husbands walk in the ocean fully clothed – but nobody swims. Instead, large crowds of people eat ice cream, watch the sunset and drive back and forth on the sand.

For a tourist who generally comes to a tropical beach to swim, all this can be very puzzling. At the same time North Kerala is a strong Muslim area, and there are several mosques in the region, so local sensitivities mean that sunbathing or walking on the beach in a tiny bikini is not possible here.

Western women will feel very uncomfortable if they try to sunbathe or swim during the busier times in the afternoon, when half of Kerala seems to gather on this beach. An over-exited crowd of young Indian men will immediately surround any woman who dares to try to walk around half-naked. It is best to swim in the morning, when the beach is almost empty, and one can jump into the ocean before a crowd gathers around.

Where To Stay On Muzhappilangad Beach

There are two homestays on the beach, and due to the lack of general tourist facilities (such as beach restaurants) and the problems regarding sunbathing, few Western tourists end up in Muzhappilangad. This means that a stay here can be very peaceful.

However, the local government has now decided to build a road along the beach. It is hoped that the road will reduce driving on the beach itself, but it is possible that it will also destroy the peaceful atmosphere in the two homestays, as the planned road runs practically through their front gardens.

The copyright of the article Muzhappilangad Beach In North Kerala in India Travel is owned by Satu Susanna Rommi. Permission to republish Muzhappilangad Beach In North Kerala in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Apr 22, 2009 10:46 AM

Guest :

The things you mentioned abt the beach are true, the beach is nice, the
environment is fine etc....But the things you mentioned abt the people and the community is not right. All the people across kerala are same. we had one culture, we don't wan'a lose it......if u go to any part of the kerala and if u swim in bikkini's there, people won't allow it...So pls don't blame the north keralites...ok, thank you....

Apr 24, 2009 12:45 AM

Satu Susanna Rommi :

Hi,
I meant it more as an advice to those women who have only been to tourist resorts like Kovalam and Varkala, where everyone walks around in a bikini. Personally I don't have a problem with not being able to walk around in a bikini in India. I'm pretty much used to it... However, for a Western woman, there is a huge difference between beaches like Muzappilanghad and those in Varkala and Kovalam. I'm not saying one is better than the other... but in Varkala and Kovalam people are much more used to near-naked Western tourists and there it's tolerated (even if it's not approved).