Varkala Tourism (2019) - Kerala > Beaches, Top Things To Do

"The hidden treasure of Kerala"

Varkala Tourism

Popular for its natural fisheries and springs, and the samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru, Varkala is a coastal town with pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts and lighthouses - all of this together makes this town a little paradise located on the uniquely formed Cenozoic sedimentary cliffs in Kerala.

Varkala in the Trivandrum region of Kerala is a lesser known but a complete and ideal tourist destination. Experience the freshness in air, untouched beaches surrounded by hills, springs and fisheries. One must visit the Papanasam Beach, Varkala Beach which offers a number of activities including paragliding and parasailing, Kappil Lake and lighthouses in the area. Varkala has a lot of architecture too, to attract tourists such as the Janardhana Swamy Temple, Anjengo Fort, Vishnu temple and Sivagiri Mutt.

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Places to Visit In Varkala

Water Sports in Varkala

Varkala Beach

Edava Beach

Thiruvambadi Beach

Anjengo Fort

Sivagiri Mutt

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Hotels in Varkala

Top Hotels in Varkala

InDa hotel

INR 2,970 /night onwards
Ashiyana Cliff and Beach Resort

INR 3,000 /night onwards
Seawin beach resort

INR 799 /night onwards

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Dangers and Thing To Watch Out For!

Carry a flashlight as power cuts are frequent and it becomes quite dark post-sunset on the beach
Take care while walking on the cliff path at night, as it can get quite slippery and there is no fence in some parts
There are a lot of insects on the beach - including mosquitoes, so it is a good idea to come prepared with mosquito repellent creams
It is better to be conservatively dressed on the beach keeping in mind local sensibilities
Wear a sarong over your bikini. Also stay away from drunken strangers, beggars and hawkers Varkala has dangerously strong currents, and even expert swimmers need to be cautious in the waters.

History of Varkala

Varkala was once known as Udaya Marthandapuram, after the 16th century Travancore king Udaya Marthanda Varma, who contributed immensely to the development of this little coastal town. Sometimes referred to as the Southern Varanasi, Varkala has some fascinating legends associated with its historical origins. According to popular myth, King Pandyan built the famous 2000-year-old Janardhan Swami temple here as a redemption for his sins, as instructed by Lord Brahma. Another story tells the tale of a group of pilgrims who sought Lord Narada’s help in atoning their sins. The Lord flung his loin cloth or valkalam, which landed on the seaside, thus giving the town its name. The pilgrims had to offer prayers here, giving rise to the tradition of Papanasam or redemption of sins by dipping in the holy waters of the sea.

The Hidden Treasure of Kerala

Nicknamed so for being an obscure wonder, though extremely close to Kerala's capital, Varkala is a beautiful coastal town in the state of Kerala. Apart from being the holy samadhi of popular spiritual leader, Shri Narayana Guru, this is an adventurer's heaven, blessed with adequate facilities for adventure based sports, whether air or water based. Besides, Varkala is also home to numerous pristine beaches, fisheries, forts as the list goes on. So if you crave for some adventure in Kerala, Varkala is the right place for you.

Restaurants and Local Food in Varkala

The cuisine here is similar to the areas around it with a dash bit more dominance of seafood and a unique culture about it. Seafood is caught by local fishermen and displayed in front of many restaurants. You can select your own food right from the source, have it prepared in the tandoor and enjoy the sunset while you relish one of the freshest items the state might have to offer. Vegetarian food is also available at a lot of places. Bars are also spread across the town.

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Itinerary

Day 1: Reach Varkala preferably by noon and take some rest. In the evening, you can go to the main market for a stroll, especially where you can buy precious curios and souvenirs, which you can take home for your families.

Day 2: The 2nd day should be the ideal time for starting your trip through Varkala. You should begin ideally with Varkala beach, an astounding creation of nature, famous for its solitude, unlike the commercial beaches in Goa. Thereon, you can proceed to Sivagiri Mutt, another favourite tourist hotspot in Varkala.

Day 3: This day can be reserved for a visit to one of the famous temples of Varkala, i.e. Janardhanswamy Temple. Thereon, you can go towards the historical Anjengo Fort.

Best time to Visit Varkala

Commuting within Varkala

Varkala Photos

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Holidify's Opinion

What's Great?

A beautiful confluence of nature and spiritualism. An offbeat destination with pristine beaches, calm atmosphere and mesmerising views.

What's not so Great?

Not easily accessible as it is not directly connected to an airport. Hostile in summers. People force selling.

For Whom

Ideal for bold adventurers. Extremely suitable for people in the Southern part of India though it is visited by tourists from all over. Perfect for people looking for a laid back vacation near a beach.

Varkala Map

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How to Reach Varkala

Varkala is well connected to the rest of India by rail and road. Regular rail and bus services ply to and fro the city of Varkala; buses being operated both by private and government owners, especi... (Read More)

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