Varkala Tourism (2021) - Kerala > Beaches, Top Things To Do

"The hidden treasure of Kerala"

Varkala Tourism

Varkala is a coastal town in the southern part of Kerala known for the unique 15m high 'Northern Cliff' adjacent to the Arabian Sea. It is popular for its hippie culture, shacks on the cliff serving great seafood and playing global music and the samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru. Varkala is also known for Jardana Swami Temple, also known as Dakshin Kashi.

Varkala has some of the best pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries and springs - all of this together makes this town a little paradise. You will also find a lot of shops with signboards in Hebrew selling Yoga mats, oxidised silver jewellery and harem pants made of cotton. Ayurvedic spas, affordable resorts, hostels, clean beaches make it a must-visit city of Kerala.

Places To Visit In Varkala

Water Sports in Varkala

Varkala Beach

Edava Beach

Thiruvambadi Beach

Anjengo Fort

Sivagiri Mutt

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Varkala Packages

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Spectacular Varkala

2 Nights

Starting from $123

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

Coastal Kerala Delights Varkala, Kochi & Alleppey

4 Nights

Starting from $218

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

Highlights of Kerala Varkala, Munnar, Alleppey & More

7 Nights

Starting from $382

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

Best Budget Kerala Varkala, Alleppey, Kochi & Trivandrum

4 Nights

Starting from $164

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

Kerala Honeymoon Special Including Varkala

5 Nights

Starting from $246

CUSTOMIZE & BOOK

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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 the 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 loincloth 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.

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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Suggested Itinerary for Varkala

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

Varkala Beach - Also Known as Papanasham Beach

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Top Hotels In Varkala

Maadathil Cottages

9.6 (245 reviews)

$ 52 onwards

InDa hotel

8.9 (377 reviews)

$ 28 onwards

The Lost Hostel, Varkala - Helipad

8.6 (365 reviews)

$ 4 onwards

Mad about Coco

8.8 (315 reviews)

$ 16 onwards

Aryavilla Heritage

9.0 (266 reviews)

$ 11 onwards

Magnolia Guesthouse Varkala

9.4 (207 reviews)

$ 41 onwards

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FAQs on Varkala

What is famous about Varkala?

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

What is not so good about Varkala?

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

Who should visit Varkala?

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.

What is the best time to visit Varkala?

The mesmeric hamlet of Varkala, owing to its geographical location on the south-western coastline of India, mostly experiences moderate to high temperatures throughout the year. The seasonal changes are very subtle, but the mercury levels play a significant role in defining a good time to visit the region. So Winters (between October and February) is the best season for a visit to Varkala because the temperature is more relaxed and the sun is gentler compared to the summers. One can expect a decent level of humidity all through the year but winters, bring colder air and pleasant ambience that add to the fun of exploring the charming village. Summers are a complete no-no for tourists as the heat levels touch a sweltering 40°C every year during the peak season. Monsoons, on the other hand, can be a good time for budget travelling but the peak months must be avoided as the region is susceptible to extremely heavy rainfall putting a halt to tourism for months till winter begins.
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What is the local food in Varkala?

What is the best way 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, especially the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. There is no direct flight connectivity, however, to Varkala. Some 40 km away is the Thiruvananthapuram airport, which is the nearest airport that connects Varkala to the rest of India.

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How much does a package cost for Varkala?

The packages for Varkala start at INR 9000 which can be further customized based on number of people, days, hotel category, vehicle type and customizations. You can have a look at all packages here

What are the top hotels in Varkala?

There are 232 in Varkala which can be booked through Holidify. The most popular hotels in Varkala are Blue Waves Beach Residency, MakeMyDream, CEMARI RESORT, Thathamma homestay, Ganga Yamuna Retreat, The Veda Village. You can see all the hotels in Varkala here

What are the things to do in Varkala?

The top things to do in Varkala are Water Sports in Varkala, Varkala Beach, Edava Beach, Thiruvambadi Beach, Anjengo Fort, Sivagiri Mutt. You can see all the places to visit in Varkala here

What are the places near Varkala?

The top places near to Varkala are Kovalam which is 46 km from Varkala, Kollam which is located 21 km from Varkala, Alleppey which is located 85 km from Varkala, Poovar which is located 60 km from Varkala, Trivandrum which is located 51 km from Varkala

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Q. Are there hotels or resorts available at the Varkala cliff?

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Varkala Reviews

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Kovid Kapoor 1 year ago

The view from the cliff is absolutely amazing, and the walk all along the cliff is great as well. We spent a lot of doing just that - and taking breaks at multiple beaches along the way.