Varkala

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 […]

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.

More on Varkala

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.