Varkala - sunset beaches

Varkala is a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandurum) district of Kerala located 51 km north-west of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and 37 km south-west of Kollam. Its the only place where  cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. Varkala is a secluded seaside tourist resort and spa.The resort area lies along two cliffs, north and south, overlooking the beach areas. The main Papanasam beach is between these, while less crowded Black Beach is to the north. This entire area is easily accessible by walking the fine sidewalk along the cliff edges.

Varkala Beach is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. The evening views of the sunset are worth a watch. There are several small restaurants and snack shops in and around Papasnanam beach, which attracts the maximum visitors both for leisure as well as for religious reasons.

Varkala is also famous for the 2,000-year old Janardana Swami Temple which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is often referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the South). The temple is located close to the Papanasam beach, which is considered to have holy waters which wash away sins, and is also an important Ayurveda treatment centre.

How to Reach Varkala?

By Air
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) International airport is the nearest airport at a distance of 55 km and can be reached in a 2 hrs drive.

By Train
The Nearest Railway station is Varkala at a distance of 3 km.

By Road

Varkala does not have any direct connection to any state, or National Highways except the arterial link that is provided by NH47 at Kallamballam Junction, 9 km away. From Kollam it would take about an hour and 4 hrs from Cochin (Kochi).
 

Distances from Varkala

Varkala to Trivandrum - 51 km               Varkala to Kollam - 37 km 
Varkala to Alappuzha - 120 km               Varkala to Kochi - 180 km 
Varkala to Munnar - 320 km                   Varkala to Periyar - 230 km 
 

Must See in Varkala

Varkala Beach - Varkala Beach is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. The evening views of the sunset are worth lingering over. There are several small restaurants and snack shops near and around Papasnanam beach, which attracts the maximum visitors both for leisure as well as for religious reasons.

Kappil Lake - Kappil Lake is about 4 km north of Varkala Town. This serene estuary meanders through dense coconut groves before merging into the Arabian Sea. The bridge over the lake is quite a vantage point to view the backwater stretching white and grey to the distant blue horizon. Boating is another great way to browse this tranquil waterway.

Anjengo Fort - Anjengo Fort is a fort near Varkala and a ideal place to walk and explore the place. In the year 1684, the English East India Company chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort. The Fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery inside the fort, which most probably would be having the remains of the occupants of the fort, and the oldest among the burial sites dates to 1704.

Shree Janardhana Swamy temple - The temple is 2000 years old and had been a been a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th Century. The temple of Sri Janardana is situated on the summit of a table-land adjoining the sea.At the entrance to the inner shrine are the idols of Hanuman and Garuda on either side and in the main shrine is the idol of Sri.Janardana with Sri.Devi and Bhoo Devi.

Varkala Tunnel -  Varkala Tunnel, situated 41 km from Thiruvananthapuram city is a century old tunnel under one of the cliffs in Varkala. It was once used for passing boats carrying goods and people between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. It was a 924 ft long tunnel built in 1867 by T.Mahadeva Rao the dewan of Travancore, and took 14 years to complete.

Ponnumthurut Island - Ponnumthurut Island is a beautiful Island which can be reached by a boat.  There is a famous temple dedicated to Sivan and Parvathy here.

Sivagiri Mutt - Sivagiri Mutt is the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust. This mutt is situated at an elavation, 3 km. east of the Janardhana temple. The ashram is devoted to the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru (1855-1928). Sree Narayana Guru's Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days 30th December to 1st January. Guru preached the doctrine, 'one caste, one religion, one god for humanity'.

Sarkara Devi Temple - Sarkara Devi Temple is a famous old temple situated near Varkala at Chirayinkeezhu.The temple is famous for the kaliyoot festival on the Malayalam month of kumbham (March).

Edava Beach -  Edava beach is beautiful and serene and lies further ahead of  Kappil where you will find blue lagoon, where sea and backwaters running parallel divided by a more-than-one km of straight road. There is also an estuary that connect the sea with the backwaters here.

Rajasthan Holiday Packages

Royal Rajasthan (14 days)	Forts and Palaces tour (21 days)
Rajasthan with Golden triangle (16 days)	Rajasthan Cultural Tours (16 days)
Pushkar Fair Tours (19 days)	Rural Rajasthan Tour (12 days)