Varkala

Introduction and history: Varkala is a small but picturesque town in southern Kerala. It is best known for its unique tertiary sedimentary formation cliffs off the Arabian Sea coast that are considered as a geological monument. Apart from beautiful beaches, it is famous for the 2000 year old Janardhanaswamy (Vishnu) temple. Hence it is also known as Dakshina Kashi. Taking a dip in the Papanasam beach is considered to be auspicious. The town is famous for is Sivagiri Mutt founded by the great Hindu reformer and Philosopher Sree Narayana Guru.

What to see and when to go: Papanasam Beach, mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt, Janardhana Swamy temple and Anjengo fort. The best season is from October to March. In line with Kerala’s Ayurvedic history, massages and treatment is something very special at Varkala. Viewing the sunrise and sunset views at the beach is a great scene for nature lovers.

Accommodation: Varkala offers various options for accommodation. Expensive and middle-class hotels are available in the price range of 500 to 1500 rupees per day.

Mode of transport: Trivandrum is the nearest Airport which is the 57 kilometers away. The national highway number 47 (NH-47) connects Varkala with almost all major cities in South India. It has its own railway station, which is well connected with Trivandrum with frequent train. Auto Rickshaws are available in aplenty. Bicycles can be rented for traveling local areas in the city. If living around the cliff/beach area, majority of places can be easily done on foot.

Related links:
• Kerala Tourism: http://www.keralatourism.org/
• Tourist information: http://www.varkkala.com

See also: Trivandrum, Kanyakumari, Cochin, Munnar and Alleppey.