|
Varkala is a beach resort town and spa. Located 55km north of Thiruvananthapuram in South India, the town holds a religious significance to the Hindus. Unlike the over-crowded beaches at several Indian resorts, the Papanasam beach at Varkala is a quiet, idyllic paradise far, far away from the maddening crowds. With silvery grains of sand, high laterite cliffs and mineral springs, the beach is any nature lover’s delight.
 This 5000-metre stretch is very clean with very few vendors and lesser number of shops. You can just hang around the beach and gaze at the myriad colors that the sun creates as it sets for the day. Or you can take a long walk across the sandy beaches as the waves kiss your feet. It’s also a great place to go swimming or practice yoga in an ethereal setting. The area is dotted with plenty of coconut trees and you can just laze around in a hammock, all day. The mineral springs are also a ‘must-see’ in Varkala. The weather is favorable most part of the year.
Varkala is also a pilgrim center for the Hindus who come to the place to seek redemption for their sins. The Papanasam sea is considered sacred by the Hindus who come to drain the mortal remains of their dead relatives here.
 Legends of Varkala:
Legend has it that a Pandyan King was instructed by Lord Brahma to build a temple at this very place to redeem him of his sins. But several other myths abound on the birth of Varkala. Another legend goes like this - when a group of pilgrims approached Saint Narada and told him that they had sinned, Narada threw his valkalam ( a loin cloth made from the bark of a tree) and it landed at this scenic village and hence, the place came to be known as Varkala. Narada told the pilgrims to pray for their redemption at Papanasam, which literally means redemption from sins.
The final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer of Kerala, is near Varkala atop a hill named Sivagiri.
Special attractions in and around Varkala:
- Janardhana Temple - A 2000 year old Vishnu shrine
- Sivagiri Mutt - Headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham Trust.
- Anjengo Fort - The site of the Dutch East India Company’s main garrison
- Yoga, Ayurveda, & Massage - Numerous massage centers that rejuvenate your body and soul.
Best Time to Visit Varkala:
 Any time during the year is good but September to May is the perfect time to visit Varkala
Location of Varkala:
State: Kerala
District: Thiruvanthapuram
Distance from Thiruvanthapuram – 55 kms
How to reach Varkala:
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
Nearest railway stations: Trivandrum Central
Directions by road from nearby cities: Thiruvanthapuram – Varkala
Contact
Kerala Tourism Information Office
Park View, Thiruvananthapuram,
Tel: +91-471-2321132
Climatic Conditions:
Temperatures average 21.1 oC to 33.1 oC and the region receives 60 to 770mm rain each month
 Clothing:
Cottons around the year, rainwear during monsoons
Tourist places near Varkala:
Padmanabhapuram Palace, Sankhumugham Beach, Kovalam, Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple, Kanyakumari
The photos on this page were contributed by Rui and the article by Rupa.
If you have any photos / travelogues of Varkala Beach, we would be happy to upload them on this page with due credits given to you as photographer/author. Contact Us
|
