Varkala Beach

Varkala Beach

Place : Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Highlights : A beautiful beach with rocky cliffs and coconut groves which is a pilgrimage destination as well
Best time to visit : September to May

Varkala Beach, is a very secluded beach situated at a distance of 51km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The beach lying on the south west coast of India, is also known as Papnasam beach and is an important Hindu center of pilgrimage. Hundreds of Hindu devotees perform 'Vavubali', a ritual performed for the ancestors soul to rest in peace, on the new moon day of the Malayalam month Karkidam. There is a belief that a dip in the holy waters of this beach will purify your body and soul, washing out all your sins. The beach offers its visitors a perfect beach holiday plus Ayurvedic treatments, Yoga and meditation courses.

Varkala Beach is an ideal location for those looking for a relaxed and quieter holiday. The beach with its brown sand, panoramic landscape and seascapes is a tropical paradise. Today, this beach attracts hundreds of locals, as well as tourists, all year round.

The main attraction of the beach is that it provides lovely sunset views over the Arabian Sea. The sunset at Varkala Beach is absolutely astounding with the sun dipping slowly down the horizon and the sky filled with red and orange hues. The beach is surrounded by high rocky cliffs and coconut groves. There are two main cliffs, the North and the South. The cliffs are steep and rugged and are made of red brown stone. Waves crash on the off-shore rocks. The blend of the cliffs, brown sand and the sea makes the beach an outstanding sight. The stone blocks on the beach protect from erosion and the invasion of the grounds by water.

Swimming can be fun here. But the waves are quite strong and usually break very close to the beach. Apart from swimming and sunbathing, the beach offers a variety of beach activities including volleyball, water sports such as Parasailing, Scuba diving, wind surfing etc.

Varkala town is not on the beach side but a little away. Besides the main beach, there are several smaller beaches further north with black volcanic sand. The smaller beaches are serene and provide more privacy. The beach coast is lined with souvenir shops and restaurants. Vendors in their small stalls selling a wide variety of decorative items, mainly conch shells and beads adds colour to the place.

There are a number of tourist attractions close to the beach. The mineral water springs near here are known for their medicinal properties and many people come here to drink and bath in the water from the springs. There is the Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Ayyappa and Hanuman, atop a hill believed to be between 800 - 2000 years old. Devotees visit this temple to seek divine blessings. Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the inner sanctum. Sivagiri Mutt founded by the Hindu Philosopher and reformer Sree Narayana guru and his Samadhi here attracts a large number of devotees every year during the end of December. A Nature Centre and a 2000 year old shrine of Lord Vishnu, are the other attractions near the beach.

Contacts

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Department of Tourism
Government of Kerala
Park View, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - 695 033
Phone: 91-471-2321132 Fax: +91-471-2322 279
Tourist Information toll free No:1600-444-747
E-mail: Contact Us

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Tourist Amenity Centre
Varkala
Phone : 0470-2602227

How to get there

Air : The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport about 57 km away from Varkala

Rail : The nearest railway station is at Varkala town, 3 kms from the beach. There is direct connects from major towns in the states as ell as neighbouring states.

Road : Varkala is 51 km away from Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km away from Kollam. Buses ply regularly between Thirvananthapuram and Kollam.

Accommodation

Accommodation is no problem in Varkala where a place to stay is easy to find. There are several well developed beach resorts and hotels besides a profusion of small hotels. You may pick any one according to your budget ranging from luxury to economy class. Click here for more hotels in Trivandrum

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Taj Garden Retreat (Four Star)
Janardana Puram, Trivandrum , Varkala- 695141
Ph 0470 - 2603000, Fax : 0470 - 2602296,
E-mail: Contact Us
Access: 55 kms. from Trivandrum Airport; 3 kms. from Varkala Railway Station; 3 kms. from Varkala Bus Stand Multi-cuisine

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Taj Kerala Hotel & Resorts Ltd
Kizhakkebhagath Veedu Kurakkani
Ph: 0470 - 2600232

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Oriental Hotel Ltd
Taj Garden Retreat Kilithattumukku
Ph: 0470 - 2604043

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Taj Kerala Hotels (resorts) Ltd
Janardhanapuram
Ph: 0470 - 2602786, 0470 - 2602285

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Preeth Beach Resorts
Manglavil Rd
Ph: 0470 - 2600942

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Akshay Beach Resort
Beach Road Papanasam-141
Ph: 0470 - 2602668

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Anandan Tourist Home
Opp Varkala Railway Station
Ph: 0470 - 2602135

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Raja Park Beach Resort
Near Papanasam Cliff, Varkala,
Kerala, India.
Ph: 0470 -2608060