Varkala Tour

Varkala is a beautiful town, famous for its mesmerizing beaches, in Kerala attracting tourists from far and wide. It is the only place in Southern Kerala where one can find cliffs next to the Arabian Sea. There are numerous water spouts and spas on the sides of these cliffs. It is also famous for its 3,500 year old Janardanaswamy temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is referred to as Dakshin Kashil. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck.

Located near Thiruvananthapuram, Varkala offers High red rocks, coconut trees, unspoiled sea with good waves, restaurants and the wonderful sight of the Arabian Sea coastline. The pivotal place of pilgrimage located near Varkala is the Kaduvayl Thangai Dargah which is on the National Highway 47 in between Kallambalam and Attingal. People flock in irrespective of religion visits this place to get the blessings of "Kaduvayil Thangal" a Muslim saint.

History

Since ages Varkala has been a significant pilgrimage destination. According to the legend Lord Brahma instructed the king of the Pandyan dynasty to construct the Janardhanaswamy temple to relieve the king of his bad karma.

Varkala Attractions

Varkala Beach

Varkala beach also known as "Papanasan Beach" is situated 55 km north of Trivandrum city. It is ideally located in a secluded place far away from hustle-bustle of the city life. The beach with its brown sand, panoramic landscape and seascapes is a tropical paradise. A nature centre and an ancient shrine of Lord Vishnu are the other attractions near the beach. The formation of the cliffs near the beach, along with fountains is a rare phenomenon of the nature. People believe that the water has medicinal power.

Varkala beach is an ideal spot for watching the sunrise and sunset and doing surf on the Arabian Sea. It is also noted for its steeping cliffs. Major attraction is the presence of the naturally born mineral water brooks. Visitors are excited to swim in the small rivulets. Swimming can be fun here. The waves are quite strong and usually break very close to the beach. It amuses the visitors by offering them a variety of beach activities including volleyball, water sports such as scuba diving, wind surfing etc.

A dip in the holy water is believed to purify the body and the soul from all sins. Varkala has been a Hindu pilgrimage site since the 12th century. The Janardhana Temple was built during this period.

Accommodation

From luxurious hotel to mid-range and budget hotels, all are available in Varkala. Offering modern facilities and services, Varkala provides many options to choose from.

How To Reach

By Air: The closest airport from Varkala lies at Trivandrum which is around 50km away. Taxis are available for Varkala.

By Rail: Varkala is 41 km north of Trivandrum by train and 24 km south of Kollam.

By Road: A good network of road connect Varkala with Trivandrum and other main cities of Kerala.

Shopping

Shopping can be a pleasurable experience in Varkala. Traditional handicrafts of Kerala are available here such as horn carved products, products made of shells and oysters, spices, tea, coffee etc.