Varkala
Why Varkala
Varkala is the only place on the Kerala coast where red laterite cliffs drop straight to the beach, and that single geographic fact gives it a character Kovalam does not have. It is also a Hindu pilgrimage site — Papanasam beach is where ashes are scattered — so a working temple town sits directly behind the cliff-top cafés.
Explore Varkala on the map
City locations, drawn from our published destination data. Attractions, hotels and restaurants are not mapped yet.
Things to do in Varkala
Cliff, beach and temple, within a short walk of each other.
The cliff & beaches
- The North Cliff path, lined with cafés, at sunset
- Papanasam beach below, where mineral springs emerge through the cliff
- Black Beach and Odayam to the north, quieter and less built up
Temple town
- Janardanaswamy Temple, around two thousand years old by tradition
- Sivagiri Mutt, the shrine of the reformer Sree Narayana Guru
- Ritual ceremonies on Papanasam beach, which visitors should observe from a respectful distance
Wellness & water
- Yoga schools operating through the season, several with drop-in classes
- Ayurvedic centres, mixed in quality as everywhere on this coast
- Surfing lessons — Varkala has a small but real beginner scene
How long in Varkala
Cliff & sunset
Settle, walk the North Cliff, and take the sunset from the path.
Temple & springs
Janardanaswamy and Sivagiri in the morning, Papanasam and the springs after.
Slow days
Yoga, quieter beaches to the north, or a day trip to Kollam’s backwaters.
Getting to and around Varkala
One of the few Kerala beaches with a useful railway station of its own.
Arriving
- Trivandrum (TRV) is about 1.5 hrs by road
- Varkala Sivagiri station is on the main coastal line — trains from Trivandrum take under an hour
- Arriving by train is genuinely easy here, unlike most Kerala beach destinations
Getting around
- The cliff and beach are walkable; the station is about 3 km inland
- Autos and scooter hire cover the rest
- A car is needed only for Kollam or onward travel
Varkala culture & food
A pilgrimage town with a traveller cliff on top of it.
What to eat
- Seafood grilled to order along the cliff — the same catch, cooked much the same way, at most places
- Kerala meals in the town below, cheaper and more authentic than cliff-top prices
- Fresh juice and Ayurvedic-influenced menus, a Varkala fixture
What to buy
- Cotton clothing, silver and Tibetan-run craft stalls along the cliff — much of it brought in from elsewhere
- Ayurvedic oils and soaps
- Little that is locally made — this is not a craft destination
Varkala practical tips
Two towns in one place, and it pays to respect the difference.
Worth knowing
- Papanasam is an active pilgrimage beach — dress modestly and do not photograph ceremonies
- Cliff erosion is real and parts of the path have been fenced or lost; heed the barriers
- The sea has a strong undertow and there are drownings; swim where others do and never after drinking
- Much of the cliff shuts down in the monsoon
Who it suits
- Good for solo travellers — the most sociable beach in Kerala, with hostels and a long-stay scene
- Strong for couples and budget travellers
- Manageable for families, though the cliff-edge path needs care with small children
- Less suited to older travellers with mobility limits: steep steps link cliff and beach
Near Varkala
Along the coast and inland.
Related to Varkala
Journeys that include Varkala — each one visits the city as part of its itinerary.
Varkala — questions
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