Varkala Tourism

"The hidden treasure of Kerala" Varkala Tourism Popular for its natural fisheries and springs, and the samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru, Varkala is a coastal town with pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts and lighthouses - all of this together makes this town a little paradise located on the uniquely formed Cenozoic sedimentary cliffs in Kerala. Varkala in the Trivandrum region ofKeralais a lesser known but a complete and ideal tourist destination. Experience the freshness in air, untouched beaches surrounded by hills, springs and fisheries. One must visit thePapanasamBeach,Varkala Beachwhich offers a number of activities including paragliding and parasailing, Kappil Lake and lighthouses in the area. Varkala has a lot of architecture too, to attract tourists such as the Janardhana Swamy Temple,Anjengo Fort,Vishnu templeandSivagiri Mutt. Download Varkala PDF Guide > What's Great? A beautiful confluence of nature and spiritualism. An offbeat destination with pristine beaches, calm atmosphere and mesmerising views. What's not so Great? Not easily accessible as it is not directly connected to an airport. Hostile in summers. People force selling. For Whom Ideal for bold adventurers. Extremely suitable for people in the Southern part of India though it is visited by tourists from all over. Perfect for people looking for a laid back vacation near a beach.

Dangers and Thing To Watch Out For! Carry a flashlight as power cuts are frequent and it becomes quite dark post-sunset on the beach Take care while walking on the cliff path at night, as it can get quite slippery and there is no fence in some parts There are a lot of insects on the beach - including mosquitoes, so it is a good idea to come prepared with mosquito repellent creams It is better to be conservatively dressed on the beach keeping in mind local sensibilities Wear a sarong over your bikini. Also stay away from drunken strangers, beggars and hawkers Varkala has dangerously strong currents, and even expert swimmers need to be cautious in the waters. History of Varkala Varkala was once known as Udaya Marthandapuram, after the 16th century Travancore king Udaya Marthanda Varma, who contributed immensely to the development of this little coastal town. Sometimes referred to as the Southern Varanasi, Varkala has some fascinating legends associated with its historical origins. According to popular myth, King Pandyan built the famous 2000-year-old Janardhan Swami temple here as a redemption for his sins, as instructed by Lord Brahma. Another story tells the tale of a group of pilgrims who sought Lord Narada?s help in atoning their sins. The Lord flung his loin cloth or valkalam, which landed on the seaside, thus giving the town its name. The pilgrims had to offer prayers here, giving rise to the tradition of Papanasam or redemption of sins by dipping in the holy waters of the sea. The Hidden Treasure of Kerala Nicknamed so for being an obscure wonder, though extremely close to Kerala's capital, Varkala is a beautiful coastal town in the state of Kerala. Apart from being the holy samadhi of popular spiritual leader, Shri Narayana Guru, this is an adventurer's heaven, blessed with adequate facilities for adventure based sports, whether air or water based. Besides, Varkala is also home to numerous pristine beaches, fisheries, forts as the list goes on. So if you crave for some adventure in Kerala, Varkala is the right place for you.

Itinerary Day 1:Reach Varkala preferably by noon and take some rest. In the evening, you can go to the main market for a stroll, especially where you can buy precious curios and souvenirs, which you can take home for your families.   Day 2:The 2nd day should be the ideal time for starting your trip through Varkala. You should begin ideally with Varkala beach, an astounding creation of nature, famous for its solitude, unlike the commercial beaches in Goa. Thereon, you can proceed to Sivagiri Mutt, another favourite tourist hotspot in Varkala. Day 3:This day can be reserved for a visit to one of the famous temples of Varkala, i.e. Janardhanswamy Temple. Thereon, you can go towards the historical Anjengo Fort.

Restaurants and Local Food in Varkala The cuisine here is similar to the areas around it with a dash bit more dominance of seafood and a unique culture about it. Seafood is caught by local fishermen and displayed in front of many restaurants. You can select your own food right from the source, have it prepared in the tandoor and enjoy the sunset while you relish one of the freshest items the state might have to offer. Vegetarian food is also available at a lot of places. Bars are also spread across the town. View 5 Restaurants in Varkala >>

Throughout the yearis the best time to visit Varkala Winter season is the best season for a visit to Varkala. The months when Varkala is ideal for a trip is for the months of October - March. Monsoon season is also a nice time to visit, while Summers should be avoided, owing to the hostile climate. Weather in Varkala Loading... Varkala in Summer (April - June) This is the least advisable time for a trip and should be avoided by travellers if they can. Temperatures soar to as high as 40 degrees Celcius, and the humidity in the months of May & June is unbearable. Varkala in Monsoon (July - September) This is a good time for the budget travellers, who will find less crowd and the slowly but gradually blooming beauty in Varkala during this season, with almost negligible to reduced tariffs on hotels. July onwards, the area turns lively and beautiful owing to the heavy rainfall. Varkala in Winter (October - March) This is an ideal season for a visit to Varkala, with pleasant climate and a lovely ambience waiting for your arrival. November onwards, you can see a greater crowd, owing to the season being the peak season for travellers. Because to its proximity to the coastal region, this area never experiences harsh winters at all. Monthly Weather in Varkala Month Avg. Minimum (°C) Avg. Maximum (°C) January 24 32 February 24 32 March 26 33 April 27 34 May 26 33 June 26 31 July 25 31 August 26 31 September 25 31 October 25 32 November 25 31 December 25 32

Events in Varkala Arattu Festival, Janardhanaswamy Temple March - April One of the most significant festivals in Kerala, the 5 day Arattu festival is celebrated in the Janardhanswamy temple with elephant processions, ornamental silk umbrellas and all night kathakali dances. Sivagiri Pilgrimage 30th December - 1st January The Sivagiri Pilgrimage aims at helping pilgrims achieve a thorough spiritual and physical clean up by indulging in a 10 day purification process.