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
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
-
Taj Garden Retreat (Four Star)
Janardana Puram, Trivandrum , Varkala- 695141
Ph 0470 - 2603000, Fax : 0470 - 2602296,
Contact us : E
mail
Access: 55 kms. from Trivandrum Airport; 3 kms. from Varkala Railway Station;
3 kms. from Varkala Bus Stand Multi-cuisine
-
Raja Park Beach Resort
Near Papanasam Cliff, Varkala,
Kerala,
Ph: 0470-2607060,
Fax: 0470 -2608060
Contact us - E
mail
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