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Destination Guide
Varkala
4.5
1-2 Days
15 Attractions
About Varkala
Varkala is a coastal town in southern Kerala known for the unique 15m-high Northern Cliff adjacent to the Arabian Sea. Popular for its hippie culture, shacks on the cliff serving great seafood and global music, and the samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru. Also known for the Janardhana Swami Temple (Dakshin Kashi). Varkala has pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries, and springs — all making it a little paradise. You'll find shops with Hebrew signboards selling yoga mats, oxidised silver jewellery, and harem pants. Ayurvedic spas, affordable resorts, hostels, and clean beaches make it a must-visit city of Kerala. The mineral water spring on the beach is believed to have medicinal properties. The cliff-top promenade lined with cafes overlooking the Arabian Sea is one of Kerala's most photogenic spots.
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The Collection
15 placesTop Attractions
4
·1 km from city centerWater Sports in Varkala
Varkala is a beautiful coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district. It lies in the southern part of Kerala. It is the only place in Kerala where the hills come close to the sea. The uniqueness of the place is the merging of cliffs with the Arabian Sea. Varkala Beach is a popular beach where you can enjoy various water sports activities such as para
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4.4
·2 km from city centerVarkala Beach
Set amid a beautiful setting, about 10 km away from the calm and quiet hamlet of Varkala, Varkala Beach is a beautiful beach renowned for its solitude unlike the more commercial beaches of Kerela.
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3.2
·5 km from city centerEdava Beach
Untouched and unspoilt by tourist activities, the Edava beaches are the virgin stretches circling a blue lagoon where sea and backwaters run parallel divided by a more-than-one km of straight road. There is also an estuary that connects the sea with the backwaters here.
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·13 km from city centerMangrove Forest Kayaking
Mangrove forest in Nedungolam, Paravur, in the district of Kollam, is located at a distance of 18kms from Varkala. Perfect for a half-day trip, one can go on 4km kayaking during morning or evening. Sailing through these canals of Nedungolam, especially the mangrove forest, is a must-try experience.
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3.2
·2 km from city centerThiruvambadi Beach
Lying 1 km off Thiruvamdabi road, this black sand beach adjacent to the North cliff is an ideal picnic spot amidst lush coconut groves to relax and unwind.
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3.2
·9 km from city centerAnjengo Fort
Anjengo Fort, situated 12 km off Varkala at Anjengo, is believed to have been built in 17th century. Presently the fort is protected by the National Heritage monuments.
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3.3
·2 km from city centerSivagiri Mutt
Located at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala is the one of the popular ashrams of Shri Narayana Guru, Sivagiri Mutt. This ashram celebrates Guru Deva Jayanti (in August) and the Guru Deva Samadhi (in September) every year.
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3.2
·5 km from city centerPonnumthuruthu
Ponnumthuruthu, also known as Golden Island is located 20 km from Varkala. It is popular for its 100 year old Shiva Parvathi temple situated amidst thick coconut groves stretched over the sandy beaches.
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3.2
·1 km from city centerJanardhanaswamy Temple
Located in Varkala, Janardhanaswamy Temple is 25 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the Arattu festival celebrated here every year is attended by thousands of devotees.
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·1 km from city centerVarkala Cliff
Varkala Cliff is a geologically important site in the region. The cliff is formed by laterite and overlooks the Varkala beach. It has been declared as a Geological monument by the Geological Survey of India but the stunning view of the golden beach and the playful waves that it offers is worth a visit for beach lovers and photographers._
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3.2
·8 km from city centerVishnu Temple
Vishnu Temple is an ancient temple dating back to around 2000 years. It is located very close to the Varkala Beach in Thiruvananthapuram.
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·9 km from city centerKaduvayil Juma Masjid
Kaduvayil Juma Masjid is dedicated to a Muslim Saint, Saint Kaduvayil Thangal who is believed to have magical powers. It is one of the important Sunni Pilgrimage Centres in the region but its beautiful architecture also attracts tourists. The well maintained structure possesses a divine vibe that can put a troubled soul at peace in an instant.
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·1 km from city centerVarkala Lighthouse
Varkala Lighthouse was built in 1684 by the British to assist the navigation of ships coming from Britain. It stands 130 feet tall on the Varkala Beach and attracts tourists for a mesmeric bird's eye view it provides of the Arabian sea and the backwaters. It, therefore, is a perfect attraction for photographers, beach lovers and picnickers._
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·6 km from city centerKappil Lake
Kappil Lake is a mesmerising estuary famous for being a tranquil picnic spot surrounded by dense coconut trees. It further becomes a part of the Arabian sea and offers a breath-taking view that can be witnessed clearly from the bridge over the lake. The lake is also famous for pedal boating. The boats can be hired from the boat club located near th
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·1 km from city centerAsparagus
Asparagus is a store in Varkala where one can find ecological handicrafts and textiles that are dyed with natural dyes. Tourists can purchase artefacts and fabrics that are unique to the region. The friendly salesmen ensure the customers get the best products they have. They also have an in-house tailor who can sew garments according to specific re
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Rating
4.5/ 5.0
Best Time
Duration1-2 Days
Attractions15
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