Tourist Places Varkala

Varkala Tours General Information about VarkalaPopulation : (2001): 42273 Temperature range : 33 C -25 CBest time to visit : September To May Varkala is must for those who prefer to do absolutely nothing while holidaying. Due to a spillover resulting from the over saturation of Kovalam, Varkala is a favourite with tourists who travel to Kerala. What makes the coastline of Varkala exceptional is its landscape. Towering cliffs that stand like silent sentinels, guarding the sparkling waters, back the beach. Highly unusual land formations, the sheerness of the cliffs, and the view from atop, simply astound the visitors.This is the perfect beach with a ayurvedic resort for all kind of ayurvedic treatments.
How to reach Varkala is a peaceful town just 51km from Trivandrum international airport and 176km from Cochin international airport. Prime Attractions of Varakala The 2000 year old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Centre are the two main attractions here. A dip in the holy waters of this beach is believed to purify the body and the soul of all the sins hence the name 'Papanashini (destroyer of sin)' for this shore. It is also the centre of Sivagiri Mutt, established by the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Janardana Swamy Temple The Janardhana Temple was built during this period and many Hindu's still visit Varkala to this day, for this very reason. The main beaches and tourist area are located at the cliff top, which is about 7 minutes walk from the Temple. The 'cliff-top' is where most of the hotels and restaurants are located, overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where one can find cliffs adjacent to the Arabian sea.These tertiary sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature in the otherwise flat Kerala coast, and is known among geologists as Varkala Formation and a geological monument as declared by the Geological survey of India. There are numerous water spouts and spas on the sides of these cliffs.
A famous beach resort, Varkala 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 Kashi (Benares of the south). The temple is located close to the Papanasam beach, which is considered to have holy waters which wash away sins, and is also an important Ayurveda treatment centre. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties.

The landmark hill-top mausoleum of Narayana Guru
Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri Mutt, established by the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. The hill-top mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala. The adjacent hills house the East-West University of Brahmavidya and Sree Narayana Gurukulam.
Another important feature of Varkala is the now dilapidated Varkala Tunnel, part of the TS Canal, which was an important waterway during pre-independence times.

Most travellers spend some time at the popular Kovalam beach, south of Thiruvanathapuram.Varkala, north of the state's capital, is less easily reachable, but always worth that extra effort. High red rocks, coconut trees, unspoiled sea with good waves, retaurants, one holy hindubeach and that is the wonderful sight of the Arabian Sea coastline.
However, it seems to be that Varkala is turning into a new Kovalam beach. Or maybe even a new Goa! It is quite touristy these days: there is a train station and there are many hotels... Quite some female travellers feel at ease in this 'new Paradise' to such an extent that they don't take into consideration anymore the beach dresscodes in India (remember that Varkala still is a place where Indian families spend their day off). Defenetly a place worth visiting for anybody, cause everybody is there.