Places to visit in Kerala
Things to do
Packages
Ideal Days
Best time to visit
Q&As
About Varkala
When one thinks of a memorable holiday in Kerala, it brings to mind the backwaters of Alleppey, the fishing nets of Cochin, the sands of Kovalam, the tea gardens of Munnar, the grasslands of Wayanad, the hills of Thekkady, and the elephants of Periyar. But there is also a solitary station, which one often passes on many train journeys through Kerala, without often being aware of its significance. It is the beach town of Varkala. Located just an hour away by road, from the more famous Kovalam, Varkala is slightly off the tourist circuit, and yet always an integral part of it. It joins locations like Gokarna in Karnataka to draw travellers in search of offbeat destinations by the sea.
Varkala’s beauty is drawn from its unique location. It is quite literally a beach off a cliff. In fact, the town gives its name to this unique cliff structure, which is known as the Varkala formation. It has been d a geo-heritage site by the Geological Survey of India GSI. It is Kerala’s only town with cliffs off the Arabian Sea and unique to India too.
Unlike other tourist destinations in India, Varkala does not set you a long list of things to do. It is where travellers go to unwind. Its secluded location only adds to its charm and the spirit of restfulness that envelopes this beach town.
WHAT TO SEE
The Varkala Beach: The primary draw to this town remains the beach, accompanied by a string of restaurants and coffee shops off the cliffs. It is the perfect place to spend hours looking down at the magnificent Arabian Ocean or simply reading a book.
Our tip: While much is said of the Varkala beach experience, this is also in fact just a small fishing town off coastal Kerala. So, if you get to the beach early, it’s the perfect place to experience the smells, sights, and shouts of a typical fishing village.
Janardana Swami Temple: While much has been said of the Varkala Beach, not many know that Varkala is also home to this ancient 2000-year-old temple. It is in fact this that gives it the reputation of being the Benares of the South.
Anchuthengu: Just 9 km away from Varkala is the town of Anchuthengu, once known as Anjengo or Anjenga. It was here that the British established their first trade settlement in Kerala. What they have left behind long after they left are memories. Many of these are scattered in the Anjengo Fort, a lighthouse, a church built in the Portuguese style and a 100-year-old convent school. A visit to Anjengo adds a different twist to your visit to this beach town.
WHAT TO DO
Like most beach towns in India, Varkala offers you a great chance to go paragliding. Add to that Kerala’s famed reputation for Ayurveda, and you understand why Varkala combines a reputation for both adventure and rejuvenation.
What to eat: Like in other beach towns of Kerala, the specialty of this beach town is its fish. Varkala offers you both traditional Malayalee and continental options.
What to buy: Scores of little shacks line the cliffs with souvenirs representing both Kerala and India. While there is not much to find specific to Varkala, you could buy a memento from Kerala instead.
Getting around: Unlike other beach towns like Goa, it’s harder to find bikes or bicycles on hire in Varkala. So, you might need to hire an autorickshaw instead but be prepared for some hard bargaining.
Where to stay: It’s best to stay just off Varkala Beach. You will find a whole lot of affordable options on your way there, usually lined up one after the other. As all travel plans are centred around the beach, it is a good idea to live close by.
Best time to visit: While like in most beach destinations of the west coast, the best time to visit is between the winter months of October to February, visiting offseason can be a unique experience too, especially during the monsoons.
How to get there: The best way to travel to Varkala is by train. While it possible to reach it by road, there is no air route connecting you directly to the town.
Content and photo credit: Christina Daniels
Things to do in Varkala
Varkala Tour Packages
6 Days 5 Nights Munnar Thekkady Varkala Alleppey Tour Package
Experience 6 Days Back to Home to thekkady Holiday Package
Munnar, Alleppey and Varkala Tour Package for 5 Days 4 Nights from Kochi
5 Days 4 Nights Poovar Varkala Trivendrm Kanyakumari Tour Package
Heart-warming 9 Days Trivandrum to Thekkady Tour Package
Memorable 8 Days 7 Nights Munnar, Periyar, Kumarakom and Varkala Vacation Package
Memorable 8 Days 7 Nights Trivandrum Holiday Package
Amazing 9 Days 8 Nights Trivandrum Vacation Package
Pleasurable 11 Days 10 Nights Mumbai, Goa, Trivandrum, Kovalam, Varkala with Kochi Trip Package
Best 8 Nights 9 Days Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Varkala, Goa, Bombay with Delhi Tour Package
Pleasurable 8 Days 7 Nights Thekkady Vacation Package
Best Kovalam Tour Package for 13 Days 12 Nights
Experience Madurai Tour Package for 15 Days 16 Nights
Magical 15 Days 16 Nights Madurai Holiday Package
Amazing Kumarakom Tour Package for 15 Days 14 Nights
Memorable Houseboat Tour Package for 16 Days 15 Nights
20 Days 19 Nights Mumbai Tour Package
Varkala Rating & Reviews
- Home
- India
- Varkala Tours
- About Varkala
- Log in
- +91
- +92
- +93
- +94
- +95
- Enquiry Form
To City (Destination)
From City
Travel Date
Travel Duration (In Days)
Adult
Child
Infant
Travel With
- Spouse
- Parents
- Friends
- MICE
- Office Friends
- Others
Hotel
- 1 Star
- 2 Star
- 3 Star
- 4 Star
- 5 Star
- 5+ Star
- Unrated
- Guest House
- Service Apartment
Rooms
Type of Trip
- Adventure
- Art
- Backpacking
- Beaches
- Culture
- Desert
- Eco-Friendly
- Family Holidays
- Festivals
- Food
- Hills
- History
- Luxury
- Pilgrimage
- Road Trips
- Romance
- Solo trips
- Trekking
- Wellness
- Wildlife
- Yoga
Total Budget (in INR)
Ticket Booked ?
Ticket Required?
Mode of Transport
- Flight
- Train
- Bus
- Taxi
Ticket Category
- Economy class
- Premium economy class
- Business class
- First class
I will book
Date of Birth
Gender
- Male
- Female
- Transgender
Marital Status
- Married
- Single
- Widow
- Married with 1 kid
- Married with 2 kids
- Married with 2+ kids
Income (Per Month)
- Below 15K
- 15K - 29K
- 30K - 49K
- 50K - 99K
- 1L - 3L
- 3L - 10L
- 10L+
Nationality
- India
- Afghanistan
- Albania
- Algeria
- American Samoa
- Andorra
- Angola
- Anguilla
- Antarctica
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Australia
- Austria
- Azerbaijan
- Bahamas
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Barbados
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Belize
- Benin
- Bermuda
- Bhutan
- Bolivia
- Bosnia & Herzegovina
- Botswana
- Brazil
- British IndianOcean
- British Virgin Islands
- Brunei
- Bulgaria
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Cambodia
- Cameroon
- Canada
- Cape Verde
- Cayman Islands
- Central African Rep.
- Chad
- Chile
- Christmas Island
- Cocos Islands
- Colombia
- Comoros
- Congo
- Cook Islands
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cuba
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Djibouti
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- East Timor
- Ecuador
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Estonia
- Ethiopia
- Falkland Islands
- Faroe Islands
- Fiji
- Finland
- France
- French Guiana
- French Polynesia
- French SouthernTerr.
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Georgia
- Germany
- Ghana
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Greenland
- Grenada
- Guadeloupe
- Guam
- Guatemala
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Heard & McDonald
- Honduras
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Indonesia
- Iran
- Iraq
- Ireland
- Israel
- Italy
- Ivory Coast
- Jamaica
- Japan
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kenya
- Kiribati
- North Korea
- South Korea
- Kuwait
- Kyrgyzstan
- Laos
- Latvia
- Lebanon
- Lesotho
- Liberia
- Libya
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Macau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Malaysia
- Maldives
- Mali
- Malta
- Marshall Islands
- Martinique
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mayotte
- Mexico
- Micronesia
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Mongolia
- Montserrat
- Morocco
- Mozambique
- Myanmar
- Namibia
- Nauru
- Nepal
- Netherlands
- Netherlands Antilles
- New Caledonia
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Niger
- Nigeria
- Niue
- Norfolk Island
- Northern Mariana Isl.
- Norway
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Palau
- Panama
- Papua New Guinea
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Philippines
- Pitcairn Island
- Poland
- Portugal
- Puerto Rico
- Qatar
- Reunion
- Romania
- Russia
- Rwanda
- S.Georgia and S.Sand.
- Saint Kitts & Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- St.Vincent &Gren.
- Samoa
- San Marino
- Sao Tome & Principe
- Saudi Arabia
- Senegal
- Seychelles
- Singapore
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Somalia
- South Africa
- Spain
- Sri Lanka
- St. Helena
- St. Pierre & Miquelon
- Sudan
- Suriname
- Svalbard &J.Mayen
- Swaziland
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Syria
- Taiwan
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Thailand
- Togo
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Tunisia
- Turkey
- Turkmenistan
- Turks & Caicos Isl.
- Tuvalu
- U.S.Minor Outlying Isl.
- Uganda
- Ukraine
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States Of America
- Uruguay
- Uzbekistan
- Vanuatu
- Vatican City
- Venezuela
- Vietnam
- Virgin Islands
- Wallis & Futuna Isl.
- Western Sahara
- Yemen
- Yugoslavia (Former)
- Zaire
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
- China
- Montenegro
- Palestine
- Aruba
- Serbia
- Solomon Islands
- Macedonia
- Africa
- Caribbean
- Europe
- Far East
- Indian Subcontinent
- MiddleEast
- North America
- Pacific/Oceania
- South America
- Guernsey
- Tibet
- Great Britain
Preferred Language
- Hindi
- English
- Marathi
- Bengali
- Punjabi
- Gujarati
- Assamese
- Kannada
- Kashmiri
- Konkani
- Malayalam
- Manipuri
- Nepali
- Oriya
- Sanskrit
- Sindhi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
- Bodo
- Santhali
- Maithili
- Dogri
- Other
Total countries visited so far
- Not Yet
- 1-5 International Trips
- 6-10 International Trips
- 10+ International Trips
Do you have a Visa ?
Do you have a Passport?
Preferred Time to Call
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
- 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
- 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
- 01:00 PM - 02:00 PM
- 02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
- 03:00 PM - 04:00 PM
- 04:00 PM - 05:00 PM
- 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
- 06:00 PM - 07:00 PM
- 07:00 PM - 08:00 PM
We have identified additional inquiries related to your tour. Please review them and let us know if there are any inquiries you would like us to remove.