Varkala is the rare place where a sheer red cliff meets the Arabian Sea, with a strip of cafes and guesthouses along the top and the beach and its freshwater springs below. It’s a beach town with a wellness streak — yoga, Ayurveda and long sunsets — and enough temple and backwater interest to fill a few days.
What to do
The main event is the North Cliff: walk the paved path at sunset, when the sea turns gold and the cafes fill up. Below is Papanasam Beach, considered holy — its springs are said to wash away sins, and families come to perform ancestral rites at the water’s edge. Visit the 2,000-year-old Janardanaswamy temple above the beach, and take a half-day north to Kappil, where a backwater meets the sea by a viewpoint bridge. Yoga schools and Ayurveda centres run courses and drop-in classes all along the cliff.
Getting there and when to go
Varkala has its own railway station about 3 km inland, on the main coastal line, and is roughly 40 km north of Trivandrum airport by road. The season is October to March — calm, dry and warm; the monsoon (June–September) brings rough seas and a much quieter cliff. As at all Kerala beaches, currents are strong and there’s little or no lifeguard cover, so swim with care and stay within your depth.
- The cliff is the scene at sunset — arrive early for a front-row cafe table.
- Papanasam Beach is a place of worship as well as a beach; be respectful of families performing rituals.
- It’s an easy train stop between Trivandrum and Kollam/Alleppey — no need to backtrack.
- Steep cliff steps and uneven paths make it less suited to travellers with mobility needs.
Frequently asked questions
What is Varkala known for?
Its dramatic laterite cliff above Papanasam Beach, the cafe-and-yoga strip along the North Cliff, spectacular sunsets, mineral springs and the ancient Janardanaswamy temple.
How do you get to Varkala?
Varkala has its own railway station on the main coastal line, about 3 km from the cliff, and is roughly 40 km north of Thiruvananthapuram airport by road.
When is the best time to visit Varkala?
October to March, for calm seas and dry weather. The monsoon months are rough and much quieter.