Varkala has a dramatic setting and a relaxed, bohemian scene: swim, practise yoga, get an Ayurvedic massage and watch sunset from the cliff.
Highlights
- Varkala Cliff and North Cliff cafés
- Papanasam beach
- Janardhana Swamy Temple
- Ayurveda treatments
- Kappil beach and backwaters
What to eat
- Fresh seafood
- Kerala breakfasts
Where to stay
Cliff-top guesthouses and quieter stays at Odayam.
Getting there
About 1 hour from Thiruvananthapuram airport; Varkala Sivagiri railway station is close.
Tips
- Currents can be strong: swim only at flagged areas.
- Season runs roughly November to March.
Best time to visit
Nov-Mar. See what else is good in November and our best time to visit India guide.
Temples and shrines near Varkala
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy, Thiruvananthapuram Vishnu reclining on the serpent Ananta
- Attukal Bhagavathy Goddess Bhagavathy
Places to see in and around Varkala
113 places within 40 km. Tap I’ve been to add them to your India passport.
- Padmanabhaswamy Temple Temple, 37 km
- Ashtamudi Lake Lake, 30 km
- Sasthamcotta Lake Lake, 35 km
- Jatayu Nature Park Garden, 22 km
- Kollam Beach Beach, 22 km
- Varkala Beach Beach, 2 km
- St Thomas Fort Fort, 24 km
- Palayam Juma Masjid Mosque, 36 km
- Paravur Kayal Lake, 11 km
- Napier Museum Museum, 36 km
- Anchuthengu Fort Fort, 9 km
- Munroe Island Island, 32 km
- Shankumugham Beach Beach, 35 km
- Mundakkal Beach Beach, 20 km
- St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica Temple, 36 km
- Kottankulangara Devi Temple, Chavara Temple, 34 km
- Janardanaswamy Temple Temple, 1 km
- Attukal Temple Temple, 39 km
- Kottukal cave temple Temple, 27 km
- Valiya Koonambaikulam temple Temple, 19 km
- Kilimanoor palace Palace, 16 km
- Kuthira Malika Palace, 37 km
- Kerala Soil Museum Museum, 32 km
- Eight-Point Gallery Cafe Museum, 24 km
And 89 more on our Kerala map.
Food to try in and around Varkala
Kerala favourites to look out for.
- Sadhya
- Appam
- Puttu
- Idiyappam
- Avial
- Thalassery biryani
- Kerala parotta
- Fish curry
- Kadala curry
- Ada pradhaman
- Unnakkai
- Navara Rice GI: rice or grain
The full food passport, state by state.
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