About Varkala
The only place on India's south-west coast where dramatic red laterite cliffs plunge straight into the Arabian Sea — a beach town with a 2,000-year-old Vishnu temple, a crescent of yoga retreats along the cliff-top, and mineral-spring beaches below where ashes are immersed in the papanasam (sin-washing) waters.
History
The 2,000-year-old Janardanaswamy Temple above the cliff is one of Kerala's Vaishnavite kshetra pilgrimage sites — the temple bell, gifted by a Dutch merchant in the 17th century, still hangs in the sanctum as thanksgiving for surviving a shipwreck off Varkala cliff. The 'Papanasam' (sin-destroyer) beach gets its name from Hindu tradition that the spring waters here wash away karmic debt — most Keralite families return at least once to immerse the ashes of a relative. The cliff-top north of the temple was first colonised by hippies in the late 1970s; Varkala's distinctive aesthetic of thatched-roof cafes overhanging a red-rock precipice dates from that era, though all buildings were rebuilt after the 2018 cliff-erosion crisis.
Best Time to Visit
November to March
Travel Tips
- Sunset from the North Cliff — arrive by 5:30 p.m., the paragliding stand gives the best vantage
- Shankhumukham black-sand beach (5 km) is less touristy; Anjengo Fort (15 km) is a British-era maritime outpost
- Warning: cliff edges have receded 3–5 metres in the last decade. Fences are cosmetic — stay 2 m back
- Paragliding at North Cliff: ₹2,500, takes off only when winds are south-south-west at 15–25 km/h
Famous Food in Varkala
Temples & Heritage Sites
- Janardanaswamy Temple — 2,000-year-old Vishnu shrine on the cliff
- Sivagiri Mutt — where Kerala's saint-reformer Sree Narayana Guru is interred
- Anjengo Fort — Portuguese, then British, now ASI
How to Reach Varkala
Varkala is located in Kerala, India at coordinates 8.7378°N, 76.7164°E. You can reach Varkala by air (nearest airport in Kerala), train, or road. Use YatraJunction's free fare calculator to compare live train, bus and flight prices, and to build an AI-powered itinerary tailored to your budget and travel dates.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best time to visit Varkala?
- The best time to visit Varkala is November to March.
- What are the top travel tips for Varkala?
- Sunset from the North Cliff — arrive by 5:30 p.m., the paragliding stand gives the best vantage. Shankhumukham black-sand beach (5 km) is less touristy; Anjengo Fort (15 km) is a British-era maritime outpost. Warning: cliff edges have receded 3–5 metres in the last decade. Fences are cosmetic — stay 2 m back. Paragliding at North Cliff: ₹2,500, takes off only when winds are south-south-west at 15–25 km/h.
- What food is famous in Varkala?
- Famous dishes in Varkala include: Kerala fish curry with appam at Cafe del Mar, North Cliff, Karimeen pollichathu (banana-leaf pearl spot) at Juice Shack, Filter kaapi and banana fritters at Coffee Temple.
