Varkala is a seaside town in Kerala's southern region, famous for its 15-meter-high 'Northern Cliff,' which overlooks the Arabian Sea. It's known for its hippy lifestyle, cliffside shacks offering delicious seafood and playing international music, and the samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru. Janardana Swami Temple, also called Dakshin Kashi, is located in Varkala. Varkala features some of the most pristine beaches, hills, lakes, forts, lighthouses, natural fisheries, and springs in the world, all of which combine to create this town a mini-paradise. Yoga mats, oxidized silver jewelry, and cotton harem trousers are all available from businesses with Hebrew signboards. It is a must-visit city because of its ayurvedic treatments, inexpensive resorts, hostels, and clean beaches.

HISTORY OF VARKALA

Varkala was previously known as Udaya Marthandapuram, after the 16th century Travancore monarch Udaya Marthanda Varma, who made significant contributions to the growth of this small coastal town. Varkala, often known as the Southern Varanasi, has a number of intriguing legends surrounding its history. According to legend, King Pandyan was directed by Lord Brahma to construct the famous 2000-year-old Janardhan Swami temple here as a penance for his misdeeds. Another narrative talks of a group of pilgrims seeking Lord Narada's assistance in atoning for their sins. The Lord hurled his loincloth, or valkalam, onto the seashore, giving the place its name. The travellers were required to pray here, which gave rise to the custom of Papanasam, or the forgiveness of sins through dipping in the holy waters of the sea.

CULTURE AND TRADITION OF THE TEMPLE TOWN

The Janardhan Swami Temple festival, which takes place in March and lasts ten days, and the Sivagiri Mutt festival, which takes place between December 30th and January 1st, are the two biggest annual festivities in Varkala. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists attend both festivals to take part in the lively celebrations.While the Janardhan Swami Temple event has gilded elephants, the Sivagiri pilgrimage attracts people to honor Sri Narayan Guru's slogan, "One Caste, One Religion, One God." Varkala also features Kathakali night events, Kerala's most well-known traditional dance form, which should be on every tourist's bucket list.

LOCAL CUISINE OF VARKALA

The cuisine is comparable to that of the surrounding areas, with a slight emphasis on seafood and a distinct culture. Local fishermen catch seafood, which is displayed in front of several restaurants. You can choose your own food right from the source, have it prepared in the tandoor, and watch the sunset while eating one of the state's freshest dishes. Vegetarian food is accessible in a variety of establishments. Bars can also be found all across town.

THINGS TO DO WHEN IN VARKALA

• Pay a visit to Ponnumthuruthu - Among the many famous spots to visit in Kochi, visiting Ponnumthuruthu Island is one of the most exciting things to do in Varkala. It's one of Kerala's most beautiful unpopulated islands. The pristine waters of Akathumuri Lake surround the island, which is spread out over 5 hectares, making it an ideal getaway for people seeking a break from city life.
• Learn some history at Anjengo Fort - Anjengo Fort, also known as Anchuthengu Fort, is a historic fort in Kerala that is located in Anchuthengu hamlet near Varkala. It is one of Kerala's most famous heritage sites, and one of the must-see places near Trivandrum. The British East India Company established Anjengo Fort on the outskirts of Varkala in the 17th century as the first trade town in Kerala.
• Enjoy the gorgeous views of Kappil Beach - Kappil Beach is a beautiful beach to spend a day on and is known as one of Kerala's best-kept secrets. The tiny ribbon of sand beach that divides Edava-Nadayara Lake from the Arabian Sea stretches across 25 acres of land. One of the most tranquil and soothing things to do is to watch stunning orange sunsets while dipping your toes in the clean waters of the sea from the unspoilt sandy beaches of Kappil.
• Go boating at Varkala Tunnel - Are you familiar with the Varkala Tunnel? If not, make it a point to visit this location on your next vacation. Sir Madhav Rao, who was the dewan of Travancore at the time, erected it in 1867. This tunnel took 14 years to construct, believe it or not. It was constructed as a checkpoint for traders on their way to Thiruvananthapuram. The tunnel is a stunning piece of architecture.
• Go for a swim at Varkala Cliff - The Varkala Cliff, which overlooks the Varkala Beach, is a renowned tourist attraction as well as a significant geological site in Varkala. This cliff was named a Geological Monument by the Indian Geological Survey because it was formed by laterite. The cliff provides a stunning view of the golden beach, and it's well worth a visit. This is one of Varkala's outstanding viewpoints. 
• Mangrove Forest Kayaking - Varkala is 18 kilometers away from the mangrove forest in Nedungolam, Paravur, in the district of Kollam. 4km kayaking is ideal for a half-day adventure and can be done in the morning or evening. Sailing through Nedungolam's waterways, particularly the mangrove forest, is a must-do activity.

BEST TIME TO VISIT VARKALA

The great season to visit the town is during the winter months (December to March). After cooling off from the rains, temperatures range from 22 to 28 degrees Celsius during these months. The humidity also reduces at this time, making it pleasant for visitors to take long walks along the beaches and enjoy Ayurvedic massages at the various spas that dot the coastline.

PLACES TO VISIT IN VARKALA

• - Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasam Beach, is a beautiful stretch of sand located about 10 kilometers from the calm and quiet hamlet of Varkala in Kerala. Unlike other commercial beaches in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Varkala Beach is renowned for its solitude. Because these sedimentary formation peaks are not found anywhere else on Kerala's generally flat coastline, the Arabian Sea against the cliffs creates a one-of-a-kind background.
• Janardhanaswamy Temple -Janardhanaswamy Temple is 25 kilometers north of Thiruvananthapuram, and is located in Varkala. Thousands of devotees flock to the temple every year for the Arattu festival, which is devoted to Lord Vishnu. It's a 2000-year-old temple. Since the 12th century, Varkala has served as a Hindu pilgrimage place.
• Varkala Aquarium - Varkala's aquarium, which is sandwiched between Black Beach and Odayam Beach, is the ideal place to spend a day with your loved ones away from the tourist traps of Varkala. Taking your children to the aquarium is one of the most exciting things to do in Varkala. Large tanks of water with exotic aquatic life on display are on display.
• Anjengo Fort and Lighthouse - Visiting the Anjengo Fort and LightHouse at Anchuthengu is one of the most intriguing things to do in Varkala because they are only a short distance apart. Because it was the first British outpost in India, the fort is considered one of the most important historical landmarks.The architectural design is admirable in and of itself, and the scenic surroundings make it a great picnic site.
• Kilimanoor Palace - Raja Ravi Varma, one of Kerala's most well-known artists, has paintings and artwork on display at the Kilimanoor palace. The palace, which covers 15 hectares, holds Raja Ravi Varma's studio, where he worked on his beautiful works of art. Because of its ties to the famed painter, the palace is a hotspot for art history buffs and cultural aficionados. Apart from that, the palace's architectural design is stunning.

HOW TO REACH 

• By Flight - Varkala is only accessible by plane from Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), which has the closest airport. Major Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Kochi, and Kolkata are all well connected to Trivandrum. The Trivandrum sector is served by major airlines including Air India, Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Indigo, and Kuwait Airlines, albeit Indigo Airlines is the only one that operates a daily direct route from Delhi to Trivandrum.
• By Bus - Buses go from Trivandrum to Varkala, which is a significant bus stop. Across Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, the state-run KSRTC bus service, as well as private companies like KTC Travels, Kallada Travels, and KSBC Travels, have an excellent network. As a result, getting to Trivandrum is simple.
• By Train - Varkala Sivagiri Station is the only railway station in the village. It is a major station after Trivandrum Central, located on the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram railway route. This line serves as the second busiest rail corridor in Kerala, as it serves all connections from and to Trivandrum.