Best Places to Visit in Varkala

Varkala is a major tourist spot in Kerala and famous for its beaches. The place is very well known for its several Ayurvedic treatment centre and spas. The coastal city is located 29 km away from Trivandrum and about 37 km from Kollam.

Immerse yourself in the sacred waters here to cleanse the body of impurities and the soul of all its sins. The location is fully surrounded by palm trees and red cliff that’s making it one of the favourite destination for tourist. Further, the location has religious importance too, so often known as the Kashi of South. It is not so hard to imagine why Varkala is described as one of the most beautiful locations in Kerala.

Varkala’s beaches are quieter and cleaner compared to the lively, crowded ones at Kovalam. So here we are going to mention the top-most places to visit in Varkala.

Top 5 Incredible Tourist Spot & Places to Visit in Varkala –

1- Varkala Beach

• Known as Papanasam Beach, meaning “destroyer of sins.”
• Surrounded by lush greenery and golden sands.
• Popular for sunbathing, swimming, and relaxation.
• Unique cliffs along the shoreline offering scenic views.
• Great for seafood lovers with beach shacks and stalls nearby.

Varkala Beach is the more commercialized beach in Kerala and its also known as Papanasam Beach. In the English word ‘Papanasam’ means ‘destroyer of sins’. The beautiful beach is fully surrounded by lush greenery and golden sands. It is an ideal location for sunbathing and swimming.

Moreover, it is one of the few beaches in southern Kerala which has adjacent cliffs along the shorelines. These cliffs are the venue for spas, spouts and relaxing, which is one of a kind. For the seafood lover, it is a perfect paradise where you can find many beach shacks shop near the shoreline. So the Beach is one of the best places to visit in Varkala.

2- Sivagiri Mutt

• Ashram dedicated to social reformer Shri Narayana Guru.
• Located atop Sivagiri Hills, built in 1904.
• Famous for promoting “One Caste, One Religion, One God.”
• Hosts the Sivagiri Pilgrimage Festival every December 30th–January 1st.
• A place of peace, spirituality, and social reform.

The Sivagiri Mutt is one of the popular ashrams of Shri Narayana Guru and it is located atop the Sivagiri Hills. The Mutt was constructed in 1904. A celebration of Guru Deva Jayanti also organised in the month of August every year.

The Mutt dedicated to Shri Narayana Guru which is a saint, social reformer, philosopher and a leader of Ezhava community. During the Sivagiri Pilgrimage festival, you can see the steady flow of devotees that take place from December 30th-January 1st. The Ashram also has a Samiti of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham which propagate the phenomena of One Caste, One Religion and One God.

3- Janardhana Swamy Temple

• 2000-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu.
• Known for its religious significance and beautiful architecture.
• Celebrates the 10-day Arattu Festival annually in March or April.
• Believed to have been constructed by a Pandyan king following a divine dream.
• A major pilgrimage site for Hindus.

It is a 2000 years old temple in Varkala town which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A holy place with high religious value, hence it attracts thousands of the devotee. The 10-days Arattu festivals also celebrated here every year in the month of March or April.

It is an important pilgrimage centre for Hindus. Legend believes that the temple was constructed by a Pandyan king when the Lord Brahma came in his dream. So it is an ideal spot for the confluence of various cultures. One of the best tourist places to visit in Varkala so must explore this place when you are in Kerala.

4- Anjengo Fort

• Built by the East India Company in the 17th century.
• Features a convent, tombs of soldiers, and a lighthouse.
• Lighthouse offers panoramic views of the Arabian Sea.
• A preserved National Heritage Monument.
• A fascinating historical site perfect for photography.

Anjengo Fort is a prime tourist attraction in Varkala. It was built in the late 17th century by the East India Company. It features an old structure including a century-old convent and tombs of soldiers. A lighthouse also situated on fort premises which are another tourist attraction. The lighthouse has a height of 130 feet and around 11 floors. One of the perfect place for the photography enthusiast, where you can get the beautiful view of the Arabian Sea from the top. Now the whole site preserved under National Heritage Monuments. While exploring this fort its feel like you are leaving a past life and it really amaze you.

5- Kappil Lake

• Tranquil lake surrounded by coconut trees and lush greenery.
• Located just 6 km from Varkala town.
• Ideal for boating and nature walks.
• The bridge over the lake offers stunning views of the Arabian Sea.
• A peaceful retreat perfect for relaxation and photography.

The Lake tranquil beauty, dense coconut trees and surrounding nature make it one of the top places to visit in Varkala. It is just 6 km away from Varkala town. One can take a breathtaking view of the Arabian Sea from the bridge over the lake. Pedal boating is one of the most favourite activity which you can do here. You will really get amazed when entering this location. So a worth visiting tourist place in Varkala and we sure you don’t want to miss this opportunity.

That’s all about tourists attraction and places to visit in Varkala. It is one of the top-rated locations for the beach lover. Enjoy the Kerala vacation by having some fun to explore this location.