Varkala, perched on dramatic red laterite cliffs above the Arabian Sea in Kerala, is unlike any other beach destination in India — a bohemian clifftop promenade of yoga centers, Ayurvedic treatment ce...
Varkala
Cliff Beach of Kerala
Kerala, India
4.7
Cliff ViewsMineral SpringsAyurveda
beach
Duration: 3–5 Days
Budget/day: ₹1,500 – ₹5,000
Best season: Oct – Mar
Altitude: 15 m
Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (51 km)
Nearest railway: Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station (3 km)
Best places to visit in Varkala
Things to do in Varkala
- No photoLeisure / ScenicView full guide
1–2 hours
Varkala Cliff Walk
Walk the dramatic red laterite cliffs of Varkala with the Arabian Sea crashing against the rocks below and a string of colourful yoga cafes, spice shops, and art galleries lining the cliff-top promenade. This scenic stroll is the defining experience of any Varkala visit and looks incredible at every hour of the day.
- No photoSpiritual / BeachView full guide
1–2 hours
Papanasam Beach Ritual Swim
Papanasam Beach at the base of the cliffs is considered sacred in Hindu tradition — a dip here is believed to wash away sins, and it's a common destination for last rites and memorial rituals. The beach is also simply beautiful for swimming with strong waves and a dramatic cliff backdrop.
- No photoWellnessView full guide
1.5–3 hours per session
Ayurvedic Treatment Session
Varkala is one of the best places in Kerala to experience authentic Kerala Ayurvedic treatments at clinics run by certified vaidyas. Abhyanga (full-body oil massage), Shirodhara, and Njavara treatments here use locally sourced herbs and oils prepared fresh — a world apart from commercial spa imitations.
Best Time to Visit and Weather Info
Best time: October to March
Monsoon (Jun–Sep) makes the cliffs treacherous. Strong waves restrict swimming.
Winter
Best Time ⭐Oct – Mar
22°C – 32°C
Calm seas, perfect beach weather. The cliffside promenade is most enjoyable. Ayurvedic treatments are popular.
- Stay in cliffside guesthouses for sunset views
- Try Ayurvedic massage at cliff-top centers
Monsoon
Avoid 🔴Jun – Sep
24°C – 30°C
Very rough seas. Swimming dangerous. Cliff paths can erode.
- Cliff paths can be dangerous
- Temple visits fine
How to Reach
✈️By Air
Airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (51 km)
Duration: ~1.5 hrs
Taxi or KSRTC bus from Thiruvananthapuram to Varkala.
Taxi: ₹800 – ₹1,200
Airlines: IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet
🚂By Train
Station: Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station (3 km from Papanasam Beach)
Direct trains from Chennai, Kochi, and Thiruvananthapuram.
- Island Express — Kanyakumari (3 hrs to Varkala)
🚌By Road
KSRTC buses from Thiruvananthapuram (51 km) and Kollam (26 km).
- Thiruvananthapuram: 51 km, 1.5 hrs via NH-66
- Kollam: 26 km, 45 mins via NH-66
- Kovalam: 32 km, 1 hr via NH-66
Local Food
Varkala cliff restaurants offer fresh seafood with an Arabian Sea view. Local Kerala food and international backpacker food coexist.
Grilled Tiger Prawns
Fresh Arabian Sea prawns marinated in Kerala spices, grilled and served with lemon.
Where: Cliffside restaurants on North Cliff
₹350 – ₹600
Kerala Fish Molee
Mild coconut milk-based fish curry — creamy and delicate.
Where: Ommm Café, Varkala Cliff
₹180 – ₹280
Banana Pancake
Backpacker classic — always on the menu at cliff cafés.
Where: Café Italiano, North Cliff
₹80 – ₹120
Fresh Coconut Water
Sipped straight from the coconut on the beach.
Where: Beach vendors below the cliff
₹30 – ₹50
Varkala Cliff has a good mix of Kerala seafood restaurants and international cafés. The cliff restaurants offer some of the best sea-view dining in Kerala.
FAQs
- Varkala is famous for its dramatic red laterite cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea, the sacred Papanasam Beach (believed to wash away sins), the Janardhana Swami Temple, and its relaxed backpacker-meets-ayurveda vibe.
Best Places Similar
Kovalam
Kovalam, a crescent-shaped beach town on Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram coast, is one of South India's most celebrated beach destinations, famed for its trio of palm-lined beaches — Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, and Samudra Beach — each offering a distinct character from vibrant and bustling to quiet and serene. The iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse on the headland between Lighthouse and Hawa Beach is the symbol of Kovalam and offers panoramic views of the coastline. World-class Ayurvedic treatment centers, fresh seafood restaurants, sunset boat rides, and the proximity to the cultural riches of Thiruvananthapuram make Kovalam the ideal Kerala beach holiday destination.
Marari
Marari, a tranquil fishing village on Kerala's coast between Kochi and Alleppey (Alappuzha), is home to one of India's most pristine and uncrowded beaches — a long, flat stretch of powdery white sand backed by casuarina groves and coconut palms, where the only disturbance is the gentle lapping of the Arabian Sea. Unlike the more tourist-heavy beaches of Kovalam, Marari retains the authentic character of a Kerala fishing village, with traditional wooden boats drawn up on the sand and local fishermen mending their nets. Eco-friendly beach resorts offering authentic Kerala cuisine, Ayurvedic treatments, and yoga retreats make Marari a perfect slow-travel destination.
Alleppey
Alleppey, officially Alappuzha and known as the Venice of the East, is the gateway to Kerala's celebrated backwaters — a 900-kilometer network of lakes, rivers, and canals that form one of the most enchanting and photogenic landscapes in India. A houseboat cruise through the palm-fringed waterways of the Kuttanad region, gliding past paddy fields, coconut groves, and traditional villages accessible only by water, is one of India's most quintessential travel experiences. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race held on Punnamada Lake in August, the beautiful Alleppey Beach, and the region's delectable Kerala seafood cuisine complete the backwater experience.
Nearby destinations
Kovalam
47 km · Kovalam, a crescent-shaped beach town on Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram coast, is one of South India's most celebrated beach destinations, famed for its trio of palm-lined beaches — Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach, and Samudra Beach — each offering a distinct character from vibrant and bustling to quiet and serene. The iconic red-and-white striped lighthouse on the headland between Lighthouse and Hawa Beach is the symbol of Kovalam and offers panoramic views of the coastline. World-class Ayurvedic treatment centers, fresh seafood restaurants, sunset boat rides, and the proximity to the cultural riches of Thiruvananthapuram make Kovalam the ideal Kerala beach holiday destination.
Sabarimala
87 km · Sabarimala, nestled in the forested hills of the Western Ghats in Kerala, is one of the largest Hindu pilgrimage sites in the world and the abode of Lord Ayyappa — a deity embodying dharma, celibacy, and universal brotherhood. The annual pilgrimage season from November to January sees millions of devotees, clad in traditional black attire, undertaking the challenging 5-kilometer trek through dense jungle to reach the hilltop shrine. The journey to Sabarimala is as much a physical and spiritual ordeal as it is an act of devotion, passing through the sacred 18 golden steps before reaching the temple.
Alleppey
94 km · Alleppey, officially Alappuzha and known as the Venice of the East, is the gateway to Kerala's celebrated backwaters — a 900-kilometer network of lakes, rivers, and canals that form one of the most enchanting and photogenic landscapes in India. A houseboat cruise through the palm-fringed waterways of the Kuttanad region, gliding past paddy fields, coconut groves, and traditional villages accessible only by water, is one of India's most quintessential travel experiences. The Nehru Trophy Boat Race held on Punnamada Lake in August, the beautiful Alleppey Beach, and the region's delectable Kerala seafood cuisine complete the backwater experience.
