Varkala is a small coastal town 50 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, famous for two things: a 7.5 km stretch of dramatic red laterite cliffs (a Geological Monument) and the Janardana Swami Temple, a shrine to Vishnu that pilgrims have visited for nearly 2,000 years. The cliffs are unique in Kerala's mostly low-lying coast, and the beaches at their foot attract pilgrims, families and wellness travellers in equal measure.
What makes Varkala different from other Kerala beaches is the vertical. You walk along a narrow promenade on the clifftop, with guest houses, ayurveda centres and tiny restaurants cascading down the red rock to the sand below. It is intimate, walkable and genuinely old in parts, without feeling like a theme park. The evening ritual here is the cliff-edge sunsets, when the light turns the stone apricot and families line the promenade to watch.
Three days is a good length—enough to slow down, make a day trip to nearby Neyyar or Kappil, spend a morning at the temple if it appeals, and experience the evening cliff walks that set Varkala apart. For older travellers, the clifftop is mostly level, though staircases connect the promenade to beach-level cafés and temple areas. Most of the town is navigable if you choose your hotel carefully and start before the midday heat.
Before you plan
Know Varkala at a glance
- Best months
- October to March; November to February is the most pleasant, with cool mornings and dry evenings. April to June is hot and humid, and July to September brings heavy monsoon rain.
- Ideal trip length
- 3 days to experience the town, beaches and a day trip; 2 days covers the main sights if you want a shorter visit
- Nearest airport
- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), roughly 50–60 km south, 1.5–2 hours by road, traffic dependent
- Railway station
- Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station (VAK), on the main line; Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVM) is also accessible via local trains or taxis
- Getting around
- A private taxi or driver is easiest; local autos (tuk-tuks) are cheap for short hops within town. The clifftop promenade is walkable. State buses connect to Thiruvananthapuram and nearby towns.
- Daily budget
- Roughly ₹1,200–₹3,500 per person per day excluding hotel, for meals, local transport, beach visits and entry fees; varies with ayurveda treatments and dining choices
- Senior comfort
- Very good: the clifftop promenade is mostly level, hotels can arrange direct access without stairs, and the pace is relaxed. Beach-level cafés and temple areas involve some descending staircases.
- Language
- Malayalam locally; English widely spoken in hotels, guest houses, restaurants and around the beach. Older residents may speak Tamil or English with visitors.
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
How many days do you have?
A Varkala itinerary that leaves room for Varkala
01 1 day in Varkala
- Day 1: Cliffs and temple. Arrive and settle into a clifftop hotel with a sea-facing room. Spend the morning walking the Varkala Promenade, browsing the small shops and cafés perched above the beach. Around midday, descend to the Varkala Beach (also called Papanasam Beach) to see the sand and water springs said to have healing properties. Return to the clifftop for lunch. In the late afternoon, visit the Janardana Swami Temple if it is open and you wish to, observing any dress codes. Alternatively, rest at your hotel. Spend the evening on the promenade as the light softens, watching the sun dip toward the horizon and the cliffs turn deep red and orange. Dinner at a clifftop restaurant overlooking the beach.
02 2 days in Varkala
- Day 1: Cliffs, promenade and temple. Arrive and check into a clifftop hotel. Walk the Varkala Promenade in the morning, exploring the small shops, guest houses and local eateries. Descend to Papanasam Beach to swim or wade. Have lunch at a beachside café (try fish curry with rice or idli). Rest in the afternoon at your hotel. Late afternoon: visit Janardana Swami Temple (check opening times and dress code beforehand). Spend the evening on the promenade and have dinner with a sea view.
- Day 2: Day trip and sunset. Early morning: drive to Neyyar Dam, roughly 30–40 km inland, to see the reservoir and forested catchment. Hire a boat if available for a water view. Return to Varkala by early afternoon. Rest and have lunch. Late afternoon: take a final walk on the promenade, visit any small museum or craft shop you missed, or book a sunset ayurveda session at one of the clifftop centres. End with an evening meal and sunset view.
03 3 days in Varkala
- Day 1: Promenade and temple. Arrive and settle into a clifftop hotel. Morning walk along the Varkala Promenade, browsing shops, restaurants and local crafts. Descend to Papanasam Beach mid-morning and wade or swim. Return for lunch at a beachside spot. Afternoon rest or ayurveda treatment. Late afternoon: visit Janardana Swami Temple and observe the evening preparations if timings align. Spend the evening on the promenade and have dinner facing the sea.
- Day 2: Neyyar and Ashram-Sivagiri. Drive early to Neyyar Dam, roughly 30–40 km away, for a morning spent by the reservoir and forest. Boat ride if available. Lunch near the dam or back in town. Late afternoon: visit Sivagiri Mutt, the ashram of Narayana Guru, a few kilometres north of Varkala, to see the spiritual site and Narayana Guru's samadhi. Return to Varkala for an evening cliff walk and dinner.
- Day 3: Kappil Beach and departure. Morning drive to Kappil Beach, about 20 km south, a quieter crescent with a small island and backwater lagoon. Swim, explore, have lunch in the village. Return to Varkala mid-afternoon. Spend the final hours on the promenade shopping for souvenirs, visiting any shop or café you missed, or resting at your hotel. If departing in the evening, aim for a final sunset, then head to the railway station or airport.
