I am currently living and working in Tamil Nadu. Pongal is for the Tamil what Christmas is for families in the West. Nobody works on Pongal. Everyone celebrates, spends time with family, visits temples and just enjoys harvest season.
So this Pongal, quite unexpectedly, I found myself stupendously unoccupied for 3 whole days. And I thought to myself, let’s head out and explore.
A few quick searches later I had settled on Varkala. Here’s why:
Vacation in Varkala
Varkala is the only town in Kerala that has Cliff Beaches. That makes it uniquely picturesque. It’s called the ‘Kashi of the South’.
Good food, good crows and really cute décor. Perfect for breakfast. I had the rise and shine bowl and lemonda – a great way to start the day.
TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN VARKALA
The amazing thing about Varkala is that you can do a short trip here or a long one. It completely depends on how much time you’ve got. It makes for a great base location though. There are several beaches: Varkala beach, Black beach, Edava Beach. All of them are great for just chilling out.
Some things to explore are:
1. Surfing
Popular among Indians and Foreigners alike. You can opt for a 2-hour class as well if you’re new to surfing. https://www.facebook.com/moonwavessurfschool/
If you’re fortunate, you may sight dolphins when you’re out surfing too!
2. Cliff Walk
A long stretch of cafes, shops and restaurants on one side and the cliff facing the sea on the other. It is beautiful, tasteful and tranquil. All the cafes are very welcoming and good for sea watching.
3. Paragliding
Costs Rs.3800 for about 15-20 minutes of gliding. Happens at the Helipad. Look for the offices of Can Fly Adventures.
4. Jatayu Earth’s Centre
A bit of a travel, it is 1 hour away by road. It has the world’s largest bird sculpture of Jatayu, from the epic, Ramayana. They also have adventure activities, 15 in total, such as Ziplining, Burma Bridge, Rock Climbing, Paintball etc. Be sure to wear shoes and go, else entry is denied. Or you can just buy them there (limited selection, beware!)
5. Golden Island
Boat Tour companies such as Nova Boat Club organise tours to the acacia lined island which home to a Shiva-Parvati temple. It is both scenic and peaceful.
6. Varkala Light House
The lighthouse is open from 3 to 5 in the afternoons. Entry charge is Rs.30. it gives an enchanting view of the Arabian Sea on one side and lush greenery and the backwaters on the other.
7. Varkala Cultural Centre
Open every evening between 6:30PM to 8:00, the centre organises Kathakali Performances during tourist season. Entry fee is Rs.400. it is a must-watch live show for imbibing local culture.
8. Temples
There are 2 famous temples here: the Janardhana temple, nearly 2000 years old and the Shivagiri Mutt, a popular ashram of Shri Narayana Guru.
Both are rich in culture, history and religion.
Janardhana temple is located on a steep hill. It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is a major pilgrim spot.
The Shivagiri Mutt is the headquarters of the Shri Narayana Dharma Sangha Trust devoted to the Guru, a leading Social Reformer (1855-1928)
9. Varkala Aquarium
The aquarium is a fun place to watch exotic species such as angelfish, scorpionfish and the koi. There are local varieties such as Karimeen too.
10. Anchuthengu Fort
The fort is 12km south of Varkala. It was one of the first trading posts set up by the East India Company in 1695. On the way to the fort comes the Boat Yard Hanging Bridge which makes for a great spot to take photos.
PLACES TO EAT
• Darjeeling Café
• Caffe Italiano
Authentic Italian and a wall lined with books. If you’re an avid reader with a taste for pie, you will love this place.
• Trattorias
All kinds of cuisines are available here. I tried the Thukpa which was quite good.
• Café Del Mar
Famous for seafood, it is a popular restaurant for all kinds of exotic dishes and delicacies.
REACHING VARKALA
Nearest Airports for Varkala are in Trivandrum, 1.5hrs away, and Kochi, 4.5hrs away. Buses and Trains are both frequent and can be taken quite conveniently from both cities.
STAY IN VARKALA
If you are a solo traveller, looking for good company to be found, a hostel will serve your needs best. You will certainly meet a lot of fellow solo travellers looking for some quality beach time and chill scenes.
Hostels like Zostel, The Lost Hostel and Short Giraffe are recommended. This comes from personal experience as well as hearsay from a pair of hostel hoppers I had the good fortune to run into at Zostel, where I was staying.
There are mixed dorms as well as female dorms. Please choose as per your convenience.
Resorts and AirBnB are also an option but location is key. Please pick somewhere close to the beach for full effect!
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The weather is pleasant in winters. Between October and March will be perfect. Restaurants host parties with free entry, good DJ and great crowds. There’s one happening almost every 4-5 days during season. These parties are a great way to get some inter-cultural experience as well as drink and dance your feet out till dawn.
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