Location
: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram
district, south Kerala.
Attractions: Beach, mineral watersprings, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000
year old Vishnu temple
Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram
district. It has several places of tourist interests like a beautiful beach,
a 2000 year old Vishnu temple and the ashramam- 'Sivagiri Mutt' a little distance
from the beach.
At the serene Varkala beach is a quiet sea resort rich in mineral water springs.A
dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities
and the soul of all sins. Hence the name 'Papanasam beach'.
A two thousand year old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple, stands on the cliffs
overlooking the beach,a short distance away. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the
great Hindu reformer and Philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also
close by.
The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of
devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st
January. Sree Narayana Guru propagated the ideology:"one caste, one religion
and one god",in a society torn by the taboos of caste system.Varkala offers
excellent accommodation facilities for the tourist and is fast becoming a popular
health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres.
Getting there:
Nearest railway station : Varkala.
Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram international airport, nearly 57
km away.
Varkala Beach, Kerala Beaches Inquiry / Reservation Form
Location
: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram
district, south Kerala. 