Varkala

Location:
51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram district, South Kerala.
Attractions:
Beach, mineral water springs, 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 interest 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 the caste system. Varkala offers excellent accommodation facilities for the tourist and is fast becoming a popular health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres. Getting thereNearest railway station: Varkala.Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, about 57 km away.