Unwind In Peace
A place where tranquility reigns supreme, where history legends and natural beauty are intermingled in perfect fusion-that is Varkala,a highly acclaimed beach destination in Thiruvananthapuram district. The beach cliffs have innumerable natural springs with an outpouring of medicinal waters, while the beach attracts a lot of tourists as the calm and peaceful seas present a safe swimming spot.
Varkala is an important pilgrimage centre and devotees flock to the 2000 year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple which is located close to Papanasam Beach whose sacred waters are considered to wash away sins. Varkala is also famous for the Sivagiri Mutt with the mausoleum of the Hindu reformer, Sree Narayana Guru. The adjacent hills house the East-West University of Brahmavidya and Sree Narayana Gurukulam.
Varkala has a wide range of quality stay facilities ranging from luxury accommodation to budget rooms. Many offer Ayurvedic rejuvenation packages.
One of the tourism initiatives in Varkala that has generated a lot of publicity is the socially relevant Lullaby@varkala project implemented by a private sector organization, Kerala travels Interserve. The project, being implemented at 141 anganwadis in seven panchayats and the Varkala municipality in association with the ICDS, Varkala, Prochild, an NGO, and the local community, aims at channelising the wealth generated from tourism for the uplift of needy children, women and economically weaker section. Under the project, over 3,000 children at the anganwadis are provided milk, vegetable supplements thrice a week to supplement the diet provided by the Government.
Varkala is 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and well-connected by road. Not all trains halt at Varkala railway station and the nearest railhead is also Thiruvananthapuram.
