A sleepy village on the cliffside along the sea
Cobbled pathways leading to the beaches
Ultra cute cafes lining the maze of streets
Colorful vibes all along
I am sure the first thing that comes to mind after reading the above is Amalfi Coast!! Or maybe Goa – if you are in India. But, I am talking about neither. Surprised, are you? Let me introduce you to Varkala – the beautiful vibrant coastal town of Kerala located along the cliff overlooking the turquoise blue Arabian Sea.
On our week long road trip from Bangalore to Kerala, we did a one day trip to Varkala. While transitioning from the backwaters of Alleppey to Trivandrum. Varkala is a small coastal town conveniently located at almost same distance from Alleppey and Thiruvananthapuram. So, post breakfast in our resort in Alleppey, we drove to Varkala. From our experience visiting Varkala, we bring you a list of places to see in Varkala in one day (in the order they are mentioned). As well as off beat things to do in Varkala.
Table of Contents
Drive along the sea shore at Kappil Beach and Kappil Lake Varkala
If you are taking a day trip to Varkala from Alleppey like we did, then Kappil beach should be your first stop. This is a unique stretch of God’s own country, Kerala. Where there is a beautiful backwater lake on one side and a beach on the other. While the road passes through them. And yes, you can drive along the coast, right besides the beach for a long distance here.
You can also park besides the beach at certain points and go to the beach. But beware of the risks. As the current of the ocean here is really strong. We stopped on our way at one such stretch. And through rocky boulders, we reached to the sandy beach. While we were standing very far from the waves, one of the strongest waves took me by surprise. Reaching all the way till where we were standing.
Have lunch at one of the many beautiful places to eat in Varkala
Just like the cafes of Pondicherry, there are several pretty eateries and cafes in Varkala. And you have got to try some of them while you are here. We had our lunch at Indi Cafe – one of the top rated cafes in Varkala. It has a very peaceful and laid back vibe. And the food was also great, at reasonable price. Only challenge is driving in as the last 200 meters to the cafe is a very narrow street.
Some other highly rated cafes in Varkala include :
- Cafe Italiano – which as an excellent view of the sea from the Varkala cliff.
- Darjeeling cafe Varkala
- Cafe Del Mar Varkala
- The beach cafe
- Mad about coco
Actually the streets of Varkala have a strong vibe similar to the streets of North Goa. You will find cute cafes and eateries in almost every street and every nook and corner. And they all seem to have tasty cuisines lined up for you.
Get lost in the winding streets of Varkala Cliff
The Varkala Cliff has narrow winding streets. Navigating the streets of Varkala on a scooty is your best bet. Their vibes are so similar to what I have experienced in the streets of Goa while on my workcation in Goa. And the Varkala cliff itself reminds me of Chapora Fort in Goa which I visited on my latest trip to Goa. It’s a beautiful terrain with a very laid back kind of vibe. Which you should explore on your own pace. What you will find while doing so is unexpected boutique hotels, cafes and restaurants, small shops selling beachwear and other accessories made from sea shell and very funky street art! And who knows, you might end up making new friends as well.
Visit the Varkala Beach
Varkala beach is a must visit on your one day trip to Varkala. From most of the cafes and restaurants on Varkala Cliff, the Varkala Beach is accessible. We headed here after our lunch at Inda Cafe. And parked our car on the cliff top at the Varkala beach parking area. From the cliff top, there was an excellent view of the sea below. And you could see the whole stretch of the beach.
After parking your vehicle you can walk to the Varkala Beach below. Although the currents are strong, thus it is not a suitable beach for swimming. But if you know me from my previous posts exploring the beaches of Goa, walking along the shore is my most favourite activity on a beach. So, while I took a long walk exploring the length and breadth of the Varkala beach, my kids played on the course sandy beach making sand castles. The views of the cliff from the beach look so dramatic. No wonder Varkala is considered one of the most romantic beaches of Kerala.
Check out the Varkala Lighthouse
After spending time on the Varkala beach, head to the Varkala Lighthouse. I could only catch a glimpse of the Varkala Lighthouse on our way driving from Varkala Beach to our hotel, Vivanta Thiruvananthapuram. If you have time on your one day trip to Varkala, you can actually climb up the Varkala Lighthouse. It gives an excellent 360 view of the whole town of Varkala, the ruined Anjengo fort near it, the Varkala Beach, the endless stretch of ocean and the coconut grooves and backwater lakes that dot the whole area.
Go church hopping in Varkala
While on my way from Varkala to Trivandrum, I noticed that there are several beautiful churches spread around the town of Varkala. I could not stop and visit one because of lack of time. But if you are on your one day trip to Varkala, do stop by some and let me know which one you liked the best. Some of these are large white churches, with beautiful paintings around them. While some others were very unusual, like brick red and pastel colored simple buildings without much decoration. However, their unique color itself was their USP!!
Other places to visit & things to do in and around Varkala
There are a few other places to visit in and around Varkala that you can add to your itinerary if you are staying in Varkala for more than one day. Some of these include:
- Kayaking in the mangrove backwaters
- Thiruvambadi beach – the black sand beach of Kerala
- Anjengo Fort
- Ponnumthuruthu
- Jagannathswamy temple
- Varkala Tunnel
Where to stay in Varkala
I will highly recommend staying for a minimum one night in Varkala to be able to explore all that this town has to cover. Although in a one day trip to Varkala, we can cover it’s highlights. But to feel it’s laid back lifestyle and the slow paced vibe, it is important to stay overnight. There are several backpackers hostels, budget hotels and inns as well as beautiful resorts around Varkala that suit all kind of budget. You can browse the list here.
Some of the places in Varkala where I would have personally loved to stay include :
How to reach Varkala
Varkala is at just 1 hour driving distance from Thiruvanathapuram or Trivandrum, the capital of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram has a railway station and an airport as well. So, it is well connected with rest of the country through rail and air network. So, you can always plan to reach Trivandrum and then from there do a day trip to Varkala from Trivandrum. Also, you can take a bus or a cab from Thiruvananthapuram to Varkala and then explore overnight in Varkala. A road trip from Thrivandrum to Varkala is a very convenient way to explore Varkala when on a day trip to Varkala.
You can also drive to Varkala from Alleppey like we did. The highway NH66 which connects Cochin to Trivandrum runs via Varkala. It takes around 3 hours to reach Varkala from Alleppey as the highway is 2 lanes only for most part.
Best time to visit Varkala
October to February will be the best time to visit Varkala. As the temperature during this time is in bearable limit. For rest of the time through the year, the town is very hot and humid which might not be comfortable for roaming around and exploring places. However, instead of doing a one day trip to Varkala, if you are staying in Varkala then any time of the year is fine.
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