Kerala
Travel Guide
Varkala Tourism
Varkala is a small town situated
at a distance of 55kms in north of Thiruvananthapuram. It is a seaside tourist
resort and spa and an important religious place for the Hindus.
You can
spend sometime at the Papanasam Beach inVarkala. It is a secluded beach known
for its white, silvery stretch of sand, mineral springs and rocky cliffs. Varkala
is also final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer of
Kerala, situated near Varkala atop a hill named Sivagiri.
Tourist
Attractions of VarkalaThe main tourist places that you can visit
on your tour to Varkala are:
Varkala Papanasam BeachIt is situated
at a distance of 42 km away from Thiruvanathapuram. The Papanasam Beach is the
best spot for watching sunset along Kerala coast. During monsoon, you can see
the roaring waves engulfing the beach lying beneath towering cliff and mineral
water spring. The mineral water gushing from the hill is believed to have medicinal
properties.
Janardhana TempleVarkala also houses a leading
pilgrim center in Kerala. The 800-year old Janardhana temple, dedicated to Ayyappan
and Hanuman, atop the hill has brought a sobriquet for the region, Southern Kasi.
Non-Hindus are not permitted to enter the inner sanctum but can hang around the
temple.
SivagiriThe Sivagiri Mutt is a religious retreat and
is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. This place was found by Sree Narayana
Guru in the year 1856 - 1928, the renowned philosopher and social reformer of
modern Kerala. Even today the Samadhi of the Guru is thronged by thousands of
pilgrims.
Varkala BeachVarkala
is a seaside resort and an important Hindu center of pilgrimage visited by thousands
of pilgrims every year. The beach is bordered by the High cliffs with rich mineral
springs that rise majestically from the coastline.
The main attraction
of the place is the 2000-year-old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Center
situated at the Varkala Beach. Varkala is a beautiful beach, rich in mineral water
springs that are known for their medicinal value.
A dip in the holy waters
of Varkala beach is believed to purify body and the soul. At the time of the Malayalam
month of 'Karkidakam', thousands offer 'Vavu Bali', a ritual believed to help
the souls of ancestors rest in peace.
