Varkala
Encyclopedia
Varkala is a coastal town and municipality
in Thiruvananthapuram district
situated in the India
n state
of Kerala
. It is located 50 kilometres (approx. 32 miles) north-west of Thiruvananthapuram
(Trivandrum) and 37 km south-west of Kollam
city.
Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliff
s are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. These tertiary sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature on the otherwise flat Kerala coast, and is known among geologists as Varkala Formation and a geological monument as declared by the Geological Survey of India. There are numerous water spouts and spa
s on the sides of these cliffs.
Varkala is also famous for the 2,000-year old Janardana Swami Temple which is an important Vaishnavaite
shrine in India and is often referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the South). The temple is located close to the Papanasam beach, which is considered to have holy waters which wash away sins, and is also an important Ayurveda
treatment centre. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties.
Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri
Mutt, established by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru
. The hill-top mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala. The adjacent hills house the East-West University of Brahmavidya and Sree Narayana Gurukulam.
abound on the birth of Varkala. Another legend goes like this - when a group of pilgrims approached Saint Narada
and told him that they had sinned, Narada threw his valkalam ( a loin cloth made from the bark of a tree) and it landed at this scenic village and hence, the place came to be known as Varkala. Narada told the pilgrims to pray for their redemption at Papanasam, which literally means redemption from sins.
The government-run nature cure hospital is also functioning near the Papanasam cliff.
The District Ayurvedic Hospital is also located in Varkala.
Varkala is the second most important railhead in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, after the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. Varkala is an important hub for neighbouring places like Attingal
, Kadakkavur, Edava
, Kallambalam
, Kappil
, Parippally
and Kilimanoor
.
of India, Varkala has a population of 42,273. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Varkala has an average literacy rate of 88%, with 92% of males and 85% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The people of Varkala are generally employed in the service sector. A large number of them work outside India, mainly in the Middle East
, Singapore
, Brunei
, Malaysia, the USA and the United Kingdom
.
and some major places in India
. The Private and Kerala State road Transport Corporation
(KSRTC) bus depot is near the railway station.
- Chathannoor
-Kottiyam
-Kollam
- 37 km
Varkala-Cherunniyoor- Kavalayoor- Attingal
- Thiruvananthapuram
- 50 km
Varkala- Kallambalam
-Alamcode
-Nagaroor-Kilimanoor
- 30 km
Varkala-Parippally
- Kalluvathukkal- Pooyappally- Kottarakkara
- 39 km
Varkala- Edava
- Kappil - Paravoor
- 12 km (To be extended to Kollam via coastal road)
Varkala- Anchuthengu - Kadakkavoor - Chirayinkeezhu
- 15 km
- 140 km (via Kottarakkara
, Adoor
, Pathanamthitta
)
Ponmudi
- 88 km (via Attingal
, Venjarammoodu
, Nedumangadu, Vithura
)
Thekkady
- 186 km (via Pathanamthitta
, Erumely
-Mundakkayam)
Kanyakumari
- 138 km
Kochi
- 180 km
Kozhikode
- 375 km
Bangalore
- 695 km
Chennai
- 713 km
or Papanasam beach is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. It is one of the most popular tourism destination in Kerala
. The evening views of the sunset are worth lingering over. The cliff and the beach houses a lot of resorts, restaurants and other shops. The cliff has a long stretch of small shops which goes on for over a kilometer.
Sections of Varkala Beach
(Papanasam Beach) are used by Indians to scatter the ashes of their cremated dead relatives into the sea. Devotees believe that the strong religious properties of the water will extend to the souls of their most recently departed. Despite this burial activity, the sea is popular with swimmers both locals and foreign tourists.
Kappil Lake is about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) north of Varkala Town. This serene estuary meanders through dense coconut groves before merging into the Arabian Sea
. The bridge over the lake is quite a vantage point to view the backwater stretching white and grey to the distant blue horizon. Boating is another great way to browse this tranquil waterway.
is a fort
near varkala. It is a place of historic importance as well as beautiful natural setting, Anjengo is an ideal destination for those who don't mind walking around and explore what is in store.The historic significance tagged to Anjengo comes through foreign powers like the Portuguese
, the Dutch
and finally the English East India Company. In the year 1684, the English East India Company
chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort, which was targeted several times by other foreign powers, who were at that time fighting each other to get a firm footing in Kerala. The Fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery
inside the fort, which most probably would be having the remains of the occupants of the fort, and the oldest among the burial sites dates to 1704. The beautiful Muthalapuzhi lake is situated in Anjengo.
. The temple is about 2000 years old. Facing the temple is the Papasnanam beach where devotees take a bath in the belief that the sacred
waters will wash away their sins. A large bell washed up from the wreck of a Dutch merchant vessel is kept on display at the temple.
. Sree Narayana Guru's tomb
is also located here. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage
days 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala. Even decades after the guru breathed his last here in 1928; his samadhi continues to be thronged by thousands of devotees, donned in yellow attire, from different parts of Kerala and outside every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters
of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saint
s, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debate
s and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding
and rituals mark the celebrations.
is a famous old temple situated near Varkala at Chirayinkeezhu. The temple is famous for the kaliyoot festival on the Malayalam month of kumbham (March).
Sree Saraswathy Temple located in Venkulam, Edava is a VidyaDevi temple famous for Navarathri Sangeetholsavam and Vijayadesami Vidyarambam.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Thiruvananthapuram district
Thiruvananthapuram district
Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. It came into existence in the year 1957. The headquarters is the city of Thiruvananthapuram which is also the capital city of Kerala....
situated in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. It is located 50 kilometres (approx. 32 miles) north-west of Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
(Trivandrum) and 37 km south-west of Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
city.
Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. These tertiary sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature on the otherwise flat Kerala coast, and is known among geologists as Varkala Formation and a geological monument as declared by the Geological Survey of India. There are numerous water spouts and spa
Spa
The term spa is associated with water treatment which is also known as balneotherapy. Spa towns or spa resorts typically offer various health treatments. The belief in the curative powers of mineral waters goes back to prehistoric times. Such practices have been popular worldwide, but are...
s on the sides of these cliffs.
Varkala is also famous for the 2,000-year old Janardana Swami Temple which is an important Vaishnavaite
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu, or his associated Avatars such as Rama and Krishna, as the original and supreme God....
shrine in India and is often referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the South). The temple is located close to the Papanasam beach, which is considered to have holy waters which wash away sins, and is also an important Ayurveda
Ayurveda
Ayurveda or ayurvedic medicine is a system of traditional medicine native to India and a form of alternative medicine. In Sanskrit, words , meaning "longevity", and , meaning "knowledge" or "science". The earliest literature on Indian medical practice appeared during the Vedic period in India,...
treatment centre. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties.
Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri
Sivagiri
Jawaharlal Nehru"I am happy and privileged to come here and pay my tribute to a great man whose message is as vital and essential today as it was when he gave it"...
Mutt, established by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society...
. The hill-top mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala. The adjacent hills house the East-West University of Brahmavidya and Sree Narayana Gurukulam.
Legends
It is believed that a Pandyan King was instructed by Lord Brahma to build a temple at this very place to redeem him of his sins. But several other mythsMythology
The term mythology can refer either to the study of myths, or to a body or collection of myths. As examples, comparative mythology is the study of connections between myths from different cultures, whereas Greek mythology is the body of myths from ancient Greece...
abound on the birth of Varkala. Another legend goes like this - when a group of pilgrims approached Saint Narada
Narada
Narada or Narada Muni is a divine sage from the Vaisnava tradition, who plays a prominent role in a number of the Puranic texts, especially in the Bhagavata Purana, and in the Ramayana...
and told him that they had sinned, Narada threw his valkalam ( a loin cloth made from the bark of a tree) and it landed at this scenic village and hence, the place came to be known as Varkala. Narada told the pilgrims to pray for their redemption at Papanasam, which literally means redemption from sins.
Economy
Varkala is a well-known tourist destination. The town has excellent telecommunication facilities, an average-rated water supply system, fire station, several post offices and police station. The town boasts of government-run modern medicine, ayurveda,and nature cure hospital in addition to over 10 private hospitals, clinics and some dental clinics.The government-run nature cure hospital is also functioning near the Papanasam cliff.
The District Ayurvedic Hospital is also located in Varkala.
Varkala is the second most important railhead in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, after the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. Varkala is an important hub for neighbouring places like Attingal
Attingal
Attingal is a town and a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state, India, bounded by the Mamom and Vamanapuram rivers. It is situated 30 km to the north of state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.-Demographics:...
, Kadakkavur, Edava
Edava
Edava is a coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. Edava is located near the tourist spot Varkala.- History :Edava was the frontier of the erstwhile Province of Travancore: Venad...
, Kallambalam
Kallambalam
Kallambalam is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. Kallambalam Joints Varkala with National Highway 47.It is 41 KM north from Thiruvananthapuram, 30 KM south of Kollam city and 10 KM East of Varkala...
, Kappil
Kappil, Paravur
Kappil is the north-west border town of Thiruvananthapuram district. It is located in Edava Panchayat at the cost of Arabian Sea, near Varkala.-Tourism:...
, Parippally
Parippally
Parippally is a village town in Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is 27 km away from Kollam city along the NH47. It is the boundary of Kollam district and Trivandrum District. There are 4 major roads which connects Madathara, Paravoor, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram. Only 10 kilometers from here to...
and Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor is a census town in the state of Kerala, India. It is located on MC/SH 1 Road, 36 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram .The town area is administered by 2 grama panchayats, pazhayakunnummel and kilimanoor grama panchayat....
.
Demographics
According to the 2001 censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of India, Varkala has a population of 42,273. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Varkala has an average literacy rate of 88%, with 92% of males and 85% of females literate. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.
The people of Varkala are generally employed in the service sector. A large number of them work outside India, mainly in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, Brunei
Brunei
Brunei , officially the State of Brunei Darussalam or the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace , is a sovereign state located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia...
, Malaysia, the USA and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Transport
Trivandrum International airport (55 km) is the nearest airport.Varkala Sivagiri railway station is well-connected by regular trains with ThiruvananthapuramThiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
and some major places in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. The Private and Kerala State road Transport Corporation
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is the state-run bus company in Kerala, India. It is one of the oldest state run public bus transport services in India.-History:...
(KSRTC) bus depot is near the railway station.
Main Road Destinations
Varkala- ParippallyParippally
Parippally is a village town in Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is 27 km away from Kollam city along the NH47. It is the boundary of Kollam district and Trivandrum District. There are 4 major roads which connects Madathara, Paravoor, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram. Only 10 kilometers from here to...
- Chathannoor
Chathannoor
Chathannoor is a town in Kerala situated at the Kollam District on the banks of Ithikkara River. It is about 17 KM from Kollam City towards NH47 to Trivandrum.It is around 50 km north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47 .We can easily access Paravoor, and...
-Kottiyam
Kottiyam
Kottiyam is one of the fast developing suburban towns located at the southern end of Kollam city in Kollam District, Kerala, India. Kottiyam is a thriving and fast developing commercial centre at the sothern end of Kollam city...
-Kollam
Kollam
Kollam , often anglicized as ', is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake on the Arabian sea coast and is situated about north of the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram...
- 37 km
Varkala-Cherunniyoor- Kavalayoor- Attingal
Attingal
Attingal is a town and a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state, India, bounded by the Mamom and Vamanapuram rivers. It is situated 30 km to the north of state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.-Demographics:...
- Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
- 50 km
Varkala- Kallambalam
Kallambalam
Kallambalam is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. Kallambalam Joints Varkala with National Highway 47.It is 41 KM north from Thiruvananthapuram, 30 KM south of Kollam city and 10 KM East of Varkala...
-Alamcode
Alamcode, Thiruvananthapuram
Alamcode is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India.-Demographics: India census, Alamcode had a population of 12954 with 6231 males and 6723 females....
-Nagaroor-Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor
Kilimanoor is a census town in the state of Kerala, India. It is located on MC/SH 1 Road, 36 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram .The town area is administered by 2 grama panchayats, pazhayakunnummel and kilimanoor grama panchayat....
- 30 km
Varkala-Parippally
Parippally
Parippally is a village town in Kollam district, Kerala, India. It is 27 km away from Kollam city along the NH47. It is the boundary of Kollam district and Trivandrum District. There are 4 major roads which connects Madathara, Paravoor, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram. Only 10 kilometers from here to...
- Kalluvathukkal- Pooyappally- Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara , also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and taluk in Kollam District , in Kerala state, India. The town is close to the Kollam port which has a rich history linked to the early medieval period as well as a reputation for being an important commercial, industrial and trading...
- 39 km
Varkala- Edava
Edava
Edava is a coastal village in Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala, India. Edava is located near the tourist spot Varkala.- History :Edava was the frontier of the erstwhile Province of Travancore: Venad...
- Kappil - Paravoor
Paravoor
Paravur is a town and a municipality in the Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala. The festivals along with the beautiful lakes and sea coast in Paravur attract thousands of visitors and foreigners. Paravur is 24 km away from Kollam city by road while Paravur can be reached within 15...
- 12 km (To be extended to Kollam via coastal road)
Varkala- Anchuthengu - Kadakkavoor - Chirayinkeezhu
Chirayinkeezhu
Chirayinkeezhu is a village in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala.This is the birth place of the Malayalam actors Shri. Prem Nazir and Bharath Gopi.-Places:The Sarkara Devi Temple is situated at Chirayinkeezhu...
- 15 km
Distance Chart (Shortest Distance)
SabarimalaSabarimala
Sabarimala is a Hindu pilgrimage center located in the Western Ghat mountain ranges of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala. It is the largest annual pilgrimage in India with an estimated 45–50 million devotees visiting every year. Sabarimala is believed to be the place where the Hindu God Ayyappan...
- 140 km (via Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara
Kottarakkara , also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a town and taluk in Kollam District , in Kerala state, India. The town is close to the Kollam port which has a rich history linked to the early medieval period as well as a reputation for being an important commercial, industrial and trading...
, Adoor
Adoor
Adoor is a town and a municipality near Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala state, India, spread over an area of 20.42 km2. The town is located midway between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. It is among one of the three municipalities in Pathanamthitta district.-Etymology:It is...
, Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
)
Ponmudi
Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a hillstation in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in South India. Its located 61 km north-east of Trivandrum city at an altitude of 1100 m. It is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea.-Tourism:Ponmudi is connected to...
- 88 km (via Attingal
Attingal
Attingal is a town and a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala state, India, bounded by the Mamom and Vamanapuram rivers. It is situated 30 km to the north of state capital of Thiruvananthapuram.-Demographics:...
, Venjarammoodu
Venjarammoodu
-Geography:It is located at .Venjaramoodu is located in Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. It is 27 km north of Thiruvananthapuram on the M C Road -Location:...
, Nedumangadu, Vithura
Vithura
Vithura is a small village situated 36 km from Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the Kerala state in India. Vithura is the crossroads to various tourist, cultural, and religious centres. Surrounded by the Western Ghats , Vithura is a prime tourist spot. The Village is rich with scenic beauty and...
)
Thekkady
Thekkady
Thekkady is the location of the Periyar National Park, which is an important tourist attraction in the Kerala state of India.- Overview :...
- 186 km (via Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
, Erumely
Erumely
-Location:Erumely is on the Kanjirappalli - Pathanamthitta Route. A small river, Koratty, marks the entrance of Erumely town. Erumely is a small village in Kottayam District and Kanjirappally Taluk...
-Mundakkayam)
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a town in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. It is also sometimes referred to as Cape Comorin. Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula, it is the geographical end of the Indian mainland. The district in Tamil Nadu where the town is located is called Kanyakumari...
- 138 km
Kochi
Kochi
-Places:* Kochi, a city in the state of Kerala, India, formerly known as Cochin* Kingdom of Cochin, a former feudal city-state on Malabar Coast, India** Fort Kochi, one of the three main urban components which constitute the present day city of Kochi, Kerala, India...
- 180 km
Kozhikode
Kozhikode
Kozhikode During Classical antiquity and the Middle Ages, Kozhikkode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices. Kozhikode was once the capital of an independent kingdom of the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District...
- 375 km
Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
- 695 km
Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
- 713 km
Tourism
Tourism started thriving by the end of last century at the Varkala beach(Papanasam), which was earlier famous for Vavu Beli, a Hindu custom performed at the beach. Another beach is at Tiruvambadi, one kilometre away and en-route the old palace. There is a helipad close to the beach. Scores of ayurvedic massage parlours are there adjacent to the beach.Varkala Beach
Varkala BeachVarkala Beach
Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasam beach is a beach in Varkala, Kerala, India, along the Arabian Sea, part of the Indian Ocean. The word Papanasam means wash away sins. It is believed that a dip in the waters of Papanasam Beach washes away all the sins in ones life.-Sights:Varkala beach is the...
or Papanasam beach is a haven for sun-bathing and swimming. It is one of the most popular tourism destination in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The evening views of the sunset are worth lingering over. The cliff and the beach houses a lot of resorts, restaurants and other shops. The cliff has a long stretch of small shops which goes on for over a kilometer.
Cremations
Sections of Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasam beach is a beach in Varkala, Kerala, India, along the Arabian Sea, part of the Indian Ocean. The word Papanasam means wash away sins. It is believed that a dip in the waters of Papanasam Beach washes away all the sins in ones life.-Sights:Varkala beach is the...
(Papanasam Beach) are used by Indians to scatter the ashes of their cremated dead relatives into the sea. Devotees believe that the strong religious properties of the water will extend to the souls of their most recently departed. Despite this burial activity, the sea is popular with swimmers both locals and foreign tourists.
Kappil Lake
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
. The bridge over the lake is quite a vantage point to view the backwater stretching white and grey to the distant blue horizon. Boating is another great way to browse this tranquil waterway.
Anjengo Fort
Anjengo FortAnchuthengu
Anchuthengu, formerly known as Anjengo, is a coastal town in the Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala.This was an old Portuguese settlement lies between Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram, near Varkala. Literally the word ‘Anjuthengu’ means 'five coconut palms.’ The whole land is cultivated with...
is a fort
Fortification
Fortifications are military constructions and buildings designed for defence in warfare and military bases. Humans have constructed defensive works for many thousands of years, in a variety of increasingly complex designs...
near varkala. It is a place of historic importance as well as beautiful natural setting, Anjengo is an ideal destination for those who don't mind walking around and explore what is in store.The historic significance tagged to Anjengo comes through foreign powers like the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
, the Dutch
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
and finally the English East India Company. In the year 1684, the English East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort, which was targeted several times by other foreign powers, who were at that time fighting each other to get a firm footing in Kerala. The Fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery
Cemetery
A cemetery is a place in which dead bodies and cremated remains are buried. The term "cemetery" implies that the land is specifically designated as a burying ground. Cemeteries in the Western world are where the final ceremonies of death are observed...
inside the fort, which most probably would be having the remains of the occupants of the fort, and the oldest among the burial sites dates to 1704. The beautiful Muthalapuzhi lake is situated in Anjengo.
Varkala Tunnel
Varkala Tunnel is a popular tourist highlight. It was a 924 ft long tunnel built in 1867 by T.Mahadeva Rao the dewan of Travancore, and took 14 years to complete. Varkala Lighthouse is another tourist highlight in the vicinity.Ponnumthurut Island
Ponnumthurut Island is a beautiful spot you can reach by cruise boat. There is a sivaparvathy Temple on this island.Janardana Swami Temple
Janardana Swami Temple is a very important Vaishnavite shrine and attracts thousands of pilgrimsPilgrims
Pilgrims , or Pilgrim Fathers , is a name commonly applied to early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States...
. The temple is about 2000 years old. Facing the temple is the Papasnanam beach where devotees take a bath in the belief that the sacred
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
waters will wash away their sins. A large bell washed up from the wreck of a Dutch merchant vessel is kept on display at the temple.
Sivagiri Mutt
Sivagiri Mutt is a famous ashram in Varkala, founded by the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana GuruNarayana Guru
Sri Nārāyana Guru , also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami, was a Hindu saint, sadhuand social reformer of India. The Guru was born into an Ezhava family, in an era when people from backward communities like the Ezhavas faced much social injustices in the caste-ridden Kerala society...
. Sree Narayana Guru's tomb
Tomb
A tomb is a repository for the remains of the dead. It is generally any structurally enclosed interment space or burial chamber, of varying sizes...
is also located here. The Samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage
Pilgrimage
A pilgrimage is a journey or search of great moral or spiritual significance. Typically, it is a journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person's beliefs and faith...
days 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala. Even decades after the guru breathed his last here in 1928; his samadhi continues to be thronged by thousands of devotees, donned in yellow attire, from different parts of Kerala and outside every year during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30 December to 1 January. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saint
Saint
A saint is a holy person. In various religions, saints are people who are believed to have exceptional holiness.In Christian usage, "saint" refers to any believer who is "in Christ", and in whom Christ dwells, whether in heaven or in earth...
s, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debate
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
s and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
and rituals mark the celebrations.
Sarkara Devi Temple
Sarkara Devi TempleSarkara Devi Temple
Sarkaradevi Temple is one of the most important temples in South India. It is situated South of the Chirayinkeezhu Taluk ....
is a famous old temple situated near Varkala at Chirayinkeezhu. The temple is famous for the kaliyoot festival on the Malayalam month of kumbham (March).
Sree Saraswathy Temple located in Venkulam, Edava is a VidyaDevi temple famous for Navarathri Sangeetholsavam and Vijayadesami Vidyarambam.