Varkala
Kerala's beach scene peaks at Varkala, where red laterite cliffs rise behind Papanasam Beach and a clifftop path strings together juice bars, yoga schools and guesthouses with sea views at Indian prices.
- Best forBudget travellers · Wellness & slow travel · Solo travellers
- In April31°C · 19 rainy days · sea 31°C
- Ideal stay4–7 nights
- Approx. flying time~18h 30m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyINRIndian rupee
- LanguageHindi and English
- Local time16:404h 30m ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / D / MBring an adapter
- Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
- Dialling code+91
Why go
Kerala's coast is mostly flat, which makes the red laterite cliffs here unusual: a wall of ochre rock with a footpath along the top and Papanasam beach below. The path is lined with guesthouses, yoga shalas, tailors and cafes facing the Arabian Sea, and the whole strip can be walked in twenty minutes. Below it, families perform funeral rites at the water's edge at dawn.
It works as a slow week, or as the coastal end of a Kerala trip that starts with the Alleppey backwaters and the tea hills of Munnar. The season runs November to March, and the monsoon closes much of the cliff from June. The sea has a strong undertow and building on the sand is not permitted, which keeps the mood unusually low key.
- Ideal stay
- 4–7 nights
- The vibe
- Clifftop, mellow, barefoot and cheap
From our guides
The beach below is sacred — locals scatter ashes at dawn — which keeps development respectful and the mood mellow. Thalis and fresh-caught seafood cost pocket change. Come November to February, after the monsoon, when the sea calms and the sunsets perform nightly.
Featured in Ten affordable tropical escapes that won't empty your savings
Things to do
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Papanasam beach
The main strand below the cliff, where ashes are scattered at dawn and swimming is safest when the lifeguards have their flags out.
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The cliff path
A flat walk along the top of the laterite from the helipad to the north cliff, with sunset visible from anywhere along its length.
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Janardanaswamy Temple
A very old Vishnu temple above the southern end of the beach, central to the town's identity as a pilgrimage site rather than a resort.
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Kappil beach and backwater
A few kilometres north, a lake runs parallel to the sea behind a thin strip of sand, with boats for hire and almost nobody about.
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Ayurveda and yoga
The cliff has long been a centre for treatment courses and daily drop-in classes, most of them run from small independent centres rather than hotels.
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Kerala fish curry
Seafood is bought off the boats and cooked to order, and the everyday thali of rice, sambar and coconut costs very little indeed.
Getting there
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Fly to
Thiruvananthapuram (TRV)
Nearest airport to Varkala, about 35km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Varkala
About an hour by taxi north from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), or a cheap hour by train to Varkala Sivagiri station.
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On the ground
Getting around
The clifftop path is walkable end to end, with steps down to Papanasam Beach. Autorickshaws cover the couple of kilometres between town, station and cliff.
Public transport: Good by Indian standards: frequent coastal trains, plus buses and autorickshaws locally.
Flights
Los Angeles Varkala, India
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 28°C in September to 32°C in March. Driest in February; wettest in June, with rain on about 29 days. The sea is warmest in April at around 31°C, coolest at 26°C.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
April31° · rain 19 days · sea 31°Hot and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Highlighted months are warm and mostly dry — January and February. Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Cliff-edge guesthouses and cottage resorts, ayurvedic retreats with treatment packages, and plain lodges in town. Very few international chains and no high-rise development.
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Best base overall
North Cliff
The clifftop path above Papanasam Beach, lined with guesthouses, juice bars and yoga schools, with sea views from almost every room. Music from the cafés runs late.
Find stays in North Cliff -
Best with children
Odayam
Fifteen minutes north, a calmer stretch of sand with small resorts, easier beach access and no cliff steps. You will walk or ride in for the restaurant strip.
Find stays in Odayam -
Best value
Varkala town
Inland around Temple Junction, with plain lodges near the railway station at local prices. No sea view, and a rickshaw ride to the beach each time.
Find stays in Varkala town -
Quietest
Kappil
Where the backwater meets the sea a few kilometres north, with a handful of homestays and almost no crowds. Nothing much to do after sunset.
Find stays in Kappil
Worth knowing before you book: The season runs roughly November to February and Christmas and New Year rates multiply, often with minimum stays. Many cliff places close during the monsoon.
Search everything else in Varkala by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Varkala has its own railway station a few kilometres inland on the main coastal line, and Trivandrum is the nearest airport.
- Swimming
- The undertow is serious and the beach shelves quickly. Swim only where the lifeguards indicate and not at all in rough conditions.
- Etiquette
- The beach is sacred and used for funeral rites. Cover up away from the sand, and do not photograph ceremonies.
- Alcohol
- Kerala's licensing is restrictive and many cliff cafes serve discreetly or not at all. Do not build the evening around it.
- Season
- Much of the cliff shuts during the monsoon from June to September. Come between November and March for reliable sun and calm sea.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Kochi
Kerala, India · 147km away →
South coast
Sri Lanka · 488km away →
Ahangama
Sri Lanka · 505km away →
Weligama
Sri Lanka · 511km away →
Elephants at Udawalawe
Sri Lanka · 519km away →
Southern coast
Sri Lanka · 527km away →Elsewhere in India
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Varkala?
For warm, mostly dry days, January and February. That means highs of 20–34°C with rain on six days a month or fewer. Daytime highs run from about 28°C in September to 32°C in March. Driest in February; wettest in June, with rain on about 29 days. The sea is warmest in April at around 31°C, coolest at 26°C.
How long should I spend in Varkala?
Our suggestion: 4–7 nights.
How do I get to Varkala?
About an hour by taxi north from Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), or a cheap hour by train to Varkala Sivagiri station.
Do I need a car in Varkala?
No. Good by Indian standards: frequent coastal trains, plus buses and autorickshaws locally.
What currency and language are used in Varkala?
Currency: Indian rupee (INR). Language: Hindi and English. Plugs: type C and D and M.
Who is Varkala best for?
Best for budget travellers, wellness & slow travel and solo travellers. In a phrase: clifftop, mellow, barefoot and cheap.