Do you love the sun-kissed beaches, good seafood and some moments of peace? Then, Varkala is the place to be. Here are five reasons that will convince you to spend some quality time at Varkala.
1) The beaches
Varkala is one of those places where you can walk down the cliff and onto the beach. And you can spend hours on this peaceful beach. You can catch the swell of the surf or go paragliding off the cliff. And explore the cliff and the land beyond. When and if you get bored, you can take an auto-rickshaw to Kappil or one of the other beaches in the area. Or take a boat to Ponnumthuruthu, one of the islands off Varkala, which has an ancient temple.
2) Of faith and new thoughts
The Janardhana Temple, a main landmark of the area is over 2000 years old. Wander over to the Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, this was one of those places where a lot of national leaders gathered to meet the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru during his lifetime. Also read: Varkala and its famous guests
3) Food
Take a stroll on the cliff and you will find restaurants that caters to cuisines from across the globe. Find one that suits your taste, if you are not happy, try another the next meal.
4) Nightlife
Unlike Goa and other places beyond Kerala, there are no pubs and discos at Varkala. But that does not mean that the place shuts down and goes to sleep early like the rest of Kerala. The nightlife revolves around the restaurants on the cliff, and during the season, there will be a lot of places that people gather together over a mug of beer.
5) In and around
You can find a place to stay at Varkala and explore the nearby areas at your own pace. The village life beyond the touristy Varkala is rustic and charming. The fishing village of Anchuthengu with the ancient fort, boating on Kappil lake and a trip to explore the ancient tunnel in Varkala is a must. If you can strike up a conversation with one of the boatmen, you could take a trip to Ponnumthuruthu, an island off Varkala known for an ancient Siva temple.