The heart of it
Varkala Cliff
A red laterite cliff above the Arabian Sea, lined with cafés, shops and the best sunset seats in Kerala.
Explore Varkala
Your Varkala, your way.
Beaches, cliffs, cafés, sunsets and the roads in between — written by people who live here.
Sand time
Beaches
Papanasam, Black Beach and the coves in between — swim, read, repeat.
Quieter side
Odayam
A calmer stretch just north of the cliff, good for slow mornings and easy swims.
Backwater meets sea
Kappil
Ride north until the backwater runs alongside the ocean. Bring a camera.
Eat well
Cafés & food
Kerala breakfasts, fresh fish, banana pancakes and coffee worth the walk.
Golden hour
Sunset spots
The cliff edge, the north beach, or a scooter ride to somewhere with nobody on it.
Day trips
Further afield.
1 hr 15 by road
Kollam backwaters
A slower, less crowded alternative to Alleppey. Take the early bus or ride up the coast.
10 min walk from the cliff
Janardanaswamy Temple & Papanasam
A two-thousand-year-old temple above the beach where morning rituals still happen daily.
30 min ride
Ponnumthuruthu (Golden Island)
A small island temple reached by rowboat across still backwater. Go early.
1 hr by train
Trivandrum for a day
Museums, the Padmanabhaswamy temple and the best bookshops on this stretch of coast.
Interactive
What's your Varkala mood?
Pick a mood — we'll tell you how to spend the day.