Best Places to Visit Near Varkala for a Memorable Weekend Trip

Some beach towns you visit once and forget. Varkala isn’t one of them. I’ve been sending travellers to this stretch of the Kerala coast for the better part of two decades, and the ones who go for a lazy weekend almost always come back asking how to stay longer.
The pull is simple. Varkala is the rare place in South India where red laterite cliffs drop straight into the Arabian Sea, with a ribbon of cafés strung along the top and a temple-fringed beach below. But the real magic sits just outside town -quiet backwaters, a colonial fort, a giant eagle carved into a hill, and some of the best sunsets you’ll see anywhere. If you have a Saturday and a Sunday to spare, the best places to visit near Varkala can turn a short break into the kind of trip you tell people about for years.
Here’s my field-tested guide to the top Varkala attractions and the day trips worth the drive, plus where to eat, what to buy, and the mistakes that trip up first-timers.

Best Places to Visit Near Varkala at a Glance

If you’re short on time, this table covers the essentials -the standout Varkala visiting places and how far each sits from the cliff.

Why Varkala Works So Well for a Weekend

A good weekend base needs three things: enough to do, not so much that you feel rushed, and somewhere pleasant to come back to at night. Varkala nails all three.
The town itself is compact. You can walk the North Cliff end to end in twenty minutes, and most of the essential things to do in Varkala sit within that walk or a short auto-rickshaw ride. Yet drive fifteen or twenty minutes in any direction and the scenery changes completely -beach to backwater, market to fishing village, cliff to hill. That contrast is what makes Varkala sightseeing feel bigger than the map suggests.
It’s also genuinely restful. Unlike the busier resort strips down south, Varkala still moves at its own pace. Mornings are for the beach, afternoons for a nap or an Ayurvedic massage, evenings for watching the sun sink into the sea with a plate of grilled fish in front of you. For a two-day reset, that rhythm is hard to beat.

The Best Places to Visit in Varkala Town

Varkala Cliff and Papanasam Beach

This is the postcard. The North Cliff runs high above the sea, its edge lined with cafés, spice stalls, yoga shalas, and little shops. Below it lies Papanasam Beach, whose name loosely means “washing away of sins.” Locals believe the waters here have healing, purifying properties, and you’ll often see families performing rituals near the shore, especially during the Karkidaka Vavu Bali in July, when relatives gather to honour their ancestors.

Come sunset, the cliff is the place to be. Grab a front-row table thirty minutes early -the good ones fill fast -and watch the sky do its thing. It’s the single best free experience in town.

Janardanaswamy Temple

Perched near the beach, this temple is often called the “Dakshin Kashi,” or Kashi of the South. It’s said to be around 2,000 years old and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Even if you’re not religious, the traditional Kerala architecture and the calm inside the compound are worth ten quiet minutes. Note the dress code: modest clothing, and non-Hindus may not be permitted into the inner sanctum.

Sivagiri Mutt

About three to four kilometres from the railway station sits Sivagiri Mutt, the hilltop ashram founded by the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. The yellow-domed shrine, the Guru’s tomb, and the meditation halls draw pilgrims year-round, but the crowds peak during the Sivagiri Pilgrimage in late December and early January, when thousands arrive dressed in yellow. It’s one of the more meaningful must-visit places in Varkala for anyone curious about Kerala’s history of reform.

Odayam and Black Beach

When the cliff gets busy, walk north. Odayam Beach trades the buzz for palm-fringed quiet and a few laid-back resorts, and Black Beach (named for its dark mineral sand) offers a more local, unpolished feel. Both are ideal if you want a swim without an audience.

Read Also – Top Places to Visit Near Coorg for Nature Adventure & Relaxation

Best Places to Visit Near Varkala: Day Trips Worth the Drive

Here’s where a weekend earns its keep. These spots sit just outside town and reward anyone willing to rent a scooter or hire a taxi for half a day.

Kappil Beach and Kappil Backwaters

Roughly six kilometres north, Kappil is that rare place where a beach and a backwater lake sit side by side, separated by a thin strip of palms. You can walk from surf to still water in a couple of minutes. Hire a small boat, drift through the quiet channels, and catch a sunset far removed from the cliff crowds. Kayaking here is a highlight for the more active.

Ponnumthuruthu (Golden) Island

About twelve kilometres out, this tiny, uninhabited island is reached by a gentle backwater boat ride through thick coconut groves. Its centrepiece is a roughly century-old Shiva-Parvati temple, hushed and green and utterly peaceful. The boat journey itself -flat water, birdsong, dappled light -is half the reason to go.

Anchuthengu Fort and Lighthouse

Around thirteen kilometres south, Anchuthengu (Anjengo) was one of the earliest English trading posts on this coast. The weathered fort walls and the nearby lighthouse make for an easy history-and-views stop, and the setting beside Anchuthengu Lake is lovely at golden hour. It’s not Fort Kochi, but it makes a rewarding half-day.

Jatayu Earth’s Center

If you do one big day trip near Varkala, make it this one. About 28 kilometres away in Chadayamangalam, Jatayu Earth’s Center is built around the world’s largest bird sculpture -a 200-foot-long stone eagle from the Ramayana, sprawled across a hilltop. The site is served by Kerala’s only cable car (there’s also a walkway of some 826 steps for the determined), and the top rewards you with sweeping views of the Western Ghats, a digital museum, a 6D theatre, and an adventure park with zip-lining and rock climbing. Go on a weekday if you can -weekend queues for the cable car get long.

Kollam and Ashtamudi Lake

Roughly thirty kilometres north, Kollam opens the door to Ashtamudi Lake, one of Kerala’s most beautiful backwater systems. A houseboat or canoe cruise here is the classic “God’s Own Country” experience without the crowds of Alleppey. Easily one of the most scenic Varkala attractions once you widen the circle.

Thiruvananthapuram and Beyond

Kerala’s capital sits about forty kilometres south and makes a full, satisfying day. The gold-clad Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the colonial-era Napier Museum, and the leafy zoo are the headliners. Push a little further and you reach Kovalam (around 55 km), with its crescent lighthouse beach, and Ponmudi (around 85 km), a cool green hill station with tea slopes and short treks -a fine escape if the coastal heat wears you down.

A Simple Two-Day Varkala Itinerary

You can’t do everything in a weekend, and you shouldn’t try. Here’s a paced plan that hits the best without exhausting you.

Swap Jatayu for Kollam’s backwaters if you prefer water over heights. Either version leaves you with stories.

Things to Do in Varkala Beyond Sightseeing

Ticking off attractions is only half of it. The best things to do in Varkala are as much about the vibe as the sights:

• Chase the sunset from the cliff -the town’s nightly ritual.
• Take an Ayurvedic massage or a wellness treatment. Varkala has a strong wellness scene; pick a certified centre rather than the cheapest sign.
• Try paragliding off the cliff or kayaking at Kappil for a shot of adrenaline.
• Join a sunrise yoga class -shalas dot the North Cliff.
  Rent a scooter and explore the fishing villages, temples, and quiet coves between Kappil and Anchuthengu. It’s the single
• best way to see the area on your own terms.
• Cliff-café hop with a coffee and a book, and let an afternoon disappear.

Where to Stay in Varkala

Your base shapes the whole trip. Broadly, you’ve got three choices.

The cliff guesthouses put you steps from the cafés and the sunset, but rooms can be basic and evenings noisy. Quieter Odayam resorts trade the buzz for calm and better beach access, at a slightly higher price. And for families, groups, or anyone wanting privacy, private vacation homes and luxury villas are increasingly the smart pick -full kitchens, a pool, and space to spread out, often within a short drive of the cliff.

If a relaxed, self-contained stay is your idea of a weekend, look at the vacation homes and villas dotted around Odayam and the town’s greener edges. These vacation getaways suit couples and families who’d rather cook a lazy breakfast than queue for one. My one firm piece of advice: book your villa early. Weekends and the November-to-February peak fill quickly, and the best luxury villas near the cliff are often reserved weeks ahead.

Best Time to Visit and How to Reach Varkala

Timing matters more than most people realise.

Best time to visit: October to March, with November to February the sweet spot -warm days, cool evenings, calm seas. The June-September monsoon turns everything lush and is prime season for Ayurveda, though swimming can be rough. April and May bring sticky heat best avoided.

Local Food You Have to Try

Varkala’s kitchens run the full range -Kerala classics, wood-fired pizzas, German bakeries, vegan bowls -but it’s the coastal cooking you’ll remember. Fresh catch lands daily, and the coconut-and-spice curries are the real deal.

Point at the fish you want at a cliff seafood joint, agree the price first, and ask for it grilled with garlic. You won’t regret it.

What Is Famous to Buy in Varkala

Shopping here is mostly a slow, browsing affair along the North Cliff, and it’s more fun than functional. The stalls lean heavily on Tibetan and Himalayan crafts -singing bowls, prayer flags, silver jewellery -alongside genuinely useful buys.
The standouts worth your bag space: Ayurvedic oils, soaps, and herbal products (Kerala’s speciality), loose spices like cardamom, cloves, and black pepper, breezy cotton and handloom clothing, coir and coconut-shell handicrafts, and beaded jewellery and souvenirs. Prices are negotiable, so haggle with a smile. Carry cash -cliff-top ATMs are unreliable -and be a little skeptical of anything sold as a rare “antique.”

Expert Tips for a Smoother Trip

A few things I always pass on:

• Reach the cliff for sunset early to claim a good table.
• Visit Jatayu Earth’s Center on a weekday to dodge cable-car queues.
• Rent a scooter for genuine freedom -it unlocks the quieter Varkala visiting places buses never reach.
• Keep small cash on you for stalls, autos, and boat rides.
• If wellness is your goal, choose a reputable Ayurvedic centre, not the flashiest board on the path.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Varkala Kerala famous for?

Varkala is famous for its dramatic red laterite cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea -a formation found almost nowhere else on the Kerala coast. Below sits Papanasam Beach, believed to have holy, purifying waters, alongside the 2,000-year-old Janardanaswamy Temple, Sivagiri Mutt, cliff-top cafés, Ayurvedic wellness centres, and spectacular sunsets.

Is Varkala worth the hype?

Yes -for the right kind of traveller. If you want a relaxed, scenic beach town with backwaters, temples, good food, and an easygoing pace, Varkala delivers in full. It’s less commercialised than Goa and calmer than Kovalam. Those expecting nonstop nightlife or a big-resort scene may find it too laid-back, but as a weekend reset, it’s absolutely worth it.

What activities can be done in Varkala?

Plenty. You can swim and sunbathe at Papanasam and Odayam beaches, watch sunsets from the cliff, take Ayurvedic treatments and yoga classes, go paragliding off the cliff, kayak or boat through the Kappil backwaters, ride to Ponnumthuruthu Island, explore Anchuthengu Fort, and take the cable car up Jatayu Earth’s Center. Café-hopping and scooter tours of nearby fishing villages round it out.

What is famous to buy in Varkala?

The cliff market is known for Ayurvedic oils and herbal products, Kerala spices like cardamom and pepper, cotton and handloom clothing, coir and coconut-shell handicrafts, silver and beaded jewellery, and Tibetan-style crafts such as singing bowls and prayer flags. Bargaining is expected, and cash is your friend.

Which food is famous in Varkala?

Seafood is the star. Karimeen (pearl-spot) fry, prawn and fish curries in coconut gravy, and grilled catch of the day top most menus. Kerala staples like appam with stew, kappa (tapioca) with fish curry, fish molee, sadhya on a banana leaf, and palada payasam for dessert are all worth trying -usually eaten with a sea view.

Conclusion

The best places to visit near Varkala aren’t just a checklist -they’re a change of pace. Spend your Saturday on the cliff and your Sunday on the water, eat fish you watched get grilled, and let the sunsets do the rest. Whether you bunk in a simple cliff guesthouse or book a villa for a little more comfort, this stretch of coast has a way of slowing you down in the best possible sense.
Plan loosely, leave room to do nothing, and give the backwaters and Jatayu the time they deserve. Do that, and a weekend in Varkala won’t just be memorable -it’ll be the trip you keep trying to recreate.