my next stop

Kerala

Varkala

Cliffside beach town with yoga shalas and sunset cafes

BeachBackpackerSpiritual

Best time to visit Varkala

peak shoulder off-season avoid

  • Go: December to February
  • Shoulder: March and October to November, quieter, and the weather is less of a sure thing
  • Skip: April to September

Planning a specific month? JanuaryFebruaryDecember

Varkala season by season

Winter December to February Prime time

Peak season - calm turquoise water, warm days, cliff cafes and yoga shalas all in full swing

Summer March to May Shoulder

Increasingly hot and humid; sea still swimmable in March but pre-monsoon swell builds through May

Monsoon June to September Do not go

Rough seas and dangerous rip currents shut down swimming; shacks shutter for this coast's ayurveda season

Autumn October to November Shoulder

October is transitional as the sea calms by late month; November is close to ideal with thinner crowds

What Varkala is actually like

Kerala's easiest place to meet solos - yoga classes, cliff cafes, year-round hostel crowd

Things to do in Varkala

The local places worth your time in and around Varkala, with how far each sits from the centre. Tap a name to open it in Google Maps.

  • Papanasam Beach

    Beach · in town

    The sand under the cliff where families come to immerse ashes; swim between the flags only, the rip current is real.

  • Varkala North Cliff

    Food · in town

    The cafe and shop strip along the cliff edge, sunset seats taken by six; prices are tourist rates, the lanes behind are cheaper.

  • Sivagiri Mutt

    Shrine · 3 km out

    Sree Narayana Guru's samadhi on a hill, an octagonal shrine and a crowd in yellow for the pilgrimage from 30 December to 1 January.

  • Janardanaswamy Temple

    Temple · 1 km out

    Clifftop temple above the beach with a big banyan and an old bell off a Dutch ship; Hindus only inside, dress conservatively.

  • Kappil Beach

    Beach · 8 km out

    Where the Edava backwater runs alongside the sea, empty sand and a bridge to watch from; no shacks and no lifeguard, bring water.

  • Ponnumthuruthu Island

    Island · 12 km out

    Golden Island, a wooded islet with an old Shiva temple, reached by rowed canoe; boatmen wait, last crossing is mid afternoon.

  • Anchuthengu Fort

    Fort · 12 km out

    The first English foothold on this coast, low sea walls on a sandspit with a lighthouse beside it that opens late afternoon.

Getting to Varkala

Fly to Trivandrum, 45min train or taxi to Varkala

Practical ways in: flighttrainroad

Trip facts

How long to stay
3 days
Budget
Shoestring
How busy
Busy at its peak
Solo travel
Made for solo travellers
Altitude
0 m
State
Kerala
Coordinates
8.7379, 76.7163

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Varkala?

December to February is peak season in Varkala. March and October to November is shoulder season: thinner crowds, a bit more risk in the weather. Avoid April to September. Peak season - calm turquoise water, warm days, cliff cafes and yoga shalas all in full swing.

How many days do you need in Varkala?

3 days is the usual stay. Kerala's easiest place to meet solos - yoga classes, cliff cafes, year-round hostel crowd.

How do you get to Varkala?

Fly to Trivandrum, 45min train or taxi to Varkala. Practical ways in: flight, train and road.

Is Varkala expensive, and does it get crowded?

Shoestring by Indian travel standards, and it runs busy at the busiest time of year. Made for solo travellers.

What are the best things to do in Varkala?

Papanasam Beach, Varkala North Cliff, Sivagiri Mutt, Janardanaswamy Temple, Kappil Beach and Ponnumthuruthu Island, and more. The sand under the cliff where families come to immerse ashes; swim between the flags only, the rip current is real.

Nearby, and where to go next

More places to visit in Kerala

All 38 destinations in Kerala