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Varkala Beach

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Important Info

  • Best Season : November to early February
  • Entry Fee : NIL
  • Time Required : 2 to 3 hours
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Varkala is an absolutely magical town. Just walk up to the cliff for sunset and sit on one of the benches that overlook the beach. That moment right there, be it alone or with a loved one is something you will cherish.

Varkala's main beach is called Papanasam Beach, which means destroyer of sins. It's divided into two parts -- North Cliff and South Cliff.

North Cliff is the main tourist part of the beach. The pathway that runs along this stretch is where most of the shops, restaurants, and accommodations are situated. South Cliff is less crowded and much quieter than North Cliff. Further to the north, where the cliff ends past Papanasam Beach, is another small beach with black sand (affectionately called the Black Beach).

The main attraction of this beach is the cliff running by the side. The cliff is about 200 meter high and runs for 1.5 km parallel to the white sands beach. You can stand on the cliff and see miles and miles of bright blue water ahead and the kites circling above looking for prey. 
 

Travel Tips

  • Try to buy a number of handcrafts and jewellery here.
  • Try all sorts of yoga, massages and alternative therapies available here.
  • Walk along the cliff top and explore the shops here. Shopping in Varkala can be really fun
  • Enjoy the sunset from the top of the cliff..!

Detailed Information

The Varkala beach is located right off the cliff and there are a flight of stairs which you can take to get to the beach. The cliff is lined by restaurants and shops.

An important thing to keep in mind is the interesting tide pattern at Varkala. This sees Papanasam Beach completely immersed in the ocean during the monsoon season, while the Black Beach is accessible. After the monsoon, this trend reverses with the Black Beach becoming engulfed in water and Papanasam Beach open.

During the monsoon season it's best to stay at the northern end of North Cliff near Black Beach. In peak season, the southern end of North Cliff provides the easiest access to Papanasam Beach as the stairs leading down the cliff are located there.

Shopping at Varkala..!

Shopping in Varkala can be really fun. You can buy a wide variety of things in Varkala. These include clothes, footwear, traditional handicrafts. In case you are looking to buy some souvenirs to buy, you will have plenty of unique items to choose from. Coir made products, horn carved items, tea, coffee and aromatic spices are available here. 

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