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Kerala · India Cliff beach

Varkala (Varkala)

Red laterite cliffs above a long Arabian Sea beach, with cafés along the clifftop and the Janardhana Swamy Temple.

RegionThiruvananthapuram district
Known forCliff beach
Best monthsOct – Mar
Nearest airportTrivandrum (TRV) ~50 km
About

The destination

Why Varkala is Kerala’s favourite cliff beach

Varkala is the only place on Kerala’s coast where red laterite cliffs drop straight to the sea. The North Cliff path is lined with cafés, yoga schools and guesthouses looking over Papanasam Beach, believed to wash away sins, while the 2,000-year-old Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Sivagiri Mutt sit just inland. It is about an hour from Trivandrum and roughly 3 hours from Alleppey, so it is easy to add a beach stay after a houseboat.

Papanasam BeachSacred beach below the North Cliff

Journeys that include Varkala

Houseboat-centred packages and short backwater stays.

All packages →

4-Day Alleppey Houseboat & Varkala Beach Package

An overnight Alleppey houseboat cruise followed by two nights on the Varkala cliffs.

From ₹30,999

5-Day Thekkady, Alleppey Houseboat & Varkala Package

Spice hills of Thekkady, a houseboat night in Alleppey and the beach at Varkala.

From ₹39,999

7-Day Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey Houseboat & Varkala Kerala Tour

Hills, wildlife, a houseboat night and the Varkala cliffs in one Kerala tour.

From ₹48,499

Ready to go

Tell us your dates — we’ll add Varkala to your Kerala trip

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