Varkala Beach


Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham Beach, is a cliff beach situated in the Varkala town of Thiruvananthapuram District, India. The beach skirts the Arabian Sea, part of the Indian Ocean. Other beaches in the town include Varkala Black Beach, Odayam Beach, Kappil Beach, and Aliyirakkam Cliff Beach. The word "papanasham" means to wash away sins.
Varkala Beach is situated 39 km north of the capital city Thiruvananthapuram and 28 km south of Kollam. The nearest airport to the beach is Trivandrum International Airport.

Sights

Varkala beach is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. These cliffs are of tertiary sedimentary formation, and named by geologists as Varkala Formation. They are a geological monument as recorded by the Geological Survey of India. Water spouts and spas occur on the sides of these cliffs.

Nearby attractions and activities

The Janardana Swami Temple is situated near the Beach. It is known for a 10-day festival held twice a year, called Arattu.
Sivagiri Mutt is another attraction, located atop the Sivagiri hill.
Train service is available at Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station.
Varkala beach has adventure and leisure activities such as boat riding, parasailing, jetting, and horse-riding. There are also restaurants and cafes; alcohol is not served.

Geography

Varkala is located at.

Trivia

's co-founder Travis Kalanick once said that he spent weeks here writing code.