Varkala Beach

Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasham Beach, and Pearl of Arabian Sea is a cliff beach situated in the coastal city of Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram District, India. It is situated 39 km north of Trivandrum the capital and largest city of Kerala. 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. The nearest airport to the beach is Trivandrum International Airport which is situated 40km away from Varkala Town

Evening at Varkala beach

Varkala Beach
Sunset at Varkala Beach
A natural water spout in Varkala Beach
'Karkidaka Vavu Bali' ritual being done at Varkala Beach

Sights

Varkala beach is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea.[1] 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. [2]

Sivagiri Mutt is another attraction, located atop the Sivagiri hill. Train service is available at Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station.

Panoramic view of Varkala beach cliff

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.[3]

Geography

Varkala is located at 8.73°N 76.71°E / 8.73; 76.71.[4]

Trivia

Uber's co-founder Travis Kalanick once said that he spent weeks here writing code. [5]

References
  1. http://www.karthikaplaza.com/varkala.html Archived 2010-03-10 at the Wayback Machine | Details of Varkala
  2. "Arattu Festival, Janardhana Temple, Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala - Kerala Tourism". www.keralatourism.org. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  3. "Head Straight to Kerala, God's Own Country, for a Perfect Vacation". thequint.com. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Varkkallai, India". www.fallingrain.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. "'Fight for something you believe in but don't be a jerk': Uber CEO Travis Kalanick | Gadgets Now". Gadget Now. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.