Location
: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and 37 km south of
Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram district, south Kerala.
Attractions
: Beach, mineral watersprings, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2000 year
old Vishnu temple
Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the
outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several places of tourist
interests like a beautiful beach, a 2000 year old Vishnu temple and the
ashramam- 'Sivagiri Mutt' a little distance from the beach.At the serene
Varkala beach is a quiet sea resort rich in mineral water springs.A dip in
the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities
and the soul of all sins. Hence the name 'Papanasam beach'.A two thousand
year old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple, stands on the cliffs overlooking
the beach,a short distance away.
The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great Hindu reformer and Philosopher Sree
Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also close by.The Samadhi (the final resting
place) of the Guru here attracts thousands of devotees every year during the
Sivagiri Pilgrimage days - 30th December to 1st January. Sree Narayana Guru
propagated the ideology:"one caste, one religion and one god",in a
society torn by the taboos of caste system.Varkala offers excellent
accommodation facilities for the tourist and is fast becoming a popular
health resort with many Ayurvedic massage centres.
Getting
there : Nearest railway station :
Varkala.
Nearest airport : Thiruvananthapuram
international airport, nearly 57 km away.
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