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Town in Kerala, India
Photo: Shabnam Shamsuddin, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Varkala is a town in the Indian state of Kerala, about 50 km north of Thiruvananthapuram and is home of the popular Papanasam Beach. Also, the Samadhi of Kerala's saint Sree Narayana Guru is in this town, and has become a place of pilgrimage.
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also known as Papanasam beach
Varkala beach is as beautiful as, if not more beautiful than Kovalam beach. Laterite cliffs drop sharply into the sea, with a small strip of sandy beach at the base. The beach is less frequented by the tourist crowd and is an ideal location if you want a quiet getaway.
In the front garden of Mohan's Inn on the helipad. European owned and managed with European cook. Continental menu.
International restaurant, Indian and Italian food, Chef from Nepal and chef from Italy. Tasty food in an artistic, colourful, ambient environment.
a chilled out atmosphere for food, drinks and music.
Famous for their grills and steaks.
Rajadhani Resort
Generous portions. Run by local woman who is married to an Englishman. They have been going for four years, expect excellent breakfasts, smoothies, and masalla chai.apart from wonderful coffee,classic sounds, and great vibe, their food is excellent and good value, albeit a small menu.Very busy in the morning though.
It serves juices with beautiful combinations and healthy oriented. It also is the only place in the cliff providing water refills.The salad buffet done 3 times a week for dinner is the highlight of this place, providing a rare variety of Western salads and home mad dishes from Kerala, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. There is a friendly atmosphere and you can gather information on your onward travel and train timings here.
A really romantic place in the backside of Odayam Beach with the great view over the whole beach. 5 rooms, with sit-outs, a roof top, garden are there. Breakfast is available, and local food by order is made by Safer's family. Great atmosphere!
Double with TV, A/C and fan plus balcony for ₹250. Clean room, nice owner.
Individual huts around a small garden facing the sea.
Former Maharaja's summer palace, a bit run down.
With 24/7 hot water for bucket baths and fans in rooms. Rooms are clean and tidy. Raj, who works there, is always around and helpful. However, some travellers were promised a free transport from the bus station by Najmudeen and then later forced to pay ₹1000 for the trip.
located next door to Preeth Beach Resort
Individually crafted and comfortable rooms. Pleasant garden. Homey feel. Kind host.
Bijou guesthouse in serene area. The hotel offers four individual rooms, fragrant garden, lily pond & roof terrace. Ayurvedic massage and treatments on offer.
Situated a few minutes from the beach and cliff. The house has two floors and is located on a 3,000-m² plot. It has two double rooms on each floor, each decorated in a different style that reflects the nature of the surrounding area. All rooms have marble floors, ceiling fans, en-suite bathroom and towels. Ayurveda massage room, restaurant and free wifi.
42 room in 2 levels with private bath, facing the sea, well organized, and very pleasant.
located near Kuttikkadu temple
New house, clean and 5 min to the beach. 8 rooms available, with or without AC. Hudge garden. Double rooms.
good location, near to everything
hot water all the time and good service.
10 room B&B/Inn in 2 levels with private bath, facing a well arranged garden.
A Green Hotel with natural and endless wilderness, set in simple, peaceful, rustic ambience, secluded and rightly placed in Odayam Beach where the traveler halts and rests. Mektoub is passionately eco-conscious, friendly and helpful, envisioned to bridge tourism and the local community pro-creatively through sustainable developments.
Located at Helipad, with good views and easy access to the beach.
Operated by a friendly couple, this small (11-room) guest house is off the beaten trail. The food is all home-cooked, and the coffee is delicious. It is 200 m away from the sea shore.
Located at the cliff with views.
Yoga Vacation Homestay
Offers homestays/yoga vacations which include yoga classes, Vipassana meditation, morning tea and Kerala-style lunch in the room price. Also offers individual yoga classes for people staying somewhere else. Beautiful quiet garden with hammocks. Only 4 rooms available (keeps traffic down).
very silent place but very close to the restaurant chains at the cliff top.
If you want peace and quiet and you have your own transport then this is the place.
Fancy Taj Hotels' 4-star property.
Has spacious and clean rooms on the cliff.
Beachside resort that offers excellent views.
Three star hotel.
Private homes by the beach.
Ayurvedic resort.
Beach resort in Varkala near Papanasham.
There are a few tailoring shops in the Varkala beach who will measure and stitch shirts and trousers for you. It will cost you ₹2,000 per pair for the cheapest variety.
The town of Varkala is about 5 km inland, centered around the train station, and can be reached via autorickshaw for ₹80
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Thiruvananthapuram · International · TRV
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