Seaside destinations along India’s western coast offer some sublime views of the Arabian Sea but it is Varkala which has the distinction of returning the favour. If you were an ancient mariner sailing towards the coast at Varkala, sighting land would have meant being greeted by a ragged line of rich red cliffs, a stunning contrast to the green coconut palms that silhouette a deep blue sky. It is the prettiest of India’s seaside spots.
For the tourist, small town Varkala’s allure lies entirely along the seashore, the 2-km long cliff face stretching from the South Cliff to the Thiruvambady Beach. The North Cliff, the main tourist hub, is sandwiched in between. Varkala offers all the pleasures of the more famous Kovalam, sans the crowds and hawkers. It is also fringed by serene backwaters, natural springs and beaches.
But Varkala is also a pilgrimage spot, where a 2,000-year-old temple by the sea attracts devotees. Thousands come here every year in the belief that their sins will be washed away by the holy waters at Papanasham Beach.