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Varkala sightseeing by cab
Places to visit in Varkala, and the order to see them
Varkala's sights beyond the cliff fit in one day by cab: the Janardhana Swamy temple and Sivagiri Mutt in the morning, Kappil lake, a boat to Golden Island, and Anchuthengu Fort and its lighthouse in the afternoon, back on the cliff for sunset. A second day adds the Jatayu sculpture, 28 km inland. Nothing here closes on a set weekday.
9 placesroutes from road routing, timed against opening hours
How many days do you need?
Each plan is a real route by cab, timed against opening hours.
Cab for Varkala sightseeing
Call or message a local Varkala operator with this plan. Tell them your hotel and dates, and they send a price for the car and driver.
Full day, 8 h / 80 kmSedan, SUV or InnovaPrice from the operator
Opening times of Varkala's top sights
With the best time to go and how long to stay.
| Place | Open | Best time | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Janardhana Swamy Temple | About 05:30 to 12:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, every day | Early morning, before it closes at noon. | 30 min |
| Sivagiri Mutt | 05:30 to 12:00 and 16:30 to 18:00, every day | Morning, before the midday closing. | 45 min |
| Kappil Lake and Beach | Boat club about 10:00 to 18:00; the beach is open air | Late morning or afternoon, when the boat club is open. | 1 h |
| Ponnumthuruthu (Golden Island) | Boats about 07:30 to 17:00; some listings give 06:00 to 18:00 | Morning or early afternoon, before the boats stop at about 17:00. | 1 h 30 min |
| Anchuthengu Fort | About 08:00 to 17:00; free | Mid-afternoon, then the lighthouse beside it from 15:00. | 40 min |
| Anjengo Lighthouse | Open to visitors about 15:00 to 17:00; small fee | From 15:00, when it opens to visitors. | 30 min |
| Papanasam Beach and the North Cliff | Open air, all day? | Late afternoon into sunset. | 1 h 30 min |
| Black Beach | Open air, all day? | Late afternoon, at the north end of the cliff walk. | 1 h |
| Jatayu Earth's Center | About 10:00 to 17:30 (to 18:00 at weekends) | From opening at 10:00, before the midday heat on the rock. | 2 h 30 min |
All 9 places to visit in Varkala
Janardhana Swamy Temple
30 minA Vishnu temple about 2,000 years old by local tradition, on a rise above Papanasam Beach, with a long flight of steps up from the sea. Pilgrims bathe at the beach below, whose name means washing away of sins, before they pray here, above all for rites for the dead.
In the 1-day planSivagiri Mutt
45 minThe hilltop headquarters of the order founded by Sree Narayana Guru, the social reformer who preached one caste, one religion, one god for all. His samadhi, a white domed shrine, sits on the hill with the Sarada Mutt temple he built nearby.
In the 1-day planKappil Lake and Beach
1 hA strip of sand where Kappil backwater lake meets the sea, about 8 km north of the cliff, with coconut palms on one side and surf on the other. The district tourism boat club under the bridge hires out pedal and rowing boats on the lake.
In the 1-day planPonnumthuruthu (Golden Island)
1 h 30 minA small island in the backwaters about 12 km south of Varkala, reached by country boat from Nedunganda in about 30 minutes, with an old Shiva and Parvathi temple among the coconut palms. The ride passes fishing nets and village banks, a quieter taste of the backwaters than Alleppey.
In the 1-day planAnchuthengu Fort
40 minA fort built by the English East India Company in the 1690s, one of its first footholds in Kerala, now a quiet walled square of laterite above the sea with old graves of company men in its grounds.
In the 1-day planAnjengo Lighthouse
30 minA red and white lighthouse beside the fort, with a view from the top over the fort walls, the fishing village of Anchuthengu, the backwater and the sea.
In the 1-day planPapanasam Beach and the North Cliff
1 h 30 minVarkala's main beach, under red laterite cliffs that are rare on the Kerala coast. Steps lead down from the North Cliff, where a path along the top is lined with cafes, guest houses and shops looking out over the sea to the sunset.
Not in our plans. Add it if you have time.Black Beach
1 hA cove of dark sand at the north end of the cliff, below Odayam, quieter than Papanasam. The black colour comes from minerals in the sand.
Day 2 of the 2-day planJatayu Earth's Center
2 h 30 minA sculpture of the bird Jatayu from the Ramayana, about 200 feet long, lying on a rock hilltop at Chadayamangalam, about 28 km inland. A cable car climbs to it, and the top has a museum inside the bird and wide views over the hills.
Day 2 of the 2-day planQuestions people ask
How many days do you need for Varkala sightseeing?
One day for the sights by cab and an evening on the cliff. Two days if you also want Jatayu Earth's Center, about 28 km inland, and more time at the beach.
Where should I stay in Varkala?
Most guest houses and cafes are on the North Cliff, above Papanasam Beach, and these plans start and end there. The railway station, Varkala Sivagiri, is about 2 km inland.
Can non-Hindus enter the Janardhana Swamy Temple?
Only Hindus may enter the inner temple. Anyone can climb the steps from the beach and see the outer courtyard.
Is it safe to swim at Varkala?
At Papanasam Beach, only between the lifeguard flags, and not in the monsoon months from June to September, when the sea is rough. Kappil has strong currents.
Where do boats to Golden Island leave from?
From Nedunganda village, about 12 km south of the cliff. A country boat takes about 30 minutes each way; there is no entry fee for the island, but agree the boat fare first.
Is a full-day cab enough for Varkala local sightseeing?
Yes. The one-day plan is about 54 km and the Jatayu day about 68 km, both inside a usual 8 hour, 80 km day. Check the hours and kilometre limit with the operator before you book.