Varkkala Things to Do

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Apart from the beach, about the only thing worth visiting in the immediate area is this temple which is about 300m inland from the beach. It is a 900 year old temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the south). The main deity is Sri Janarthana Swami who is found in a standing position facing towards the east. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without any casualties.

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The beach is what makes Varkala a haven for tourists and it's the only place in southern Kerala where you can find cliffs adjacent to the Arabian Sea. The cliffs are a unique geological feature in the otherwise flat Keralan coast, and are known among geologists as Varkala Formation and a geological monument as declared by the Geological survey of India. The beach, itself, is only about 1km long and fairly wide and is home to a number of beach activities such as football, beach volleyball, running and cricket.

the best thing that made me select varkala was that i like to view the ocean from a height.

usually i like to see the sea from the cliffs.

that is what made me select varkala over other destinations.

the best time is sunrise or sunset.i personally preferred the sunrise.

the fresh morning air the activity of local fishermen on the beach below and in small local boats in the sea make an interesting morning.

on the clifftops are small shops where u can sit down and order a cup of tea and coffee and allow time to goa by reading your fav novel or news.

the south indian filter coffee has a very good flavor especially i like its creamy foam.

At varkala beach every morning and evening fishermen come in from their small boats and drag their nets ashore. the fishing nets contain a bounty of marine life.

apsrt from fish crabs are one delicacy which is enjoyed in coastal areas of india and all over the world.

crabs belong to phyllum arthropoda class crustacea.they have 10 legs and walk sideways.the soft body is protected by a hard shell known as carapace.

different types are spider/hermit/horseshoe/fiddler/blue crabs. there are 5000 species

crabs undergo a peculiar process known as moulting when they shed their old hard shell and grow a new shell/carapace.

delicious and a gastronomes delight the tender succulent meat cooked in a fiery indian red curry with rice can tickle any palate.

lobsters king prawns and other cfrustaceans are the catch of the day in coastal western india.

if you venture into any small eatery in small towns and villages the taste of sea food which is cooked in indian style is amazing.

suggestion is that you buy your catch and ask the cook to do it for you.

crab masala curry is the dish you should be looking forward when you visit kerala next.

recipe

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Enjoy sea food while u r in Varkkala