Varkala
Varkala is a cliff-top beach town in Kerala where you spend slow days between sea views, cafes and walks down to the sand.
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Varkala is a beach town on the Arabian Sea coast of Kerala, in southwest India, about 50 kilometers north of Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. Its main feature is a red laterite cliff lined with cafes, guesthouses and small shops, with steps leading down to Papanasam Beach, a long stretch of sand below. The Janardanaswamy Temple, a Hindu temple, draws pilgrims to the town. The nearest airport is in Thiruvananthapuram, and trains run to Varkala Sivagiri station.
Travelers come for the sea views, slow mornings and yoga, and for a calmer pace than Kovalam, the busier beach resort further south. The season shapes the trip. From about November to March most cafes and guesthouses are open. In the monsoon, from June to September, many close and the sea is rough, so swimming is risky. Plan at least three or four nights to settle into the cliff and the beach, and add time for the backwaters nearby if you want more than a beach stay.
Varkala in five
- Go in the dry seasonCliff cafes and guesthouses are fullest from about November to March. In the June to September monsoon the sea is rough and many places close, so check before you book.Kerala travel guide
- Swim only where there are lifeguardsVarkala beaches have strong currents and rip tides. Swim between the marked flags if lifeguards are on duty, and avoid swimming alone or in rough water.
- Stay on the cliff for atmosphereThe North Cliff has restaurants, shops and sea views, and the quieter South Cliff is calmer. A room on the cliff costs more than one inland, so compare price against walking distance.
- Visit the Janardhana Swami temple with respectThe temple is a working shrine. Dress modestly, remove shoes and ask about rules for non-Hindu visitors before entering any inner area.Thiruvananthapuram travel guide
- Add a backwater morning at KappilKappil and the Edava lake edge, a few kilometers north, give a calm morning by boat. It pairs with Alappuzha if you are heading north next.Alappuzha travel guide
Things to do in Varkala
See all attractions in Varkala
Need to know
- Getting there
- Thiruvananthapuram airport, about 50 km; Varkala Sivagiri station
- Getting around
- Walking along the cliff; autos for the station and temple
- Best base
- North Cliff for atmosphere; South Cliff or inland for quiet
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 nights
- Season
- Roughly November to March; monsoon closures from June
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear7 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, livelyJanuaryClear
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, lively
- FebruaryClear4 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, sunnyFebruaryClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 15 mm
- Rainy days
- 4
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, sunny
- MarchRain15 rainy daysHigh32°Low25°Hot, humidMarchRain
Good
- High
- 32°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- AprilRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low26°Hot, humidAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 153 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, humid
- MayRain28 rainy daysHigh30°Low26°Pre-monsoonMayRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 26°
- Precipitation
- 451 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pre-monsoon
- JuneRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°Monsoon, roughJuneRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 346 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Monsoon, rough
- JulyRain27 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Heavy rainJulyRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 263 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Heavy rain
- AugustRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rain, closuresAugustRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 299 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closures
- SeptemberRain24 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rain easingSeptemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 257 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain easing
- OctoberRain26 rainy daysHigh28°Low25°Rain, thunderOctoberRain
Poor
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 333 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, thunder
- NovemberRain21 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°ReopeningNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 251 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Reopening
- DecemberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, busyDecemberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 98 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
Average daily high and low in Varkala, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Varkala
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 28°
- Humidity
- 90%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 22%
Varkala
04:07 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°24°22%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 22%.
- Wed30°25°68%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 25°. Chance of rain 68%.
- Thu29°24°100%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Fri30°24°100%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 30°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sat28°24°100%Saturday: Rain. High 28°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Sun29°24°98%Sunday: Thunderstorms. High 29°, Low 24°. Chance of rain 98%.
Updated 02:08 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 95.08 INR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Thiruvananthapuramabout 1 to 1.5 hours by road or trainKerala's capital, with museums, a palace and temples.Read the guide
- Kovalamabout 1.5 hours by roadA busier beach with calmer water and a lighthouse.Read the guide
- Alappuzhaabout 3 hours by road or trainThe classic backwater stop for a houseboat or a canoe day.Read the guide
Before you go to Varkala
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Varkala, checked
- Check eligibility for the India e-Visa and apply only on the official government portal before you travel.Source
- Many Kerala temples admit only Hindus into the main shrine; read the notices at the gate and dress modestly.
- Kerala has dry days when alcohol shops and bars close; check locally before planning a drinks evening.
- Drugs, including cannabis, carry heavy penalties under India's NDPS Act; check the FCDO safety page before you go.Source
Plan around Varkala
Visas, trains and seasons, country-wide
Read the guideKerala travel guideBackwaters, beaches and tea hills
Read the guideThiruvananthapuramThe capital and the nearest airport
Read the guideKovalam travel guideA busier beach near the city
Read the guideAlappuzha travel guideBackwaters and houseboats to the north
Read the guideIndia e-Visa guideApply online before you fly in
Read the guideVarkala FAQ
Is Varkala worth visiting?
Yes if you want a slower beach town with clifftop views, cafes and sunsets. It is less developed than Goa, so expect simple stays and fewer nightlife options. It suits a few relaxed days.
What is the best time to visit Varkala?
November to March for dry weather and open cafes. April and May are hot, and June to September is the monsoon, when waves are rough and many seasonal places shut.
Is it safe to swim at Varkala?
Only with care. Currents are strong, and swimming is safest between flags where lifeguards are on duty. Avoid rough water and the monsoon, and do not swim alone.
How far is Varkala from Thiruvananthapuram?
About 50 km, roughly an hour or more by road, and about an hour by train to Varkala Sivagiri station, plus a short auto ride to the cliff.
Varkala or Kovalam?
Varkala for cliff views, cafes and a quieter feel. Kovalam for calmer swimming and resort stays near the city. If you have a few days, you can do both from Thiruvananthapuram.