Coconut trees lined up on the cliffs of Varkala.

Photography and sightseeing tour of Varkala sea beach in Kerala

Kerala | October 24, 2018

Varkala is a popular tourist destination, famous for its sea beach and it is visited by a lot of foreign tourists. Varkala Beach is also known as Papanasham Beach. The word “Papanasham” means to wash away sins and the local people believe that dipping into the waters of this beach will wash away their sins. The main attraction of Varkala is that the beach is surrounded by cliffs and one needs to climb down a series of stairs in order to reach the sea. There are numerous hotels, restaurants, shops etc on the edge of the cliff from which one can see and get amazing photographs of the sea. The beach is considered very good for swimming and sun-bathing. Varkala is also a hub for ayurveda and yoga, as I found numerous people coming here from abroad for treatment.

                 There is a fishing village near to Varkala and I suggest checking it out if you want to experience the local culture. If you walk towards the Odayam beach which is on the right side of the Varkala cliff for 2 kms, you come across a fishing community. Head out early in the morning if you want to pictures of the local fisherman catching fish in the sea. Varkala is around 45 kms from  Thiruvanthapuram and 30 kms from Kollam and can be easily reached by train. From the train station, it costs 100 rupees to reach the Varkala helipad at the cliff by tuk-tuk. A private car costs 1200 rupees from Thiruvanthapuram. Some of the pictures that I have taken during my photo tour are given below

Tourists relaxing at the sea beach
Tourists relaxing at the sea beach
Sunrise over sea with coconut trees in the background.
Sunrise over sea with coconut trees in the background.
A fisherman climbing on a makeshift raft made of logs of wood.
A fisherman climbing on a makeshift raft made of logs of wood.
Fisherman repairing a fishing net with knots.
Fisherman repairing a fishing net with knots.
Tall swingy coconut trees on the shores of Odayam beach.
Tall swingy coconut trees on the shores of Odayam beach.
Coconut trees lined up on the shores of Varkala cliff
Coconut trees lined up on the shores of Varkala cliff
Hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Huge variety of shops and hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Huge variety of shops and hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Huge variety of shops and hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Huge variety of shops and hotels on one side of the street on the cliff.
Aerial view of sea beach
Aerial view of sea beach
Local fisherman catching fish at Odayam Beach in Varkala
Local fisherman catching fish at Odayam Beach in Varkala
Fishermen at the sea beach
Fishermen at the sea beach
A man repairing a fishing boat in the beach
A man repairing a fishing boat in the beach
Fishermen relaxing by the boat
Fishermen relaxing by the boat
An open air restaurant on the cliffs of Varkala.
An open air restaurant on the cliffs of Varkala.
Arabian sea seen below from the cliff
Arabian sea seen below from the cliff
Fishermen catching fish in the sea
Fishermen catching fish in the sea

If you’re interested in using my photography or article please contact me as I am available for freelance work. 

If you are interested in knowing more about Kerala, visit my other blogs on Kumbalangi, Alleppey backwaters sightseeing, Alleppey landscape photography, Kovalam, Kochi and Kerala sea beaches.

Leave a Comment