Varkala
Enjoying a contented location, Varkala nestles in the Northern part of Thiruvananthpuram, at a distance of about 50 Kms from the city. When heading from South Kollam, one needs to cover a distance of about 37 Kms to reach Varkala. Basically, Varkala holds a prime location in the capital district of Kerala, i.e. Trivandrum. The city of Varkala is known across the nation for its cliff edged, pristine and clear beaches.
Varkala Glints
Holding one of the very scenic and serene locations of Southern India, Varkala comes under the popular as a tourist destination of India. The very famous beach of Varkala sprawls in an area of about half a kilometer and here the refreshing waves of the colossal Arabian Sea hugs the cliff face. The ideal season to visit Varkala lies between the months of December to march. This is the best time of the year and the other months of the year are not so welcoming in terms of pleasant weather. This can be called as one of the eternal place for resting and relaxing as the very famous social reformer, Sri Nayayana Guru too rested here.
Mythological legend linked to the city
A very famous legend according to Hindu mythology is attached to the city which says this was the place where a cluster of pilgrims dropped in to see the Sage Narada and this was the time they confessed they sins. In reply to their confession, Narada spread his valakalam cloth close to the coastline. This was the place where he asked those pilgrims to consecrate a holy temple where they would be offering prayers on regular basis. They should also undergo penance to get relieved from the burden of sins they've committed. Later, this place got the name of Papanasam which meant redemption from sins. Till date people associate the city with the valakalam cloth spread by the sage Narada, and hence the origin of Varkala is assumed to be from the word valakalam. This pious place is still considered to be a place where people can repent for their sins.
Apart from this, the tourist attractions of the city also adorn the city and make it a place immensely popular among tourist. Some of the places of interest in Varkala include the magnificent Varkala Beach, the amazing view of sunset and sunrise, the mesmeric cliffs, the spiritual temples, the refreshing natural water springs, etc. In a nutshell, the city is abundant in interesting tourist spots and natural beauty which makes it an ideal destination for vacations.