Varkala — Devsmita Verma

Why Varkala

Varkala is the easiest weekend escape if you want cliffs, beaches, and barely any planning. It's the one place in Kerala where you get actual red cliffs dropping straight into the Arabian Sea, a row of cafés perched right on the edge, and almost none of the chaos of a bigger beach town — just cliffs, good coffee, and a sunset that genuinely earns the hype every single evening.

The Itinerary

The 3-Day Varkala Weekend Run

Coming from Bangalore, the Island Express runs straight to Varkala Sivagiri station, no change needed — a long one at 17 to 19 hours, but cheap (₹450 Sleeper, ₹1,200 3AC, ₹1,750 2AC). An overnight AC sleeper bus works too, 13 to 16 hours for ₹1,200 to ₹2,700. Flying in instead? Land in Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), about 50 km out, then a quick train or cab the rest of the way.

My personal suggestion? Book your stay on the South Cliff, not the North. North Cliff has all the shops and the crowd energy — fun for an evening, but not where you actually want to sleep. South Cliff is quieter, the sunsets hit exactly the same, and you're still a 10-minute walk from Papanasam Beach.

Day 1

Cliffs, Temples, and That First Sunset

Check into your South Cliff stay, drop your bags, and head straight to Papanasam Beach — no itinerary pressure on day one. If you've got the afternoon free, auto over to Sivagiri Mutt or Janardhana Swamy Temple for the hilltop view over the coconut groves. Save the back half of your evening for Cafe Sarwaa, right on the cliff — get there a little before golden hour and just sit with the view. Stay on for dinner right there too.

Day 2

Surf, Then Backwaters

Morning is for the water — book a beginner surf lesson at Papanasam Beach with Soul & Surf (₹1,800–2,200, do it early before the wind picks up). By mid-afternoon, head to the Edava–Nadayara–Paravur backwaters for a mangrove kayak session (₹1,200–1,500). Don't go in expecting a sunset paddle — the mangrove tunnels need real daylight — but golden hour on the open water on your way back is the bonus. Keep dinner easy on North Cliff after.

Day 3

One Last Cliff, Then Go

Keep it slow — breakfast at Bindu's Café on North Cliff, then auto up to Kappil Beach, where the sea and the backwaters run parallel split by a thin strip of sand. Climb Kodi Cliff for the view: the Arabian Sea on one side, the lagoon on the other. Don't rush back down — grab a coconut at the top. Head back, pack up, and start the drive to Trivandrum.

Where to Eat

Cliffside Cafés

Cafe Sarwaa (South Cliff) — the sunset spot, hands down.
Cafe Trip Is Life (South Cliff) — sunset dining right over the water.
Bindu's Café (North Cliff) — best for a slow morning coffee.
InDa Café (North Cliff) — the breakfast call, Nutella pancakes and pizza.

Good to Know

Want to Do More?

Paramotoring (₹3,000–4,500) — a 10–15 min tandem flight over the cliffs, October to March only.
Jatayu Earth's Center (₹300–550) — the giant Jatayu sculpture, cable car and zip line, 45 min away.
Both sit on top as add-ons, not folded into the 3-day plan above.