Varkala Beach: That stunning cliff beach of Kerala where you can wash away all your sins

The west coast of India is home to some sensational beach holiday destinations that are full of beautiful blue waters, gorgeous sands, coconut palms and relaxed settings. Some of them are special because of their backwaters, some are known for their estuaries and some are famous for their turtle nesting. Kerala’s iconic Varkala beach is known for its cliffs and for its 2000 year old temple.



Varkala beach or Papanasam beach is one of those gorgeous locations where you can not only enjoy a relaxed beach holiday, but also wash away all your sins by taking a dip in its waters. Located about 50 kms away from Thiruvanthapuram, the capital of Kerala, this beach of Southern Kerala has multiple facets to its story. First and foremost are its cliffs that tower right by the beach. Varkala is the only location in Southern Kerala where you can find such cliff formations. Second, this beach is located super close to the 2000 year old Janardana Swami temple. May be, it is due to this proximity that you see brahmin pandits sitting under an umbrella on the beach offering to appease your ancestors and to help you absolve of all your sins. And a bath in the Arabian Sea here after such offerings are set to wash away all your sins. This is kind of similar to Papanasam temple in Tamil Nadu, but there it is the Thamarabharani river and here it is the Arabian Sea. And third, this beach owing to its cliff edge allows two kind of perspectives – one from the beach floor and the other from the top of the cliff for a bird’s eye view of the beach.



The highlight of Varkala beach is its cliff edge walkway that is lined with Ayurveda centers, spas, tattoo studios, restaurants, cafes, hotels, guest houses, villas, resorts, souvenir shops, clothing shops and many more. While one can enjoy the beach and the water during the cooler times during the morning and evening, this cliff walkway is the perfect place to hang out during the mid day heat and during the night when this walkway comes alive with live music and lights.



If you are looking at your next beach holiday destination in India, I would recommend taking a look at Varkala beach. Apart from its amazing cliff beach and views, one can also experience the off beat locations of Southern Kerala and while at that can wash all your sins away. A win-win-win in my opinion!



How to reach here:

Varkala is located somewhere between Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The nearest airport (domestic and international) would be Thiruvananthapuram, about 50 kms away. The nearest railway is Varkala, which is located about 3 kms away. Excellent roads connect it with most other popular places in Kerala.



Where to stay:

If you want close proximity to the beach while enjoying the best views, stay at one of the properties near the cliff walkway. If you wish to be a bit away from the hustle and bustle of the beach, then stay in any of the village homestays close by. For uber luxury accommodation, either opt for the 5 star hotels in Thiruvanthapuram or any of the luxury villas near Varkala.



Nearby tourist attractions:

1) Kappil beach, where the beach is sandwiched between backwaters and the Arabian Sea (about 10 kms to the north)

2) Ponmudi hill station for fantastic panoramas of the Western Ghats (about 85 kms towards South East) and one of the most beautiful locations in India’s Deep South

3) Mountain railways of Kerala for one of South India’s oldest railways that pass right through dense forests (about 60 kms towards the North East)

4) Thenmala forest for waterfalls, wildlife and birding and for a truly offbeat location in Kerala (about 70 kms away)

5) Kerala’s oldest motorable suspension bridge at Punalur (about 50 kms away)

6) Ashtamudi Lake, that massive mountain of water near Kollam (about 50 kms to the north)

7) Kovalam beach (about 60 kms to the South)

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Nacpan Beach: Pristine Beach North of El Nido, Philippines

There are many beaches in this world that are pristine, super clean, have minimal infrastructure and are not usurped by an expensive resort. The Nacpan beach north of El Nido is one such place. It has a sensational 3 kilometer beach line of golden sand that is as hard as a floor. The waters here are great for swimming and perfect for a private beach getaway.


About 3 small streams join the sea here on this very beach offering an interesting mix of fresh and salt water. Except for a small fishermen village there is hardly any additional infrastructure. But, that offers a tropical concoction of old world charm under swaying coconut palms and paddy fields.


The access to this beach is through dirt and slush amidst paddy fields and before that about 15 kms of winding roads from El Nido. The ride/drive itself can offer a great tropical experience with beautifully green views. And when you reach the beach, you have open seas on one side and lush green countryside and hills on the other. One can even see the remote Duli Beach in the far distance.


This beach is ideal for a relaxed beach holiday for couples and families alike, where one can indulge in fishing, swimming, some beach sports and even dirt biking, if you feel like it. For food, you can either barbecue the fish you caught or ask the villagers to cook you some of their local favorites. Accommodation will be simple, but comfortable beach facing huts in this fishing village.


This is one of those beaches that you ought to see when you visit the Palawan island in Western Philippines. Except for its sand flies, everything about this beach is top class. A true tropical beach getaway where time stops.

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Corong Corong: Scenic stretch in North Palawan, Philippines

When someone thinks of northern Palawan, the first thing that comes into mind is El Nido. El Nido is sure very pretty with stunning limestone karsts, underwater life, lagoons and more, but a short distance from it in Corong Corong, where one can see this pristine nature from a high vantage point. And when you want to get close to it, you can just walk down to the Las Cabanas or Marimekmek beach below.


This is also one of those places to see the best sunsets near El Nido and the mighty limestone karsts here cast quite a surreal definition to this panorama. There are some places to stay here if you wish to be close to this view for a longer while. Swimming areas are good in patches as most of the waters here is shallow and rocky and is very tricky to get into during low tide. But, one can go island hopping during low tide and enjoy a swim during high tides.


Unlike El Nido, Corong Corong does not have too much of a night scene, but it is not for the party type, but for the quieter types. At six kilometers from El Nido, Corong Corong can be easily visited either on a rented motorbike or a tricycle (one way 100 pisos) as part of a day trip with most people preferring to visit it from noon till sunset.

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Dagmay Beach: Undiscovered Solitude in Northern Palawan, Philippines

Thinking of pristine beaches and great warm waters for swimming. Lots of sunshine to bask in. But, you don’t want large crowds, other tourists and the industry of travel that survives on these tourists. Well, in that case you should look at Dagmay beach, an off beat destination about 40 kilometers north of El Nido. A dirt bike or a 4x4 vehicle should be able to take you here over mountains and very bad roads and through remote villages, paddy fields and tropical forests.


Even the remote and insanely beautiful Duli beach is close by, but infrastructure is pretty limited here. There is only one place to stay here and then there are the houses of a few villagers. If you just want a good day trip, grab a dirt bike, fill it with lots of fuel and ride through the mountains to this beautiful stretch of yellow sand and spend the entire day here. If you wish to spend a longer time here, then you can stay overnight at the Verde Safari, a place run by an American who settled here a couple of years ago. They have rooms and tents for those who wish to spend nights here. They cook good food and have an adequately stocked kitchen. They have running water, electricity and some of the basic luxuries that are hard to come by in this part of the world.


According to me, this place is ideal to read a book, get a tan, laze around and be one with the nature. If you feel like doing more, you can go on a fishing trip or explore the hills nearby. Verde Safari also has a rock climbing wall for those who have that extra bit of adrenalin pumping in them. This is the place you want to be if you want some quality alone time. There is nobody to bother you here. To reach here from El Nido drive north towards Nacpan and Duli and then toward Dagmay. There are sign boards most of the way. The roads are bad and if you do get lost, ask the locals who are very helpful

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Weird and wonderful beaches

The perfect beach holiday typically involves stretches of white sand, crystal-clear waters and cocktails with little umbrellas. Of course, not all beaches are idyllic perfection; some are outstandingly weird and wonderful. You may not be able to sunbathe and swim, but these beaches are well worth a visit.


Glass Beach, California This beach pays true testament to the incredible force and sheer skill of Mother Nature. Located in Fort Bragg, California, this beach was unceremoniously used as an official dumping ground until the late 1960’s. Over the following decades, the sea filtered the rubbish and softened the glass, creating millions of multicoloured pebbles.

Chandipur Beach, India Chandipur is a distinctly unique beach. At high tide, the sea can recede up to an astounding 5 kilometres. When the sea retreats the ocean bed appears, revealing all manner of natural habitats. This beach allows for some serious exploration and you can expect to find beautiful shells, driftwood and tiny red crabs.

Giant’s Causeway, Ireland The Giant’s Causeway is a fascinating place, shrouded in legend and intrigue. The landscaped is scarred by hexagonal basalt columns which were created by an ancient volcanic eruption. The remarkable columns are so uniform and precise it’s hard to believe they were not carved by human hands.

Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii The white sands of many Hawaiian beaches are forgotten at Punalu’u as ancient volcanic activity has created striking jet black sands. Visitors to this beach may be treated to a rare sight of the endangered Hawksbill and Green turtles, who often call this bay home. The water is cold and very rocky so swimming is strongly discouraged.

Cow Beach, India First Snakes on a Plane, now Cows on a Beach, but this is no Hollywood Blockbuster. It’s not uncommon for visitors to this beach to have an encounter with a cow or two. Despite the bovine presence, this beach is extremely popular with tourists on cheap holidays thanks to its beautiful sands, lush palm trees and enticing waters.

Note:The photo in this post belongs to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/johnkay/6952135282/

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