The Windswept Cliffs of Varkala

The next place of interest travelling north up the coast from Kovalam is Varkala. This journey takes almost 2 hours by taxi and cost us 1,800 rupees (€25). There is just one bus that goes there direct, leaving Kovalam at 6-15 am. Otherwise you have to change buses in Trivandrum. They say the direct bus takes 2 hours, but in practice its more likely 3 to 4 hours.

Once in Varkala, you’ ll need to travel another 7-8 km to reach the beach resorts. This will cost around 100 rupees in a rickshaw. Whilst in Varkala town make sure you visit an ATM to get cash, because there are no ATMs in the beach resorts. There are a couple of ATM machines in town, but the most reliable is the one next to the train station.

There are several fruit vendors in Varkala that are worth visiting, as well as hawkers selling watermelons on the roadside. Apart from stocking up on fruit and getting cash from the ATM, there’s little other reason to visit Varkala town. It’s just another unremarkable Indian town with little to offer foreigners.

A Feast of Fruit in Varkala

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