Varkala is a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district. Known for the 2000-year-old Janardana Swami Temple, an important Vaishnavaite Shrine in India. The beach is marked by unique sandstone cliffs along the coast a pristine beach underneath.
The temple overlooks the Papanasam beach. The holy water from this temple is believed to have the power to wash away the sins. An ancient bell from a Dutch Shipwreck is kept in the temple. Legend says that there were no causalities in the wreck and the relieved captain gifted the Ship's bell to the temple.
The Kerala Ayurvedic spas and clinics around here use water from the numerous mineral springs found here. These spas are very famous. In Sivagiri, the mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the famous monuments.
