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I had been on several self-driven vacations, where I got a chance to explore some exotic locations on my own. Always looking for something more intense, I prefer less-travelled roads that are conveniently located from my place. My Bangalore to Varkala travel trip was one such exploration, where I decided to be a solo backpacker.
About Varkala
A relatively small town in Kerala, Varkala is nature's gift to India. With majestic blue oceans, it's proving to be a famous hangout spot for tourists across the globe. The mineral water springs and the long geological cliff that extends over the Arabian Sea contribute to its beauty. It's also said to be a religious place for the Hindus.
One can do plenty of things at the Pythal Mala hill station, where the Varkala beach is situated. At first view, the lush greenery and the silvery stretch of sand will serve as an invitation to walk alongside them. One can swim, play volleyball or simply relax on the stretch of the beach. Lucky ones can also get to see dolphins!
Travel Content:
Distance to cover from Bangalore: 700 km
Travelling month: January
Mode of transport: Personal favourite car
Total driving time: 11 hours (including a few breaks)
No of days: 2
Available Routes:
Route 1:
Bangalore - Mysore - Backway into Ooty - Coimbatore - Palakad - Thrissur - Ernakulam - Allepey - Kollam - Varkala ( for those who want to visit Ooty as well).
Route 2:
Bangalore - Mysore - Calicut highway - Ponnani highway - Edappalli highway - Coast to Varkala.
For Air Travellers:
Nearest Airport: Thiruvanthapuram airport (36 km)
PC: Official website Kaiya Homestay
Day 1:
Early morning trips have always been ideal for me, since they help me stay in absolute touch with the pleasant surroundings. So, I left Bangalore at around 5:00 AM. I took the western route and reached Kerala. The road trip covered lovely hills, pleasant sceneries along with a few hairpin bends.
Although excited, I was seemingly tired by the time I reached Kerala, so I wanted a place to dump my suitcase and take some test before heading off to the beach. I could clearly hear the roaring call of the majestic beach from a relatively far distance. I checked in at the Kaiya House for a quick rest, so that I could rush to the beach as soon as I am done with my travel exhaustion.
The staffs at the guest house were extremely gracious. There was this splendid rooftop terrace where I got a chance to make some friends and play card games with them. I also enjoyed the local food served there. The rooms were clean and comfortable as well. After spending some time at the guest house, I set out to enjoy the cool breeze leading to the beautiful beach.
PC : Pratheepps
At the beach, I overheard someone saying, "you can't be on Varkala and not surf". I instantly knew what I had to do next. After renting a board from a nearby surf school, I had a blast. I spent most of my day beach surfing. I also found many foreigners taking Yoga classes. I tried out a session as well. The final thing on my mind after all the activities was a good massage. I pampered myself with a relaxing massage, before heading back to the guest house. After having a splendid dinner at the Kaiya House, I hit the sack.
Day 2:
Pic 4 - Kerala Tourism Official Website
The next day, I woke up early and rushed back to the beach. I carried some extra clothing and towels as well. Munching on the continental snacks and enjoying the nice air and soothing water splashing on my body, I spent a few hours at the beach itself. After a quick change, I headed to see some attractions. I visited the Sivagiri Mutt, which is one of the popular ashrams at Varkala. With a campus of over 200 acres of land, the ashram is located around 3 km from the Varkala town.
I also visited the Janardhanaswamy Temple, which was 25 km to the north of Thiruvananthapuram. It's an ancient temple where one can experience some divine atmosphere upon visit. Last on my list of visit was the Anjengo Fort. Located at Anjengo, around 12 km away from Varkala, this fort was built in the 17th century. I also visited the Muthalapuzhi Lake, which was very close to the Fort.
By the end of the day, I wrapped up my visit to Varkala with a promise to return soon. If you are also planning a visit to Varkala, you won't regret your decision.
