An easy Varkala weekend itinerary

A Varkala weekend itinerary. You can do it solo. It’s easy and fun to do!

About Varkala

Varkala is a coastal town about an hour and a half’s drive from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, with relatively unharmed beaches, and cliffs that stand adjacent to the Arabian Sea. The town is also famous for a 2,000-year-old Janardana Swami Temple, located close to a beach that’s called Papanasam i.e. the beach to wash away sins. Varkala is a popular backpacker stop, the choppy waters making for good surfing, and there’s plenty of pristine coastline and cool cafes dotted alongside to fill your days and nights. It’s no Goa, but close enough. Consider it a rural relative. It’s safe for a single girl to travel about without getting hassled, and that was what made the decision for me. I could indeed walk on the unlit roads at any time of the night without feeling unsafe. Foreigners are aplenty, and the town is used to tourists.

At Varkala, I had plenty of alone thinking time, and I came to the conclusion that…wait for it…yes…drumrolls now…

…that….

….well…

….here it comes…

….that…

the thinking mind is the cause of all misery.

And this I learned during a visit to the intriguingly horrifying Thaipusam festival on the outskirts of Varkala.

Thaipusam is a festival celebrated to honour Lord Murugan, the Hindu god of war and the son of Shiva. Usually, it’s celebrated on a full moon day though I’m not sure when exactly (for example, the Tamils celebrate it in Jan or Feb, depending on the lunar calendar but the one I went to was on March 31).

So what happens in Thaipusam?

Worshippers pierce their bodies! That’s what. The ritual is some sort of religious penance or coming-of-age ritual. And they’re not just simple, benign needle pricks. Their faces and bodies are impaled and drilled with swords, skewers, and hooks. It’s gruesome to watch. And you’d think the roads and temple grounds will be filled with blood and shrieks, but no! The worshipers who pierce their body parts hardly bleed and report feeling very little pain! Many claim that their wounds heal nearly immediately and don’t produce scars. I could see these boys/ men were in a drunk-like trance (no, they weren’t drunk or high, I checked many times). This trance is further worked up by communal chanting, music from loudspeakers and loud drumming.

While the piercing ceremony is done mostly by men, women carry kavadis (burdens) which are heavy, artistic shrines attached to them with sharp skewers. Sometimes the devices are so heavy that assistance is sought. In fact, every devotee undergoing the (brutality) seemed to be tagged with a companion, encouraging them, holding them, mollifying their wounds.

Then, I saw some of them walk on fire later in the night. Literally, walk on fire.

An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
Preparing and piercing
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
Elephants being readied for the parade
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
The boys with impaled cheeks! Ouch!
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
Hung and crucified
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
No blood, see?
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
Like a dead animal’s hide, ouch!
An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Festivals of Varkala
A group crucifixion

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, why do they do it? Because they believe it will bring them good luck. Prosperity. Long life and health. The devotees believe, and thus they receive or think they do. They don’t know any other way. They’re not drunk, not drugged, they simply believe. They’ve been made to believe since they were very young. This belief runs in their bloodstream, intermingled with their being.

Conclusion: It’s natural to delve into miseries, the thinking mind loves it, but what if we were to believe (or train ourselves to believe) every incident is happy? Love, loss, death, and success, like metals piercing in the body, they prick and prod, but cannot break. Like a lovely piece, I read in a book I am very addicted to right now, The Secret History by Donna Tartt“What if you had never seen the sea before? What if the only thing you’d ever seen was a child’s picture–blue crayon, choppy waves? Would you know the real sea if you only knew the picture? Would you be able to recognize the real thing if you saw it? We’re talking about God here. God is serious business.”

Would you know misery if you did not know how to recognize it?

Stay at Varkala

I stayed at Kaiya – a delightful gem located 15 minutes away from North Cliff. Debra (the owner) and her guests were lovely and I had a good time in her one single room ‘Nepal’. Each room is beautifully done up in her B&B, following a country theme, and replete with interesting art and artefacts. Debra herself had many tips on what to see and where to go, and since I was travelling alone, both her company and guidance were helpful. While I’d prefer to stay by the beach next time, I’d recommend her place to anyone looking for some calm and interesting company. Note though, there is no facility for dining in (except the complimentary breakfast).

An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Hotel
My pretty bed

Alternatively, I checked out a few other places with a view of the beach. The Hill View Beach Resort (North Cliff), Om Sam and Soul & Surf (south) seemed particularly attractive.

Do at Varkala

Chill at North Cliff

I made Café Del Mar my second home and hung with their smoothies and my Kindle often, but there are other popular options such as Himalaya Café, Trattoria, and Little Tibet. Beer and wine can be provided on request (discreetly wrapped in newspaper, since liquor is banned in Kerala). Indulge in the many healthy smoothies and juice options. North Cliff lights up with twinkling bulbs at night, and as dusk falls, the panoramic view of the infinite sea on one side is quite magical.

An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | where to eat
Cafe del Mar

Ayurveda Treatment or Massage

It was a hit-and-miss for me. After a few lacklustre and expensive massages (options start from INR 500 and go to INR 2000 on North Cliff) I went to Mathruthwam which did a good job. But don’t expect to have your mind blown.

Yoga

INR 350-500 for a drop-in hour-long class which usually happens along the North Cliff at set times during the day – 8 or 8:30 am and 4 or 6 PM. I didn’t try one, just saw the boards. Choose carefully. I believe the Sivananda classes are good but I’ve heard people complain about the quality of a few others.

Temples and Culture

You may be lucky to witness a few festivals as I did, else take a trip to the Janardana Swami Temple or Sivagiri Mutt.

Surfing

Surfers should consider staying at Soul & Surf. They provide in-house yoga classes, and surfing lessons and seemed like a great place to stay. Residents seemed to be volunteering, so you could also get a free stay/ lessons, I guess. The perfect place for the single, active holiday seeker. By the way, the turmeric honey cake I had there (albeit cold since I’d gone during their set breakfast time) was yum yum.

An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Surf and Sand
Soul & Surf

Shopping

Boutique and Himalaya cosmetics are available aplenty – attractive for foreign buyers. There are handmade soaps, spices, and chocolates available, but nothing spectacular. You could pick up a few natural oils from the Ayurveda spas or natural fabrics/clothes from Asparagus (call in advance if staying for less than 3 days) Asparagus creates made-to-measure clothes with lovely khadi, cotton or linen fabrics.

An easy solo Varkala weekend itinerary | Shopping
The delightful eco store

How to get to Varkala

Take a flight to Thiruvananthapuram. It is one and half hour long taxi ride. Request the hotel to arrange for a taxi pick up. Costs around INR 1200 one way.

My Recommended Travel Sites
This is how I plan all my trips quickly, efficiently, and economically. Below are my go-to recommended travel planning sites.
  • First, I go to TripAdvisor and check out top things to do, top places, and experiences. I use this to make a rough itinerary.
  • From TripAdvisor I often go to Viator to book day tours. I love their user friendly platform and flexible cancellation policies. Compare their offers with GetYourGuide, which is great too.
  • I book my accommodations in Booking because of their flexibility and that the bookings are easily cancellable. The mobile app is great and the genius discounts are on point.
  • I recommend getting the Priority Pass. It gives you access to airport lounges and has helped me through many long waits. It’s definitely well worth the money.
  • And I am literally always on Skyscanner. I get to see the best airfares, and the airline / third party providers offering them. Try the “From: origin city” to “To: Everywhere” option to ignite your imagination on where to travel to next.

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