Varkala

Varkala known as pearl of arabian sea is a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, situated in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the headquarters of Varkala Taluk, and the important government institutions such as the Taluk office, court complex, Sub RTO, legal metrology, civil station, District Ayurveda Hospital, Govt Nature care hospital, IMD Rain Gauge Station, Treasuries etc are situated in Varkala. It is one among the oldest municipalities of Kerala established in 1980. It is the second largest coastal city in the district after the state capital and northern suburb of Trivandrum City. It is located 36 kilometres north of Trivandrum, which is the capital and largest metropolitan city of Kerala and 28 km south of Kollam City.

Varkala Udaya Marthandapuram[1]
City
Varkala Beach view from Beach Restaurant.
Nickname(s):  Pearl of Arabian Sea[1]
Varkala Show map of Kerala Varkala Show map of India
Coordinates: 8.733°N 76.725°E / 8.733; 76.725
Country	India
State	Kerala
District	Trivandrum
Named for	Valkalam
Talukas	Varkala Taluk
Government
• Type	Municipality
• Body	Varkala Municipality
• Chairperson	Bindhu Haridas
Area
• City	14.87 km^2 (5.74 sq mi)
• Metro	34 km^2 (13 sq mi)
Area rank	3
Elevation	58 m (190 ft)
Population  (2011)[2]
• City	40,048
• Rank	3
• Density	2,700/km^2 (7,000/sq mi)
• Metro	80,345
Demonym(s)	Varkalakkaran, Varkalaite
Languages
• Official	Malayalam, English
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
PIN	695141
Telephone code	0470
Vehicle registration	KL-81
Nearest cities	Kollam - 28km Trivandrum - 36 km
Niyamasabha constituency	Varkala
Website	www.varkalamunicipality.in

Natural spring in Varkala

Varkala is the only place in Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea.[3] These Cenozoic sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature on the otherwise flat Kerala coast, and are known among geologists as Varkala Formation. The cliffs have been declared a national geological monument by the Geological Survey of India for their protection, maintenance, promotion, and the enhancement of geotourism. There are numerous water spouts and spas on the sides of these cliffs. In 2015, the Ministry of Mines, the Government of India, and the Geological Survey of India (GSI) declared Varkala Cliffs a geo-heritage site.[4][5] Varkala is under Varkala police jurisdiction.

Varkala is also known for the 2,018-year-old Janardana Swami Temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is often referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the South).[6] The temple is located close to Papanasam beach, which is an Ayurveda treatment centre. The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties.

Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri Mutt, established by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

History

Legends

It is believed that a Pandyan King was instructed by Lord Brahma to build a temple at this very place to redeem him of his sins. Several other myths abound on the birth of Varkala. Another legend states that when a group of pilgrims approached Sage Narada and told him that they had sinned, Narada threw his valkalam (a loin cloth made from the bark of a tree) and it landed at this scenic village and hence, the place came to be known as Varkala. Narada told the pilgrims to pray for their redemption at Papanasam, which literally means redemption from sins.[7]

Geography

Varkala is located at 8.73°N 76.71°E / 8.73; 76.71.[8]

Geology

Varkala is an important place as far as geology is concerned as it exposes sedimentary rocks belonging to the Cenozoic age, popularly known in the geological literature as the Warkalli formation. The Warkalli formation, along with the Quilon formation, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-pliocene times. The Quilon formation of the Miocene age is made up of limestone, and the Warkalli formation is made up of alternating beds of sand and shale exposed along the Varkala cliffs. Thin seams of lignite in the shale of the Warkalli formation suggest good vegetation at the time of deposition of the clay sediments.

Government and politics

Local Government

Varkala is in Thiruvananthapuram District. Urban civic administration is overseen by the Varkala municipality or municipal council, while the rural civic administration is under the charge of the 7 panchayats of Edava, Elakamon, Vettoor, Madavoor, Navaikulam, Pallickal, and Chemmaruthy in Varkala Taluk.[9]

The Varkala Municipality has 33 wards[10] under it and also has 6 standing committees[11] that take care of basic amenities such as water, sewage, roads, taxes, and other such city or local government functions.

Elected representatives to state and centre governments

The Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Constituency, Attigal, falls in Varkala, where one Member of Parliament (MP) is elected from. There are seven State Assembly Constituencies[12] within Attigal Lok Sabha Constituency, of which Varkala is one. Hence, one Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is elected from Varkala State Legislative Assembly no. 127.[13]

Economy

Varkala is a well-known tourism and commercial destination. More than 300 resorts and hotels are situated in the municipality, including a Taj Hotel, owned by Tata Group. The city has an average-rated water supply system, fire station, automobile showrooms, several post offices, engineering and degree colleges and a police station. It also has government-run medical facilities in addition to over 10 private hospitals and clinics. A government-run naturopathic hospital is located near the Papanasam cliff. The District Ayurvedic Hospital is located in Varkala.

Varkala is an important hub for neighbouring places like Attingal, Kadakkavur, Chirayinkeezhu, Kallambalam, Paravur, and Kilimanoor.

Transport

Trains in Varkala Railway Station

Air

Trivandrum International Airport (52 km) is the nearest airport and there is a helipad at Varkala Cliff.

Rail

Varkala Railway Station, the second busiest and third highest revenue-generating station in Trivandrum district is connected by regular trains from Trivandrum Central and major cities in India like Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, etc.

Road

Varkala is at a distance of 9 km from National Highway 66. Private buses and KSRTC buses run along NH 66 and through Varkala. State Highway 64 (Kerala) starts in Varkala and ends in Madathara. The highway is 45 km long.

Water

Varkala is connected to National Waterway 3 through Varkala Tunnel, which passes through the heart of the city. [14]

Tourism

Paragliding at Varkala Beach

Varkala Promenade

Tourism began to thrive at the end of the last century at Varkala beach (Papanasam), which was earlier famous for Vavu Beli, a Hindu custom performed at the beach. Another beach is at Tiruvambadi, one kilometre away and on the way to the old palace. An island called Ponnumthuruthu is close to Varkala and is also a tourist attraction.

Many ayurvedic massage parlours line the promenade above the beach.

Varkala Beach

Varkala Beach, or Papanasam Beach, is a haven for sunbathing and swimming. The cliff and the beach include resorts, restaurants, and other shops. The black part of the sand on Varkala Beach contains thorium-oxide, which is a radioactive substance. Thorium and thorium-oxide and its isotopes are found all over Kerala and can be identified by their black colour.[15]

Cremations

Sections of Varkala Beach (Papanasam Beach) are used by Indians to scatter the ashes of their cremated relatives into the sea. Despite this burial activity, the sea is popular with swimmers both local and foreign.

Paravur: Land of Backwaters, Estuaries, and Beaches

Main article: Paravur, Kollam

Paravur: The land of estuaries, beaches, and backwaters

Paravur is another municipal town with estuaries and backwaters, situated 13 km from Varkala. Paravur is in Kollam district, sharing borders with Thiruvananthapuram district. Paravur has an array of backwaters and lakes surrounding the town. With the advent of roads and others means of transport, the inland waterways have been neglected. Renewed efforts are underway to start linking the waterways to an ambitious inland waterway system being sponsored by the state government along the lines of what once existed.

Paravur Lake attracts tourists. The lake meets the sea and can be seen from a small stretch of road which divides them.

Kappil Lake

Main article: Kappil, Thiruvananthapuram

Edava-Nadayara Lake: A scene from Paravur Thekkumbhagam

Kappil Lake is about 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) north of Varkala Town. This serene estuary meanders through dense coconut groves before merging into the Arabian Sea. The bridge over the lake is a vantage point to view the backwater stretching white and grey to the distant blue horizon. Boating is another way to browse this waterway.

Anjengo Fort

Anjengo Fort is a fort near Varkala. The historic significance tagged to Anjengo comes through foreign powers like the Portuguese, the Dutch, and finally the English East India Company. In the year 1684, the English East India Company chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort, which was targeted several times by other foreign powers, who were at that time fighting each other to get a firm footing in Kerala. The fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery inside the fort and the oldest burial site dates to 1704. Muthalapuzhi Lake is situated in Anjengo.

Varkala Tunnel

Varkala Tunnel

Varkala Tunnel is a 151-year old tourist highlight. It was a 924 ft long tunnel built in 1867 by Sir T. Madhava Rao, the dewan of Travancore, and took 14 years to complete. Varkala Lighthouse is another tourist highlight in the vicinity.

Religious centres

Janardana Swami Temple

Janardhana Swami Temple Pond

Sivagiri Mutt

Janardana Swami Temple is a very important Vaishnavite shrine and attracts thousands of pilgrims. The temple is about 2,000 years old. Facing the temple is Papasnanam Beach, where devotees take a bath in the belief that the sacred waters will wash away their sins. A large bell washed up from the wreck of a Dutch merchant vessel is kept on display at the temple.

Sivagiri Mutt

Sivagiri Mutt is a famous ashram in Varkala, founded by the philosopher and social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru's tomb is also located here. The samadhi (the final resting place) of the Guru attracts thousands of devotees every year during the Sivagiri pilgrimage, from December 30 to January 1. The Sivagiri Mutt, built in 1904, is situated at the top of the Sivagiri hill near Varkala. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, an organization of his disciples and saints, established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'. The Guru Deva Jayanti, the birthday of the Guru, and the samadhi day, are celebrated in August and September respectively every year. Colourful processions, debates and seminars, public meetings, cultural shows, community feasts, group weddings, and rituals mark the celebrations.

Panayara Triporittakkavu Bhagavathi Temple

Panayara Triporittakkavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the most famous Devi temples in Kerala. Meenabharani festival is the primary festival in Porittakkavu temple, celebrating the month of ‘Meenam’ (March/April) in the Malayalam calendar.

Sarkara Devi Temple

Sarkara Devi Temple is an old temple situated near Varkala at Chirayinkeezhu. The temple is famous for the Kaliyoot festival on the Malayalam month of Kumbham (March).

Sree Saraswathy Temple

The Sree Saraswathy Temple, located in Venkulam, Edava, is a VidyaDevi temple known for Navarathri Sangeetholsavam and Vijayadesami Vidyarambam.

Kaduvayil Juma Masjid

Kaduvayil Juma mosque, situated on NH47, between Kallambalam and Attingal, is a Sunni pilgrimage centre which attracts local Muslims.

Climate

The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies Varkala's climate as tropical monsoon. It has heavy rains during June–August due to a southwest monsoon. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 32 °C (90 °F) and 31 °C (88 °F) in the winters. The highest temperature recorded in neighbouring Thiruvananthapuram is 39 °C (102 °F). Annual average rainfall is 3,100 mm (120 in).

Climate data for Varkala
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	29.9 (85.8)	30.7 (87.3)	31.7 (89.1)	31.8 (89.2)	31.3 (88.3)	29.1 (84.4)	28.6 (83.5)	28.9 (84.0)	29.3 (84.7)	29.3 (84.7)	29.1 (84.4)	29.3 (84.7)	29.9 (85.8)
Daily mean °C (°F)	26.1 (79.0)	26.9 (80.4)	28.1 (82.6)	28.6 (83.5)	28.2 (82.8)	26.5 (79.7)	25.9 (78.6)	26.2 (79.2)	26.5 (79.7)	26.5 (79.7)	26.2 (79.2)	26 (79)	26.8 (80.3)
Average low °C (°F)	22.4 (72.3)	23.2 (73.8)	24.5 (76.1)	25.4 (77.7)	25.2 (77.4)	23.9 (75.0)	23.3 (73.9)	23.5 (74.3)	23.7 (74.7)	23.7 (74.7)	23.4 (74.1)	22.7 (72.9)	23.7 (74.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	19 (0.7)	27 (1.1)	52 (2.0)	144 (5.7)	248 (9.8)	457 (18.0)	336 (13.2)	222 (8.7)	201 (7.9)	290 (11.4)	205 (8.1)	55 (2.2)	2,256 (88.8)
Average rainy days	1	2	3	8	10	19	17	14	11	12	8	3	108
Mean daily sunshine hours	9	9	8	8	7	5	5	6	6	6	6	7	7
Source 1: Climate-Data.org[16]
Source 2: Weather2Travel[17] for sunshine and rainy days

References

1. "Varkala History, Thiruvananthapuram, kerala, india, History of Varkala". www.varkkala.com.
2. "Census of India: Search Details".
3. http://www.varkala.info | Details of Varkala
4. "Declaration of Geo-Heritage Sites". pib.nic.in. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
5. "Varkala cliff to be nation's first geopark". The Hindu. 7 July 2012. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
6. "Varkala". Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
7. "Varkala Beach". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
8. "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Varkkallai, India". www.fallingrain.com.
9. "CEO Kerala Govt".
10. "Ward map".
11. "Varkala Municipality Standing Committees".
12. "7 Assembly Constituencies for LDF in Attingal".
13. "Maps of India".
14. "Kerala PWD - State Highways". Kerala State Public Works Department. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
15. "Kerala". Explorra.com. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
16. "Climate: Varkala - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
17. "Varkala Climate and Weather Averages, Kerala". Weather2Travel. Retrieved 27 August 2013.