Fun in the Sun -A SCENERY IN GODS OWN COUNTRY
Varkala Beach is one of several well known beaches in Kerala, about 50 km north of Trivandrum. It is not as crowded as some of the other Kerala beaches, so is said to be a more relaxed place to visit and stay. It is the only beach in southern Kerala that is lined by a cliff. It is a major beach resort, attracting both Westerners and Indians. With all the visitors, the cliff is lined with shops selling clothing and jewelry, and restaurants with chairs lined up to see the ocean and famous sunset over the Arabian Sea. It is also a well known place for Ayurvedic treatments.
Varkala Beach is also called Papanasam Beach because it is believed that bathing here will wash away all of one’s sins. This is from one of the origin legends of Varkala: When a group of pilgrims approached Saint 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 so the place came to be known as Varkala. Narada told the pilgrims to pray for their redemption at Papanasam Beach, which literally means “redemption from sins.”
The drive from Trivandrum was on a good road, though only one lane. I do not know when the new Indian National Highway will expand this to two lanes each way. I am pretty sure that it is in the plans, and that in maybe two years it will be much easier and faster to get around India by car on the new National Highway systemFrom the road, the area seemed pretty prosperous, with a number of high rise housing buildings.This place offers daily yoga classes and also cooking classes for those who want to learn Keralan cooking recipes and techniques.AND AURVEDIC .The beach looks nice, sheltered by the cliffs, with orderly rows of waves breaking along the beach.Ocean waves break on the shore. It seems not much like India, though, more like a beach anywhere in the worldThis is a nice getaway from India. But we want to get back to our beloved country.
