Varkala · Travel Tips, Day Trips & FAQs

Varkala makes an easy base for a cluster of worthwhile excursions, from backwaters and a colonial fort a few kilometres away to a hill station and the state capital within a comfortable drive. Most are best done by hired scooter, taxi or a car with driver.

Kappil Beach and Kappil backwaters (about 6 km north, roughly 15–20 minutes). A short ride north brings you to Kappil, where the placid Kappil backwaters (an estuarine lake) run close to a broad, quiet beach before meeting the sea. It is a lovely, uncrowded spot for a short boat trip on the lake, and the small bridge over the estuary gives a fine view of the water winding toward the ocean. Boating is inexpensive and operated locally; verify current rates before you go. An easy half-day, often combined with Anjengo.

Anjengo (Anchuthengu) Fort (roughly 12–15 km south, about 30–40 minutes). A pocket of colonial history on the coast: Anchuthengu was the site of the English East India Company's first fortified trade settlement on the Kerala coast, established in the 1690s on a grant from the Rani (Queen) of Attingal, and the sturdy seaside fort still stands. Nearby lie an atmospheric old cemetery with the weathered graves of Dutch and British sailors and soldiers (some dating to the early 1700s) and a lighthouse. The area was the flashpoint of the Attingal Revolt of 1721, an early uprising against the Company. Entry to the fort is generally free; a small fee may apply at the lighthouse — verify before visiting.

Ponnumthuruthu island / "Golden Island" (near Anjengo, reached by boat). On the backwaters near Anchuthengu, this small, palm-fringed island — its name means "golden island" — is reached by a short country-boat crossing and is home to a century-old temple dedicated to Shiva and Parvati in a serene, secluded setting. The boat ride through the backwaters is as much the draw as the island itself. Boat charges are set locally and modest; confirm rates on the spot. It pairs naturally with the Anjengo fort visit for a half-day of history and backwater calm.

Kollam and Ashtamudi backwaters (about 25 km north, roughly 45 minutes–1 hour). The old port city of Kollam sits on the sprawling Ashtamudi Lake, one of the gateways to Kerala's famed backwaters. Day visitors take houseboat or motorboat cruises on Ashtamudi, and the more ambitious can join the celebrated Kollam–Alappuzha backwater cruise, an all-day (around eight-hour) journey of some 55 kilometres through canals and lakes, often described as the longest backwater boat trip in Kerala. Kollam is also historic — an ancient trading port and today known as the "Cashew Capital." A rewarding full-day trip for backwater lovers.

Ponmudi hill station (roughly 70–80 km, about 2–2.5 hours). For a complete change of scene, the small hill station of Ponmudi climbs to around 1,100 metres in the Western Ghats east of Thiruvananthapuram, reached by a road of tea gardens and famous hairpin bends. It offers cool air, misty ridges, tea-country views, easy walks and trekking, with waterfalls and a wildlife sanctuary nearby. A long but scenic day trip, best in clear weather; check road conditions, as the ghat can be affected by rain and occasional access restrictions.

Thiruvananthapuram (about 50 km south, roughly 1–1.5 hours). Kerala's capital repays a day of sightseeing: the magnificent Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, with its reclining Vishnu and Dravidian architecture (and a strict dress code and restrictions on non-Hindus in the sanctum); the Napier Museum and adjoining zoo; the wooden Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace; the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds; and the famous crescent beach of Kovalam a little further south. As the site of the nearest airport and the main regional railhead, Thiruvananthapuram is also an easy pairing with an arrival or departure.

For any of these, hiring a car with a driver for the day is the simplest way to combine nearby stops — Kappil with Anjengo and Ponnumthuruthu, for instance — and confirm current road conditions, boat operations and timings locally before you set off.