Varkala

Varkala, on the Arabian Sea coast of southern Kerala, is one of India's most striking seaside towns — the only place along the long Kerala coast where dramatic red-laterite cliffs rise directly above the beach, their rust-coloured walls topped by a winding clifftop promenade that has become the heart of the town.

• Along this North Cliff path runs a ribbon of open-air cafés, bakeries, yoga shalas, Ayurveda centres, and craft shops, all looking out over the sea — a relaxed, scenic walk that is the essence of a Varkala day, especially at sunset when the sky and the sea turn gold.
• Below lies Papanasam Beach, whose name means "destroyer of sins": pilgrims have long come to bathe in its waters, believed to wash away impurities, before worshipping at the Janardanaswamy Temple, a revered 2,000-year-old shrine to Lord Vishnu set just back from the shore and known as the "Dakshin Kashi," the Varanasi of the South.
• A short way inland, the Sivagiri Mutt is the serene hilltop ashram and final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great Kerala social reformer who preached "one caste, one religion, one God for mankind," drawing thousands of pilgrims for the Sivagiri pilgrimage each year-end.
• Beyond the cliff, the Kappil backwaters and lake, the Anjengo (Anchuthengu) fort, and the gentle, less-crowded southern beaches reward exploration.
• Varkala's relaxed pace, its sunsets over the Arabian Sea, and its blend of pilgrimage and seaside calm have made it one of Kerala's most loved coastal escapes, quieter than the busier beach resorts further down the coast and increasingly popular with long-stay travellers.
• For vegetarian travellers, Varkala is a delight: the clifftop cafés serve everything from Kerala vegetarian sadya and dosa to global vegetarian, vegan, and fresh-fruit bowls, juices, and South Indian filter coffee, all with a sea view.
• The best season is November to March.