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Varkala Beach
 South India is never really cool, but pleasantly warm in winter. So, tourists
usually visit Varkala beach during the month of October, as it is cool and
secluded. Varkala is 54 km from Thiruvananthapuram and 37 km from Kollam.
Varkala beach is famous for mineral springs and a fantastic massage,
so don't forget to bring aromatherapy massage oil and sun protection.
The mineral springs here are said to have curative properties. The massage
technique has been a closely guarded secret for thousands of years, but
for many tourists it's a welcome revival from the toils of the road.
Varkala is an important Hindu pilgrim center. The 2000 year old Janardana
Swamy Temple and the Nature Center are the two main attractions of Varkala
Beach. A dip in the holy waters of Varkala beach is believed to pure the
body and the soul of all the sins hence the name 'Papanashini' (destroyer
of sin) for this shore.
At the break of dawn following the new moon in the Malayalam month of
'Karkidakam', thousands offer 'Vavu Bali', a ritual believed to help the
souls of ancestors rest in peace.
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