After traveling for 5 months, we were both feeling g a bit road weary. I felt like a sea sponge that needed to be wrung out in order to absorb more historically significant, mindblowingly beautiful, culturally complex places.
Varkala seemed like a decent spot to do that as Wikitravel notes it as being recently developed for tourism. I would say it's extremely developed as the cliff is packed with guest houses, restaurants, gift shops, clothing shops, money changers, and convenience stores. However, it worked for 3 nights and then we jumped ship to a quieter spot just north where you can still find fishing bungalows and tourists helping the fishermen bring in the nets.
Varkala is good for the following
- Internation cusines. Some restaurants boast about 5... There are a bunch of Tibetan places that were tasty. Dove into a couple bowls of muesli and huevos rancheros. Haven't had a coffee like that in months. We spent between Rs. 500-800/meal.
- Fresh fish. It looked fresh and tasted fresh, although there were suspiciously large quantities outside each restaurant each night, so we question if it can all be sold each day.
- Views. The building are up in the cliffs, so you can sit for hours and stare out towards Africa
- Ease. There is one walkway full of restaurants and one beach full of people, so don't have to think too much about where to get food or where to jump in the ocean.
- Yoga and Ayurvedic treatment. Didn't try any, but there are plenty of spots for both.
- Water refills. A few restaurants have large jugs of filtered water so you can save plastic. Rock n roll cafe asks Rs. 10 if you fill a large bottle.
Varkala is not good for
- Music. The playlist hasn't changed since 1991. Only one night did we get reggae from a DJ that was more in touch with the times.
- Understanding India. Most of the tourists are foreign and wearing very little clothing, which would be unheard of in most of the country.
- Money exchange. You get at least 4 ruppees less than the daily rate. We were told it's due to the current money crisis and that there is less money in Kerala.
For accommodation we stayed in 3 places:
- Bamboo Village for Rs. 700 in a room. The wifi was weak up tgere, but nice hammocks near the router to relax in.
- Santa Claus for Rs. 800 facing the beach. We got booted from the first spot as a group was coming, so we got a deal. Supposedly the guys next to us paid Rs. 1500.
- Thanima Beach Resort for Rs. 1000 can hear the waves and the mosque at call to prayer
Varkala seemed like a decent spot to do that as Wikitravel notes it as being recently developed for tourism. I would say it's extremely developed as the cliff is packed with guest houses, restaurants, gift shops, clothing shops, money changers, and convenience stores. However, it worked for 3 nights and then we jumped ship to a quieter spot just north where you can still find fishing bungalows and tourists helping the fishermen bring in the nets.
Varkala is good for the following
- Internation cusines. Some restaurants boast about 5... There are a bunch of Tibetan places that were tasty. Dove into a couple bowls of muesli and huevos rancheros. Haven't had a coffee like that in months. We spent between Rs. 500-800/meal.
 |
| Coffee Planet |
- Fresh fish. It looked fresh and tasted fresh, although there were suspiciously large quantities outside each restaurant each night, so we question if it can all be sold each day.
 |
| Photo credit @cesarmanzano |
- Views. The building are up in the cliffs, so you can sit for hours and stare out towards Africa
- Walks on the beach. You can walk and walk from one beach to another.
- Ease. There is one walkway full of restaurants and one beach full of people, so don't have to think too much about where to get food or where to jump in the ocean.
- Yoga and Ayurvedic treatment. Didn't try any, but there are plenty of spots for both.
- Water refills. A few restaurants have large jugs of filtered water so you can save plastic. Rock n roll cafe asks Rs. 10 if you fill a large bottle.
Varkala is not good for
- Music. The playlist hasn't changed since 1991. Only one night did we get reggae from a DJ that was more in touch with the times.
- Understanding India. Most of the tourists are foreign and wearing very little clothing, which would be unheard of in most of the country.
- Money exchange. You get at least 4 ruppees less than the daily rate. We were told it's due to the current money crisis and that there is less money in Kerala.
For accommodation we stayed in 3 places:
- Bamboo Village for Rs. 700 in a room. The wifi was weak up tgere, but nice hammocks near the router to relax in.
- Santa Claus for Rs. 800 facing the beach. We got booted from the first spot as a group was coming, so we got a deal. Supposedly the guys next to us paid Rs. 1500.
- Thanima Beach Resort for Rs. 1000 can hear the waves and the mosque at call to prayer
 |
| Bungalows at Bamboo Village. Photo credit @cesarmanzano. |
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