Like all things in life, the best should always be saved for last. This couldn't have been more true when it came to Varkala. Words and pictures simply don't do this place justice. We took a morning train, and arriving at our pre-arranged accommodation realized they had sold off our room to someone else and had no more available. We were bummed because we had heard such great things about this particular place, but were very excited about the alternative that we came across.
Now if you thought the last beach hut was pretty cute, this one would blow your mind!! We paid about 10 bucks for this one per night. We were the only people staying there, and if you walked ten feet you were standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the most beautiful piece of land we'd seen in India.
Varkala is absolutely breath-taking. After Goa, I wasn't sure that it could get any better but it really was. Varkala boasts a nice mix of foreigners-- backpackers, families, package-holiday types too. Our hut was on the other end of the beach where it was quieter, but the walk down to where all the action was wasn't too long. We normally started with breakfast at Lotus cafe (next to our room) and then moseyed down to our end of the beach for a swim, making our way to the other end for lunch and another swim.
Highlights
Being served beer wrapped in a paper bag
The fruit wallahs on the main beach that bickered at each other all afternoon
Our gorgeous hut
The Lotus Cafe (hanging out with the staff and the puppy they had rescued)
Lowlights
The visitors to our room: a massive rat and a spider larger than my hand
Leaving
Getting totally ripped off to have henna done
Some hints/thoughts
We loved Kerala so much and think it was probably our favorite place in India. If you're on a shorter trip, and are torn between say the Backwaters and beaches in Goa you might just go to Kerala instead and do Varkala and the Backwaters. It really is such a beautiful place. Alot of people I've talked to since coming back from India are always saying how scared they would be to visit India. If you're nervous about India, anywhere in the south (but especially Kerala) is a pretty good fit for someone worried about going too far out of their comfort zone.
Our hut. This photo is crazy over-exposed so you can't see the beautiful gardens and how nice these huts are.
View from breakfast every morning at the Lotus Cafe.
View from 10 feet of our hut. Say what?!
Waiting for henna to dry.
Now if you thought the last beach hut was pretty cute, this one would blow your mind!! We paid about 10 bucks for this one per night. We were the only people staying there, and if you walked ten feet you were standing on the edge of a cliff overlooking the most beautiful piece of land we'd seen in India.
Varkala is absolutely breath-taking. After Goa, I wasn't sure that it could get any better but it really was. Varkala boasts a nice mix of foreigners-- backpackers, families, package-holiday types too. Our hut was on the other end of the beach where it was quieter, but the walk down to where all the action was wasn't too long. We normally started with breakfast at Lotus cafe (next to our room) and then moseyed down to our end of the beach for a swim, making our way to the other end for lunch and another swim.
Highlights
Being served beer wrapped in a paper bag
The fruit wallahs on the main beach that bickered at each other all afternoon
Our gorgeous hut
The Lotus Cafe (hanging out with the staff and the puppy they had rescued)
Lowlights
The visitors to our room: a massive rat and a spider larger than my hand
Leaving
Getting totally ripped off to have henna done
Some hints/thoughts
We loved Kerala so much and think it was probably our favorite place in India. If you're on a shorter trip, and are torn between say the Backwaters and beaches in Goa you might just go to Kerala instead and do Varkala and the Backwaters. It really is such a beautiful place. Alot of people I've talked to since coming back from India are always saying how scared they would be to visit India. If you're nervous about India, anywhere in the south (but especially Kerala) is a pretty good fit for someone worried about going too far out of their comfort zone.
Our hut. This photo is crazy over-exposed so you can't see the beautiful gardens and how nice these huts are.
View from breakfast every morning at the Lotus Cafe.
View from 10 feet of our hut. Say what?!
Waiting for henna to dry.
Am in love with that beach and your blog!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog! I don't suppose you remember what the huts were called? We've just had our accommodation in Varkala cancelled also!
ReplyDeleteCheers, Kat