VARKALA
Varkala is a coastal town in the Thiruvananthapuram district of the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is well known for its dramatic cliffs overlooking the Arabian Sea. Varkala is around 50‑60 km north of Thiruvananthapuram Kerala’s major airport city. The sought after coastal town Varkala, has the following attractions. The Janardana Swamy Temple: This is an ancient Vaishnavite temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu, in the form known locally as Janardanaswamy or Varkaleswara. It is believed to be about 2000 years old, though the current structure has seen renovationated, especially around the 12th century. The main idol of Janardanaswamy (Vishnu) is standing, facing east, and carries four attributes: the chakra (wheel), shankha (conch), gada (mace), and another (pot). There are also idols of other deities: Shiva, Hanuman, various “Upa Devatas” (subsidiary deities), Nagadevas (snake gods), etc. The temple sits close to Papanasam beach, atop cliffs. The cliffs give it a scenic settin...