Varkala clifftop walk at sunset

The cliffs at Varkala are formed of laterite and sedimentary rock laid down millions of years ago, exposed here by the sea. They are the only cliffs of their kind directly on the Kerala coast, and the Geological Survey of India has protected them as a national geological monument. Freshwater springs emerge from the cliff face, and in places you can see the layered sediment and seams of lignite.

We start in the late afternoon at Papanasam beach, below the temple, and climb to the clifftop path. Your guide explains the springs, the history of the pilgrim beach and how the cliff has been changing as erosion and building have both taken their toll. The path continues north past the Helipad and the cafes of the North Cliff to the quieter Black Beach and Odayam.

We finish at a quiet clifftop spot or a cafe terrace for the sunset, which from November to February falls straight into the sea. The walk is about 3 km on a mostly flat path, with some steps between beaches. Parts of the cliff edge have no railings, so we keep to the inner side of the path. A car waits at the far end to take you back.