?Varkala Kerala • India
Varkala
Coordinates: 8°43′59″N 76°43′01″E / 8.733, 76.717
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
District(s)	Thiruvananthapuram
Population	42,273 (2001)
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • Vehicle	• 695141 • +0470 • KL-16

Coordinates: 8°43′59″N 76°43′01″E / 8.733, 76.717 Varkala (Malayalam: വര്‍ക്കല) is a coastal town and municipality in Thiruvananthapuram district situated in the Indian state of Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Indian Standard Time ( IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a Time offset of UTC+530. UTC+530 is the Timezone for Indian Standard Time Sri Lanka Time A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A Postal Index Number or PIN or Pincode is the post office numbering or Post code system used by India Post the Indian Postal For the past decade or so telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India KA-19-P-8488jpg|thumb|270px|Close up of a licence plate used in Mangalore, Karnataka. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used A municipality is an administrative entity composed of a clearly defined territory and its population and commonly denotes a City, Town, or Village, or Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country India is a union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; It is located 51 kilometres (approx. 32 miles) north of Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the

Sights

JanardhanaKrishna Temple entrance

Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where one can find cliffs adjacent to the Arabian sea. These tertiary sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature in the otherwise flat Kerala coast, and is known among geologists as Varkala Formation and a geological monument as declared by the Geological survey of India. There are numerous water spouts and spas on the sides of these cliffs.

A famous beach resort, Varkala is also famous for its 3,500 year old Janardanaswamy temple, which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the south). Vaishnavism is a tradition of Hinduism, distinguished from other schools by its worship of Vishnu or its associated avatars principally as Rama and Varanasi ( Sanskrit: वाराणसी Vārāṇasī, pronunciation) also commonly known as Benares ( or Banaras (बनारस The temple is located close to the Papanasam beach, which is considered to have holy waters which wash away sins, and is also an important Ayurveda treatment centre. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other The temple has an ancient bell removed from a shipwreck, donated by the captain of the Dutch vessel which sank near Varkala without causing any casualties.

The landmark hill-top mausoleum of Narayana Guru

Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri Mutt, established by the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. Nārāyana Guru (नारायण गुरुനാരായണ ഗുരു (1855 - 1928 also known as Sree Nārāyana Guru Swami was a Saint, The hill-top mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala. The adjacent hills house the East-West University of Brahmavidya and Sree Narayana Gurukulam.

Another important feature of Varkala is the now dilapidated Varkala Tunnel, part of the TS Canal, which was an important waterway during pre-independence times. The Trivandrum - Shoranur canal is a canal in India 's Varkala Region from Trivandrum to Shoranur.

Economy

Varkala Beach

Varkala is a well-known Tourist destination. The town has excellent telecommunication facilities, an average-rated water supply system, fire station, several post offices and police station. The town boasts a government-run hospital in addition to nearly 10 private hospitals and some dental clinics. A government-run nature cure hospital is also functioning near the Papanasam cliff.

The District Ayurvedic Hospital is also located in Varkala.

Varkala is the second most important railhead in the district of Thiruvananthapuram, after the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. Thiruvananthapuram ( Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ) also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Varkala is an important hub for neighbouring places like Attingal, Kadakkavur, Edava, Kallambalam , Kappil, Parippally, and Kilimanoor. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Attingal is a town and a Municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala

Varkala now has a high literacy rate af above 90%.

Demographics

According to the 2001 census of India^[1], Varkala has a population of 42,273. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. A census is the procedure of acquiring information about every member of a given population Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Varkala has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59. 5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 79%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

People of Varkala are generally employed in service sector. A large proportion of them work outside India, mainly in the Middle East and the United Kingdom. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located

References