The easiest way to reach Varkala is to fly into Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, TRV) and drive north for about an hour, or to take a train to Varkala Sivagiri (VAK), the town's main station and the one people mean when they say Varkala railway station. It sits on the main line between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. From either, an auto-rickshaw or a pre-arranged pick-up covers the last few kilometres to the cliff or to Edava.
That covers most trips. Below is every option in more detail, with the practical bits that guidebooks skip: which station to use, how to do the long haul from Delhi, what the last mile looks like, and how to get around once you are here. Our directions end at Edava, because that is where we are: on the quieter northern side of Varkala, about ten minutes by scooter from the North Cliff.
Every way in, at a glance
| From | How | Roughly how long to Edava | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trivandrum airport (TRV) | Taxi or pre-arranged transfer | About an hour by road | The simplest option for most visitors |
| Anywhere on the rail network | Train to Varkala Sivagiri (VAK) | Then a short auto-rickshaw ride | Many long-distance trains stop here; search by the code VAK |
| Trains that stop at Edava (EVA) | Train to Edava station | Then a very short ride | Fewer trains stop; check your timetable |
| Trivandrum or Kollam | State bus to Varkala town | Then an auto-rickshaw | Cheapest, slowest, fine with light luggage |
| Kochi and further north | Train, or a long drive south | Several hours | Train is usually the better choice |
| Delhi | Direct flight to TRV, or the Kerala Express to VAK | One travel day by air, just over two days by train | Book the train early in peak season |
By air: Trivandrum is the one you want
Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, TRV, is the nearest airport to Varkala. It serves Kerala's capital and sits about 3.7 kilometres west of the city centre (Wikipedia). From the airport, Edava is about an hour by road, depending on traffic through the city.
You can take a taxi from the airport, book a cab through an app, or arrange a pick-up in advance with where you are staying. We can arrange an airport transfer for our guests on request; ask when you book so the driver is waiting when you land.
Cochin International Airport, near Kochi, is the other international option for Kerala. It is considerably further from Varkala, so it only makes sense if you are combining Varkala with the backwaters or hills further north, in which case the train south is usually easier than the drive.
By train: Varkala Sivagiri, or Edava
Kerala's railway is one of the most pleasant ways to arrive: the line runs through coconut groves and past backwaters, and trains are frequent.
Varkala railway station: Varkala Sivagiri (VAK)
Varkala has one main station, and its full name is Varkala Sivagiri. It was renamed in 2005 after the samadhi of Sri Narayana Guru at Sivagiri, the hill in Varkala where the mutt he founded stands (Wikipedia). So when a map, a friend or a hotel tells you to take the train to Varkala, this is the station they mean, and its code is VAK.
The practical tip: many booking sites run the name together as VARKALASIVAGIRI, which does not look like the Varkala you were expecting. Search by the code VAK and you cannot pick the wrong station.
The basics, from the station's Wikipedia entry:
- It is on the Kollam to Thiruvananthapuram trunk line, and around 54 trains halt there.
- It is the second busiest station in Thiruvananthapuram district, after Thiruvananthapuram Central.
- It has direct trains to cities including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, Mumbai and Delhi.
- Varkala beach is about 3.1 kilometres from the station.
From Trivandrum by train is a short, easy hop to Varkala Sivagiri, and a good option if you land in the day and would rather not take a long taxi ride.
Edava station (EVA)
Edava (station code EVA) is a small station in Edava itself, opened in 1952 (Wikipedia). It is the closest station to our house, but far fewer trains stop there, mostly local and passenger services. If your train happens to stop at Edava, get off there; if not, Varkala Sivagiri is only a short ride away.
Booking your train
Book tickets on the official IRCTC site or app. In the peak months of December and January, book as early as you can, especially for overnight trains from Bangalore or Chennai, which fill up fast. To check which trains actually halt at VAK or EVA, and whether yours is running late on the day, use the Indian Railways enquiry service, NTES.
By bus
Kerala's state-run buses run between Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Varkala town. They are the cheapest way to travel and perfectly fine with a small bag, but slower and busier than the train. From Varkala town, take an auto-rickshaw to the cliff or to Edava. If you are carrying a surfboard or a large case, the train or a taxi is much easier.
By car
If you are driving yourself, Varkala is reached from the main road between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. Roads near the coast narrow quickly, some guesthouses on the cliff are reached only on foot, and parking at the cliff is limited in the evenings. In Edava it is easier; there is free parking at our house for guests.
How to reach Varkala from Delhi
Delhi to Varkala covers most of the length of India, so the choice comes down to time. If you are working out how to reach Varkala from Delhi, there are two good ways to do it: fly to Trivandrum and drive the last hour, or settle in for a long train ride that stops at Varkala Sivagiri itself.
Fly Delhi to Trivandrum, then drive about an hour
This is the quick way. Air India and IndiGo both fly direct between Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram (TRV), according to the airport's Wikipedia entry; check the airlines for current schedules, since routes and timings change by season. From the airport, Edava is about an hour north by road, so the whole trip fits into a single travel day.
A few things make it smoother:
- Pick a flight that lands in daylight if you can. The drive is easier, and so is finding the lane.
- Pre-book the transfer. Ask us when you book and a driver will meet your Delhi flight.
- Direct fares too high? A one-stop connection through another big city can be cheaper. Compare both before you book.
Take the train from Delhi to Varkala Sivagiri
This is the slow, scenic way, and it drops you at Varkala's own station rather than at an airport an hour away.
The direct option is the Kerala Express (12626), which runs daily from New Delhi to Thiruvananthapuram Central and halts at Varkala Sivagiri on the way. At the time of writing it leaves New Delhi at 20:10 and reaches Varkala at 20:22 two days later, about 48 hours and 2,992 km on the rails (erail). It heads south through Agra, Bhopal and Nagpur, then Vijayawada and Coimbatore, before running down Kerala through Ernakulam Town, Kottayam and Kollam, with Varkala the last stop before Trivandrum Pettah and Thiruvananthapuram Central (erail route). It carries AC two-tier, AC three-tier and sleeper coaches, among others.
Two things to watch:
- Not every Delhi train stops here. The Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani from Hazrat Nizamuddin (12432), for example, has no halt at Varkala; its last stops are Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Central (erail). Other Delhi trains to Trivandrum, such as the weekly superfasts from Hazrat Nizamuddin, run only on certain days, and none of the ones we checked stop at VAK. At the time of writing, the Kerala Express was the only direct train from Delhi we could find with a Varkala halt.
- Timetables change. Before you book, search New Delhi to VAK on NTES or IRCTC and confirm that VAK appears in your train's list of halts. Around New Year, many trains get a temporary halt at Varkala for the week of the Sivagiri pilgrimage (Wikipedia), one more reason to check your exact date.
If the train that suits you best only stops at Kollam or Trivandrum, that is fine. Both are on the same line as Varkala, and a local train or a taxi covers the rest.
Which one should you choose?
- Short on time: fly. It is one travel day instead of two nights on a train.
- Travelling slowly, or keen to watch the country change outside the window: the train, with a berth booked well ahead, especially for December and January.
- Combining Varkala with Kochi or the backwaters: fly into Kochi, then take the train south to Varkala Sivagiri.
Whichever you pick, send us your arrival time and we will help you plan the last leg.
The last few kilometres
This is the part that catches people out, especially if they arrive in the evening.
- From Varkala Sivagiri station: auto-rickshaws wait outside. The cliff is about three kilometres away, and Edava about five kilometres north of Varkala (Wikipedia). Agree the fare before you set off.
- From Edava station: it is a very short ride to the beach.
- After dark: have the address and a map pin ready to show the driver. Our exact location, with a Google Maps link, is on the contact page.
- With a surfboard: tell the driver before you get in; not every auto-rickshaw can carry one.
Arriving at night
Plenty of flights and trains arrive after dark, and it is perfectly manageable with a little preparation.
- Pre-book the last leg. A driver waiting at the airport or station is worth far more at night than during the day.
- Tell your stay your arrival time, especially if it is late. Many guesthouses, ours included, can arrange for someone to meet you.
- Keep the address written down in English and, if you can, in Malayalam. Drivers who know the area will recognise the landmark faster than the street name.
- Do not plan to find a room on arrival in peak season. Book before you travel.
Travelling with a surfboard
Bringing your own board is easy on a flight if the airline allows sports equipment, but the last mile is the awkward part. Trains are fine for a board in a bag. Auto-rickshaws often are not, so for the ride from the station or airport, book a car with room for it, or ask where you are staying to send one. If you are only here for lessons, leave the board at home: schools provide soft-tops, and ours are included in every lesson.
Getting around once you are here
Rent a scooter. It is the single thing that changes a Varkala trip most. With one, Kappil, the cliff and the backwaters become ten-minute rides instead of plans. Ask where you are staying for a reliable rental; we point our guests to a place we trust. You will need a valid licence.
Auto-rickshaws are everywhere and fine for short trips; agree the fare first.
For surf lessons, you often do not need either: many schools collect you, and our lessons include a pick-up and drop-off from where you are staying.
Which station, which area?
- Staying on North Cliff or South Cliff: Varkala Sivagiri, then a short auto-rickshaw.
- Staying in Edava: Edava station if your train stops there, otherwise Varkala Sivagiri.
- Staying at Kappil: Varkala Sivagiri or Edava, then a slightly longer ride north.
If you have not decided where to stay yet, our guide to where to stay in Varkala, area by area compares the areas, and Edava vs Varkala Cliff looks closely at the two most common choices.
Before you travel
- Check the season. Our guide to the best time to visit Varkala explains what each month brings, including the June to September monsoon, when some trains and roads are slower.
- Save the address offline. Mobile data can drop on the way in.
- Carry some cash. Auto-rickshaws and small shops often prefer it.
Once you have arrived, Varkala in 2 to 3 days has a simple plan for a short stay, and our local guide lists the beaches and cafés worth your first evening. If you are staying with us, the stay page has everything about the rooms.