We friends had decided long time back that once our stressing exams were over, we would go for a trip together to take a break and rewind ourselves. And when the time came, we were bubbling with enthusiasm and anticipation since we did not know what lay ahead of us.

Being the list-loving girl, I had a list of places to visit ready, long before our little group had even arrived at the homestay at Varkala. Though we had the Varkala beach and the Janardhana Swami Temple topping our list, we also had plans to see the other attractions at Varkala.

The beach was an obvious point of visit as Varkala itself is a coastal town. Plus, it was pretty well known for its mineral enriched water that was supposed to have healing properties. In fact, there are spas and an Ayurvedic center there that has taken full advantage of this access to healthy healing natural springs.

Picturesque Beaches for the Perfectly Lazy Day

Varkala beach or the Papanasam beach was the first place that we visited. The peaceful and private atmosphere and the relative calmness of the beach helped us unwind and truly relax. This relaxation was exactly why most of us had come on this trip. We spent the day lazily, dipping our toes in the water, clicking snaps randomly and all-around, and then relaxing some more. By the end of the day, each one of us felt more relaxed and carefree than we had felt in a long time!

Varkala Tunnel and the historic Anjengo Fort

The next day, we visited the Varkala Tunnel, which is 924 feet long. Can you imagine! Well, according to history, it took 14 years to build this canal, which was a major development in the water transportation system, back during the British rule. At the Anjengo Fort, we explored history with the remaining fragments of the old English Fort against the natural scenic beauty. It was simply breathtaking. Well, history is always interesting I feel!

Exploring and Sampling the Famous Healing Waters

On our third day we spent the day exploring the other lovely haunts that Varkala offered. Janardhana Swami Temple was our first stop, where the serenity was like no other. It was utterly divine, and the experience was only matched by what we felt when we visited the Sivagiri mausoleum.

Having heard about the healing properties of the water here, we decided to end our day with a visit to the famous natural spas. Our rejuvenating session included a massage, after which we took a dip in the natural spring. I am not sure whether the healing properties are rumored but the re-energized feeling and the relaxation that you feel after the session is something which was a truly magical experience. We did feel practically new when we emerged out of the water!

Varkala is a perfect place to shed the cares of your life and unwind like we did at a homestay. Away from the city life, this place is really a stress buster.