When one thinks of an unforgettable holiday in Kerala, the backwaters of Alleppey, the fishing nets of Cochin, the sandy beaches of Kovalam, the tea gardens of Munnar, the grasslands of Wayanad, the hills of Thekkady and the elephants of Periyar come to mind. But there is also a lonely railway station that one passes on many train journeys through Kerala, often unaware of its significance. It is the beach town of Varkala.
The beauty of Varkala stems from its unique location. It is literally a beach on a cliff. The town takes its name from this unique cliff structure known as the Varkala Formation. It has been declared a geological heritage site by the Geological Survey of India (GSI). It is the only town in Kerala with cliffs on the Arabian Sea and is unique in India.