Varkala

Varkala is a seaside town located 45 kms away from the Thiruvananthapuram city. It is an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. There is the 3500-year-old Janardana Swamy Temple which is an important Vaishnavaite shrine in India and is referred to as Dakshin Kashi (Benares of the south). 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 temple is located close to the Papanasam beach. It is rich in mineral water springs that are known for their medicinal value. A dip in the holy waters of Varkala beach is believed to purify the body and the soul of all the sins. It is called the ‘Papanashini’, which means the destroyer of all sins. In the Malayalam month of 'Karkidakam', during early hours of dawn, thousands of people offer 'Vavu Bali', a ritual believed to help the souls of ancestors rest in peace. Sivagiri is also the final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer. The 'Sivagiri Pilgrimage' is usually conducted between 30th December and 1st January every year. The Sivagiri Mutt - a religious retreat was founded by Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) the renowned philosopher and social reformer of modern Kerala. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham, a religious organization established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'.