Varkala

Breezy winds covering up the heat is what a person needs in this summer season. If you couldn't find a better place to experience it, then think no further than heading to Varkala. A small town 40 km away from the capital city Trivandrum, Varkala offers an unforgettable experience for its visitors and the place itself holds a steady record for the number of tourists. The reason being the atmosphere and overall ambiance. Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea.

These Cenozoic sedimentary formation cliffs are a unique geological feature on the otherwise flat Kerala coast and are 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. In 2015, Ministry of Mines, Government of India and Geological Survey of India (GSI) have declared Varkala Cliff as a geo-heritage site. This adds an extra point for the topography and overall ambiance of the place. 

My journey to Varkala was rather a 30-minute stay and 2 hours traveling one, instead of a comfy timeframe. However those 30 minutes were well spent and without wasting any second of the scheduled 30 minutes, firstly I made it to the beach and planned on spending 15 minutes and the rest exploring the cliffs. But, I ended up spending an hour on the beach as the time flew by quicker than I thought and I lost track of the schedule. Ignoring the schedule completely, I began walking towards the cliffs. 

 

After making it to the top, I got to see the Sivagiri Mutt, established by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru. The hilltop mausoleum of Sree Narayana Guru is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala state. Last but not the least, Varkala is known for the infamous 2000-year-old temple dedicated to Lord Shiva which 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 close to the beach and hence the beach is called "Papanasam", which has holy waters that wipe away the sins. 

Varkala is one among those places which are worth spending your evening. On top of the scenic beach, the temple adds a spiritual essence to the place which welcomes a lot of visitors just because of its traditional and ancient architecture. While you are there, never miss the beautiful sunset and if possible, climb on top of the cliff to experience it. 











Contributed by Sooraj Ram

Anjengo Fort- Kerala - A Hidden Historical Fort

Anjengo or Anjuthengu(Anchuthengu) fort is a historic landmark in Kerala and offers a picturesque worth millions of stories. Being one of the highlights in the Anchuthengu village, The fort was the East India Company's first permanent post on the Malabar Coast. The site for construction was given to EIC by the Queen of Attingal to handle fair trades(since this place had wind advantage). The EIC commenced construction in January 1696 and took them around 3 years to finish the construction. Later on this fort proved vital for them as they actively used Anjengo for shelter and storage. 

As Anchuthengu is Five coconut trees in Malayalam, I imagined a place having nothing but a barren land surrounded by five coconut tree to seclude the whole place. Curiosity subsided once I reached the place after a 30 minute ride from Trivandrum. It was refreshing to see the place and hard to believe that a wonderful place such as Anjengo is hidden from a traveller's eye. Well, you can't expect the EIC to construct this fort in the middle of the city for handling trades.

There is no entry fee or whatsoever and once you are inside the fort you are in for a view of your life. With a well maintained garden at the entrance you can climb to the top to enjoy the view. Nothing much to see yet an elegant place to visit given, you are not spending a lot of money to get in there. I covered the entire place within 20 minutes and once I was out, I climbed on top of the lighthouse nearby which was truly a magnificent addition to this trip.  If you are tired of refreshing the Facebook news feed, then this is a place to visit. Seriously though, you might as well consider visiting the place for the second time as the beautiful landscape compels you to come back and do regular visits. Perfect place for reunions and family get-together. Make sure to climb on top of the lighthouse to take a sight of your lifetime.

 

Anjengo gave a little historic touch to this trip where the lighthouse served as a fun place to wrap up the trip. I bet you would enjoy your time on the Anjengo as the place itself is more private and doesn't charge you a lot for the visit.

Quick Facts

1. How to reach – Buses are available to Varkala. You could hire an auto from Varkala.
2. Nearest town – Varkala
3. Nearest railway station –  Varkala, 12 kms
4. Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 35 kms
5. Places to stay – Accomodation is available at Varkala. This place is ideal for one day trip.
6. Best time to visit – There is no specific time to visit, you could visit anytime.
7. Things to do – Take a look around the historic place and enjoy a magnificent view from Lighthouse. 
8. Is it Child Friendly -  Yes.
 

Contribution from - Sooraj Ram

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Brimore, kerala - The foot of Agasthyarkoodam

India, or South India in general is home for hundreds, if not thousands of tourist locations. However, most of the places are hidden under the radar and it is hard to find routes for such places. One among such places that I was fortunate enough to visit was Braemore. Located in the God's Own Country, Kerala, Braemore(or Brimore) is the base station of Agasthyarkoodam, in the Agasthya hills. This beautiful place is 60 km away from the Capital city of Trivandrum. The ideal way of conveyance is a Bike Ride as the place itself has breathtaking scenery en route. If you don't own a bike or car, then to can easily find buses from Trivandrum city. Buses from other neighboring districts have irregular timing so, it is better to check twice before finalising your travel plan.

Once you have reached the spot, it's necessary to clear all the formalities in the Mangayam tourist office by obtaining the entry tickets. Once you have passed the office, you are on your own. 

First destination, the Waterfalls, What else to expect from a base station. However you might not get to see a huge volume of water yet, you can always get to enjoy the coolness and freshness of the water. Brimore authorities have restricted the passage for the Waterfalls but you get to enjoy a fresh shower at the bottom of the Waterfalls. I would suggest you to take a firm step while having a shower as the flow is a bit steep and slippery. Think twice before you dive! 

Unlike most of the places, Brimore can be visited anytime regardless the season. However, as far as I'm concerned, Summer and Monsoon are the best options. The reason why I chose Monsoon as one among my picks is because you could enjoy the next destination, Tea Estate in monsoon. If you love watching the wonders of nature, this is your spot. 

Actually, Brimore is a one day trip and there is no reason for hanging around to spend two to three days. However, to make the best of the allowed time (whether a one day trip or a two day package), it really is essential for you to take the highlight of this place, that is, the 1 hour trek towards Ponmudi (a hill station situated near Brimore). The trek is approximately 1 hour long which takes you around three hills until you reach the spot, Ponmudi. 

If you plan on staying for a day or two, I would suggest you to take the KTDC cottage rooms which are affordable and the best place to spend your time. People are helpful and I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to a few people there. I was told that there was a beautiful lake or stream called Palode, which is a must visit while you are there. It didn't took much time for me to trek back to Brimore and grab my two wheeler to search for Palode.

Palode is located 20 kms from Brimore and this place was the highlight for me. I get to enjoy the cool water and was able to spend some quality time swimming. In my opinion, Palode is the best place for swimming.

It was a long 40 km ride back to Trivandrum yet I was happy that I get to enjoy the trip and I couldn't wait till I get back to Brimore and Palode.

Quick facts


1.       How to reach – Frequent Buses from Trivandrum, Two wheeler and four wheelers are permitted to go inside the forest premises. 
2.       Nearest town – Palode
3.       Nearest railway station – Trivandrum, 59 kms
4.       Nearest Airport – Trivandrum, 65 km
5.       Places to stay – KTDC hotel 
6.       Best time to visit –Monsoon
7.       Things to do – Experience the beautiful Waterfalls and spend 1 hour on adventurous trek to Ponmudi
8.       Is it Child Friendly - No, only because the trekking is not that safe for children under 12

Contribution from - Sooraj Ram
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