Thursday

Food in Varkala, Kerala


Yes I might be a lil biased when I say Varkala is a stunner, certainly so, when looking down on the beach from the red cliff path! But the real beauty of Varkala is its laid back atmosphere. There’s no beeping horns, smoke-belching exhausts or lunatic driving. Indians don’t really holiday in this part of Varkala and you generally only see ‘foreign’ faces – mostly backpackers. 


A strip of restaurants, souvenir shops and hotels stretches along the cliffs for about a mile and apart from the halfhearted attempts from the vendors to attract you into their shops for a look (‘looking is free’, apparently) it’s a lovely walk to do. While some roads run perpendicular to the cliffs (and a few directly to the sea), the main artery is a brick pathway that runs for about 2km along the edge of the cliffs; there are no vehicles allowed here, although the rare motorcycle does slowly putter by. 



Along with restaurants, hotels and guest houses facing the sea together with shop after shop selling jewelry, clothes, wall hangings, etc. which is just the first row, further back among the coconut palm trees you can find many more rows of hotels of every price range (there is road and vehicle access back there) and occasionally more shops too.  


We were ridiculously lazy in Varkala but, in our defense, it’s that kind of place. There’s very little to do aside from yoga classes, Ayurveda massages, eating and drinking. Time was spent reading in the hotel garden overlooking the sea, or eating and drinking in one of the many stunning restaurant roof terraces which line the cliff edge and have fantastic views over the beach and water below - the Sundowner heaven

 



Each restaurant had more or less the same menu, with a huge selection of Italian, Thai, and Chinese and of course Indian dishes. None were stunners, after having experimented the varied many eating places the first few days; we settled into a pattern with a handful good ones. There are plenty of restaurants, all with amazing views; mellow music and a few even offering free Wi-Fi. 


After an early morning swim we’d ascend the cliff to park ourselves for breakfast at the Cafe Del Mar or Abba for an English or American breakfast. Food was always fresh, delicious and mostly organic. Varkala is a sea-food lover’s paradise. Many restaurants display in front seafood caught by the local fishermen. Select your food, get it prepared and savour it watching the sunset. The ubiquitous Kerala food is not easy to find on the cliff unfortunately. Coffee Temple was our temple for good coffee especially given the need for good quality caffeine.  Frozen yogurts is a lovely place to visit for its ambience and cheery mood, simply makes you happy. Blue Marine restaurant and Ginger cafĂ© were also frequented by us for dinner/snacks when the urge was to have Indian food. 


 
It wouldn’t be unfair to say our best meal was the last meal in Varkala - at the hotel, when the cook, especially prepared for us, soft idlis, dosas and crisp crunchy vadas with piping hot sambar and chutney. That said, the beauty about a place like Varkala is- it is nice to be able to sit in a restaurant and actually take as much time as you wish over your drink/meal. No one will hurry you up, fire you a cup of tea swiftly followed by the bill, and get you out the door as soon as possible to make way for the next customer 
  

Varkala is beyond anything that we had envisioned—in a good way. Or perhaps then, we had very little expectations. One never tired of the view from on top of the cliffs, one soaked in the laid back energies. Everyone in Varkala is very friendly.  I often find that in a really chilled out place like Varkala where there is little to do but relax and watch the world go by that I find myself contemplating my life, my plans for the future and the ‘what’s life all about’ conundrum :)

24 comments:

Jim said...

What a swell treat this post is!!! Sure makes me wish to be there right now!!!

RavneetSingh said...

Both the posts were delightful!!!! So the year has begun well for you I can see that:))))

Lavanya Sethi said...

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Aijaz Pitafi said...

Didn't read it. Just relied on pictures of stunning beauty of Varkala. Wish some place should remain as they are developed with & by nature. Hope this hamlet doesn't get trampled with travelers.

R Niranjan Das said...

Lovely post. I find Varkala to be one of the best beaches in the country.

www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.in

RavneetSingh said...

I have fallen in love with varkala just by reading your 2 posts, and I most definitely hope to make it thr soon!!!!

melinda said...

I dont recollect ever, seeing a beach layout like Varkala (shown in the pics you've taken and used in the log here)It does look lovely and makes it more alluring. Lovely post again Mee!

Mystuff said...

So its a place where you can forget about everything and just sit back and relax. Well vacations are all about resting/relaxing and exploring your inner self, aren't they?
When i read your first post on Varkala i knew that i would visit this place for sure but wasn't sure about food and connectivity, all doubts cleared now :)
Superb blog Mee :)

raj said...

Hi,

I am webmaster of a travel website. I came across this Blog and found it relevant according to our theme.

Hello webmaster the posts on the blog are really very informative and to the point which has touched my deep of the heart....really i want that we should publish each other one blog post on the blog or if is not possible we should exchange links, if you think we can exchange links which will benefit both of us, in return I will also give you a link from equal important page from my network travel website.

The blog beautifully describes everything ..really fantastic...good....

If interested please mail me

my mail-id is rajeshfareportal@gmail.com

Thanks

rajesh

raj said...

Hi,

I am webmaster of a travel website. I came across this Blog and found it relevant according to our theme.

Hello webmaster the posts on the blog are really very informative and to the point which has touched my deep of the heart....really i want that we should publish each other one blog post on the blog or if is not possible we should exchange links, if you think we can exchange links which will benefit both of us, in return I will also give you a link from equal important page from my network travel website.

The blog beautifully describes everything ..really fantastic...good....

If interested please mail me

my mail-id is rajeshfareportal@gmail.com

Thanks

rajesh

Neeraj said...

Looks like a lovely place. Are there more foreigners than Indians there?

Hai Baji said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

You have shared a nice blog with us. Thanks for sharing about the food in varkala.

Find Hotels in Varkala

Mee said...

@Jim: TY:))

@RavneetSingh:Heheee

@Lavanya: TY for visiting my blog, glad you enjoyed reading it:))

@Aijaz: Tathastu! Hope so too:))

@R Niranjan Das: Completely agree:)) It has an individuality of its own:))

@RavneetSingh: I sincerely hope u make it thr too, u"ll enjoy your time there for sure:))

@Melinda: you must visit Varkala:))

@Rahul: The one place where I get to say "TY":))-and yes, must visit surely!!

@Raj - TY for visiting

@Neeraj - good to see u again here, after ages, Hope all well?:)) Bcos it was xmas/new year time, there were abundant Indians and foreigners.

Neeraj said...

Hi, it's good to be back in the blogging world! I was actually in India for a good 6 months and totally away from tv/computer/phone! I was in Bhutan and visited all the 7 Sister States :)

Mee said...

@Neeraj: How lovely!! Thr's "used to be a life" before the Net took over LOL!!! Bhutan- 6mnths?!! WOW. I spent a mnth there and aftr a mnth did miss home:)))

Your posts up on Bhutan- been a while I visited your blog too.... embarrassed....

Neeraj said...

I'm working on the northeast and Bhutan posts... will be up shortly :)

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hai Baji said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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Unknown said...

Good place for backpackers..u will enjoy here

Hotels in Varkala

Unknown said...

Good place for backpackers..u will enjoy here

Hotels in Varkala

Ashwin said...

Nice post about Varkalal Beach, thanks for sharing this lovely post. Well written about this place with nice infomration. Love to visit this place with my friends. Want to visit this place then book bus tickets in Online Bus Ticket Booking portal.

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