Varkala, 41 km from Thiruvananthapuram, is a beach resort which is still in the process of being developed. This pristine beach is especially popular for the spectacular sight of the sun setting into the Arabian Sea. Other places of interest in and around Verkala are the Papanasam Beach, Sivagiri Mutt and the Janardhana Temple.The saint-reformer, who led a quiet but significant social revolution. A champion of the humble and the down trodden, he gave the watchwords : "One people, One Dharma, One God for all men."In 1904, Guru decided to give up his wandering life and settle down in a place to continue his "Sadhana" (spiritual endeavour) he choose Shivagiri, a place near Varkala, which is twenty miles to the north of Thiruvananthapuram. It is also quite close to the sea-coast. After he settled down there in a coconut palm leaf cottage, the Guru's Sadhana also took a new turn. Goddess "Amba" became his deity of worship.Very soon Varkala also became a place of pilgrimage. The Guru started a Samskrita school there. Poor boys and orphans were taken under his care. They were given education. They were also taught some useful art. There was no caste distinction at all. Devotees from distant places like Simhala (Sree Lanka) and Mangalore used to visit the Ashram at Varkala. They saw that the Guru had no attachment to any kind of work. But in spite of it, he got built many temples and founded educational institutions to teach English and Samskrita, during the nine years from 1904 to 1913. At Varkala a temple for Anjengo (Anjaneya) was built.

Being situated very close to the sea, Varkala has a moderate climate, with heavy rains during June-August due to the southwest monsoon. Winter starts from December and continues till February. In summer, the temperature rises to a maximum of 35°C and 25°C in the winters. Annual average rainfall is 310 cm.

Varkala is a well-known Tourist destination. The town has excellent telecommunication facilities, an average-rated water supply system, fire station, several post offices and police station. The town boasts of government-run modern medicine, ayurveda,and nature cure hospital in addition over 10 private hospitals, clinics and some dental clinics. The government-run nature cure hospital is also functioning near the Papanasam cliff.Varkala now has a high literacy rate af above 90%.Varkala has a population of 42,273. Males constitute 49% of the population and females 51%. Varkala has an average literacy rate of 78%, higher than the national average of 59.5%: male literacy is 77%, and female literacy is 79%. 11% of the population is under 6 years of age.

Varkala fauna includes elephants, leopards, sambar and a large species of birds.