Varkala
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Varkala
Udaya Marthandapuram UTC+5:30 (IST) | |
---|---|
PIN | 695141 |
Telephone code | 0470 |
Vehicle registration | KL-81 |
Nearest City Airport |
|
Niyamasabha constituency | Varkala |
Website | www |
Varkala formerly known as Balita is a major coastal municipality situated in the northern suburb of Thiruvananthapuram, capital city of the Indian state Kerala.
In legends and myths related to Kerala, texts like the Kerala Mahatmyam describe the Varkala region as one of the sacred places of Kerala.
Varkala shares many cultural and linguistic similarities with the neighboring
Varkala is the only region in southern Kerala where
Varkala is also known for the 2,000-year-old
Another major landmark in Varkala is the Sivagiri Mutt, established by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.[citation needed]
Etymology
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History
Legends
It is believed that a
Geography
Varkala is located at 8°44′36″N 76°41′49″E / 8.7432986°N 76.6968401°E.[8]
Religion
As per the Census 2011, the total Hindu population in Varkala municipality is 28,273 which is 70.6% of the total population. Also the total Muslim population in Varkala is 11,562 which is 28.87% of the total population.[citation needed]
Geology
Varkala is an important place as far as geology is concerned as it exposes sedimentary rocks belonging to the Cenozoic age, popularly known in the geological literature as the Warkalli formation. The Warkalli formation, along with the Quilon formation, represent sediments laid down in the Kerala basin that existed during Mio-pliocene times. The Quilon formation of the Miocene age is made up of limestone, and the Warkalli formation is made up of alternating beds of sand and shale exposed along the Varkala cliffs. Thin seams of lignite in the shale of the Warkalli formation suggest good vegetation at the time of deposition of the clay sediments.[citation needed]
Government and politics
Local government
Varkala is a municipality in the Thiruvananthapuram District. Urban civic administration is overseen by the Varkala municipality or municipal council, while the rural civic administration is under the charge of the 7 panchayats of Edava, Elakamon, Vettoor, Madavoor, Navaikulam, Pallickal, and Chemmaruthy in Varkala Taluk.[9]
The Varkala municipality has 33 wards[10] under it and also has 6 standing committees[11] that take care of basic amenities such as water, sewage, roads, taxes, and other such city or local government functions.
Elected representatives to the State Assembly and to the Indian Parliament
Varkala comes under the Attingal Lok Sabha Constituency. There are seven State Assembly Constituencies[12] within Attingal Lok Sabha Constituency, of which Varkala is one. One Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) is elected from Varkala with Legislative Assembly no. 127.[13]
Economy
Varkala is a well-known tourism and commercial destination. More than 300 resorts and hotels are situated in the municipality, including a Taj Hotel, owned by Tata Group. The city has an average-rated water supply system, fire station, automobile showrooms, several post offices, engineering and degree colleges and a police station. It also has government-run medical facilities in addition to over 10 private hospitals and clinics. A government-run naturopathic hospital is located near the Papanasam cliff. The District Ayurvedic Hospital is located in Varkala.[citation needed]
Varkala is an important hub for neighbouring places like
]Transport
Air
Rail
Road
Varkala is situated along the Trivandrum - Kollam coastal highway. It is also connected by the
Water
Varkala is connected to National Waterway 3 through Varkala Tunnel, which passes through the heart of the city. [14]
Tourism
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Varkala_Promenade.jpg/220px-Varkala_Promenade.jpg)
Tourism began to thrive at the end of the last century at Varkala beach (Papanasam), which was earlier famous for Vavu Beli, a Hindu custom performed at the beach. Another beach is at Tiruvambadi, one kilometre away and on the way to the old palace. An island called Ponnumthuruthu is close to Varkala and is also a tourist attraction.
Many ayurvedic massage parlours line the promenade above the beach.[citation needed]
Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach, or Papanasam Beach, offers opprotunities for sunbathing, swimming and water sports opportunities. Special authentic Kerala style local food can also be experienced along the cliff.[citation needed] The cliff and the beach include resorts, restaurants, and other shops.
The black part of the sand on Varkala Beach contains thorium oxide, which is a radioactive substance. Thorium and thorium oxide and its isotopes are found all over Kerala and can be identified by their black colour.[15]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Papanasam_beach%2C_Varkala.jpg/220px-Papanasam_beach%2C_Varkala.jpg)
Cremations
Sections of Varkala Beach (Papanasam Beach) are used by Indians to scatter the ashes of their cremated relatives into the sea. Despite this burial activity, the sea is popular with swimmers both local and foreign.[citation needed]
Kappil Lake
Kappil Lake is about 4 kilometers (2.5 mi) north of Varkala Town. This serene estuary meanders through dense coconut groves before merging into the Arabian Sea. The bridge over the lake is a vantage point to view the backwater stretching white and grey to the distant blue horizon. Boating is another way to browse this waterway.[citation needed]
Anjengo Fort
Anjengo Fort is a fort near Varkala. The historic significance tagged to Anjengo comes through foreign powers like the Portuguese, the Dutch, and finally the English East India Company. In the year 1684, the English East India Company chose Anjengo to establish their first trade settlement in Kerala. At Anjengo, one can find the remnants of the old English Fort, which was targeted several times by other foreign powers, who were at that time fighting each other to get a firm footing in Kerala. The fort is now under the protection of National Heritage Monuments. There is also a cemetery inside the fort and the oldest burial site dates to 1704. Muthalapuzhi Lake is situated in Anjengo.[citation needed]
Varkala Tunnel
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a7/Varkala_Tunnel.jpg/220px-Varkala_Tunnel.jpg)
Varkala Tunnel is an old tourist highlight. Its construction began in 1867 under the supervision of Travancore Diwan Sir. T Mahadeva Rao and was completed only in 1880, at the time of Diwan Sheshaya Sasthri.[16] Varkala Lighthouse is another tourist highlight in the vicinity.[citation needed]
Religious centres
Janardana Swami Temple
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/45229-001.jpg/220px-45229-001.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ef/Sivagiri_%281%29.jpg/220px-Sivagiri_%281%29.jpg)
Sivagiri Mutt
Panayara Triporittakkavu Bhagavathi Temple
Panayara Triporittakkavu Bhagavathi Temple is one of the most famous Devi temples in Kerala. Meenabharani festival is the primary festival in Porittakkavu temple, celebrating the month of 'Meenam' (March/April) in the Malayalam calendar.[citation needed]
Sarkara Devi Temple
Sree Saraswathy Temple
The Sree Saraswathy Temple, located in Venkulam, Edava, is a VidyaDevi temple known for Navarathri Sangeetholsavam and Vijayadesami Vidyarambam.[citation needed]
Kaduvayil Juma Masjid
Kaduvayil Juma mosque, situated on NH47, between Kallambalam and Attingal, is a
Mambazhamoola Mahaganapathi temple
Mambazhamoola Mahaganapathi Kshethram is a renowned Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Ganesha located in Varkala-Ayroor, Kerala, India. Believed to be one of the oldest Ganesha temples in the region, it holds a special place in the hearts of devotees who flock to seek blessings and solace from the elephant-headed deity.
Climate
The
Climate data for Varkala | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 29.9 (85.8) |
30.7 (87.3) |
31.7 (89.1) |
31.8 (89.2) |
31.3 (88.3) |
29.1 (84.4) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.9 (84.0) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.1 (84.4) |
29.3 (84.7) |
29.9 (85.8) |
Daily mean °C (°F) | 26.1 (79.0) |
26.9 (80.4) |
28.1 (82.6) |
28.6 (83.5) |
28.2 (82.8) |
26.5 (79.7) |
25.9 (78.6) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.5 (79.7) |
26.2 (79.2) |
26 (79) |
26.8 (80.3) |
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) |
23.2 (73.8) |
24.5 (76.1) |
25.4 (77.7) |
25.2 (77.4) |
23.9 (75.0) |
23.3 (73.9) |
23.5 (74.3) |
23.7 (74.7) |
23.7 (74.7) |
23.4 (74.1) |
22.7 (72.9) |
23.7 (74.7) |
Average precipitation mm (inches) | 19 (0.7) |
27 (1.1) |
52 (2.0) |
144 (5.7) |
248 (9.8) |
457 (18.0) |
336 (13.2) |
222 (8.7) |
201 (7.9) |
290 (11.4) |
205 (8.1) |
55 (2.2) |
2,256 (88.8) |
Average rainy days | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 108 |
Mean daily sunshine hours | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 |
Source 1: Climate-Data.org[17] | |||||||||||||
Source 2: Weather2Travel[18] for sunshine and rainy days |
See also
- Kovalam lighthouse beach
References
- ^ a b "Varkala History, Thiruvananthapuram, kerala, india, History of Varkala". www.varkkala.com.
- ^ "Census of India: Search Details".
- ^ http://www.varkala.info Archived 7 November 2018 at the Wayback Machine | Details of Varkala
- ^ "Declaration of Geo-Heritage Sites". Press Information Bureau. 11 March 2015. Archived from the original on 1 February 2016. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 28 January 2016.
- ^ "Varkala". Kerala Tourism. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2012.
- ^ "Varkala Beach". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 20 November 2014.
- ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Varkkallai, India". www.fallingrain.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
- ^ "CEO Kerala Govt".
- ^ "Ward map".
- ^ "Varkala Municipality Standing Committees".
- ^ "7 Assembly Constituencies for LDF in Attingal".
- ^ "Maps of India".
- ^ "Kerala PWD - State Highways". Kerala State Public Works Department. Archived from the original on 1 December 2010. Retrieved 26 February 2010.
- ^ "Kerala". Explorra.com. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
- ^ "Varkala tunnel, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India". Kerala Tourism - Varkala. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Climate: Varkala - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table". Climate-Data.org. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "Varkala Climate and Weather Averages, Kerala". Weather2Travel. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
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