Kovalam Or Varkala : Which One Is Better?

Kovalam and Varkala are among the best beaches in kerala and both are quite different, but each has its own charms, and when a question comes to your mind about staying in Kovalam or Varkala that is a good sign as it prepares you for expectations on what lies ahead when you stay at both these places.

Varkala is the Best cliff beach in India tucked away in Kerala, mid-way between Trivandrum and Kollam. There are about 100 shacks and restaurants on the cliff overlooking the Arabian sea. Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach.

ALSO SEE– Best Resorts in VarkalaKovalam and Varkala have both been announced the winners of its Travelers’ Choice Beaches Awards by TripAdvisor – Worlds largest travel website.

Koavalam or Varkala — Fishermen pull their fishing net on Samudra beach in Kovalam. Kerala. India

Here is a snapshot on what you can expect in Kovalam or Varkala when you decide to visit both these places

Beaches – Cliff in Varkala or the Black Sand in Kovalam

Varkala Beach is a relatively new entrant to the tourism map compared to Kovalam Beach Kerala that has a certain uniqueness.

Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam is a good but crowded beach and there is black sand in place. Eve’s beach and the Samudra beach are good. Papanassam beach at Varkala is much quieter than beaches in Kovalam. Black beach further north is small and more secluded and the beach further south is a lovely long stretch and very quiet. However, there are stretches near both the beaches which are dirty and have garbage as well. Varkala has a longer, wider, and much better beach and has less black sand than Kovalam. Don’t expect that beaches to be having golden sands as being showcased in any restaurant brochures.

keralas-kovalam-light-house-beach — Lighthouse around palm trees at orange sunset sky in Kovalam, Kerala, India

ALSO SEE- Best Beaches near Trivandrum

Family-Friendly Beach suitable for Vacations

Kovalam is an ideal place for family vacations in Kerala with kids but the beaches are not so beautiful, though it is an entirely different story, if you plan to stay in Leela Resort. Varkala is an exciting and fun-filled beach and resembles Goa. It has a beautiful beach and is located right on top of a small hill overlooking the beach. Lots of activities on the circumference of the hill for backpackers, hipsters, and other solo travelers. If you look from an ambient standpoint, Varkala Beach seems to score better.

varkala-beach-sivagiri-matt-celebrations — Women Celebrating in Kovalm or Varkala

Food and Drinks Options in Kerala Beaches

A healthy eater’s delight, Varkala beach is the ideal vacation spot for those who want to indulge in delicious meals without cheating on their diets. Finer quality, more variety and much, much cheaper options of food and drinks are available in Varkala. The Prices of food and drinks are slightly less than in Varkala than in Kovalam and good varieties of fish cuisine are available at both beaches.

To satisfy your appetite, Kovalam Beach Kerala has a lot of foods and drinks to offer. However unlike Kovalam, there is a cafe type of culture in Varkala, and there are foreigners running establishments at Varkala and this has influenced the variety of items on sale.

varkala-beach-kerala-cliff — Varkala is the Best cliff beach in India tucked away in Kerala, mid way between Trivandrum and Kollam. There are about 100 shacks and restaurants on the cliff overlooking the Arabian sea.

Distances from Airport

From the access standpoint, Kovalam beach Kerala scores better compared to Varkala Beach. Kovalam is much nearer to Trivandrum airport than Varkala. The distance between Kovalam and Airport is 15 kilometers while the distance between Varkala and Trivandrum airport is 50 kilometers.

Fishermen in Kerala state, South India — Fishermen during local Pongal Festival in Varkala, Kerala State, South India

Resorts and Accommodation Options in Kovalam or Varkala

Kovalam has much more options to stay in than Varkala both for luxury resorts and for budget hotels. Kovalam is famous for luxury resorts like Leela Kovalam Beach resort and Turtle on the beach resort Kovalam. Varkala also has a variety of options but none as famous as the luxury resorts in Kovalam.

turtle-on-the-beach-resort-kovalam — Interiors of Turtle on the Beach Resort Kovalam

ALSO SEE- Best Beach Resorts in Kerala

Sightseeing Options in Kovalam and Varkala

For those with an adventurous spirit, both Kovalam and Varkala offer plenty of temples, mosques, and beaches. There are the Kappil (8 km north of Varkala) and Papanasam Beaches — the latter with its famous, red laterite cliffs. Varkala is also an important Hindu pilgrimage center and has the famous 2,000-year-old Sree Janardhan Temple and the Narayanswami Samadhi and temple.

Hindy Ceremony in Varkala Beach — Hindus at Papanasam beach to perform the last rites after a close relative has died in Varkala Kerala South India.

When it comes to sightseeing between Kovalam or Varkala ? Kovalam is a better option if you want to do sightseeing when compared to Varkala sightseeing. Varkala has multiple options for surfing and adventure sports when compared to Kovalam.

ALSO SEE- Best Things to do in Varkala

Kovalam to Varkala distance is only 50 kilometers and the travel time is only 2 hours. We would suggest you spend 3 days at each place, and enjoy the different things that each has to offer – you won’t regret it because to know the worth of Varkala you need to stay in Kovalam and to know the worth of Kovalam you need to stay in Varkala. Make your choice between Kovalam or Varkala by comparing the choices, budgets, and access.