Chennai to Varkala Trip Ideas & How to Plan

The state of Kerala has always been a tourist hotspot. There are several holiday destinations here, and the abundance of nature’s blessings in the form of mesmerizing beaches, beautiful backwaters, enormous hills, mountains, pristine beaches, etc., are reasons enough to lure any soul into this God’s Own Country. While there are famous sea beaches in Kerala, 

Varkala is a small beach town with unique features but is way less popular than its other counterparts like Kochi, Trivandrum, Wayanad, etc. Varkala has a bohemian feel and is more popular among foreign tourists than Indian tourists. Varkala is ranked among the top 10 beaches of the world by Discovery Channel. 

If you are staying in the Chennai metropolis, then a trip from Chennai to Varkala will be very convenient for you in terms of distance and budget. Located at the southern tip of Kerala, Varkala is reminiscent of the hippie culture. You will be amazed to see the magnificent beauty of this surf beach surrounded by cliffs, which adds to its uniqueness. 

These cliffs are over 15m high and stand adjoining the Arabian Sea. A tek on the hills will give you a great experience. Better known as the Northern Cliffs, you will find delicious food shacks, local markets, etc. In addition, you can visit various sea beaches, lakes, lagoons, temples, lighthouses, forts, and natural fisheries at Varkala, to name a few. A trip to Kerala is incomplete if you do not experience the beauty of Varkala with your eyes.

How to Reach Varkala from Chennai? – An Insight into All Modes of Transport

Here we highlight the best modes of transport for traveling from Chennai to Varkala.

      1.By Air

The nearest airport from Varkala is Trivandrum. It takes about 45 minutes from Trivandrum to reach the beach town by road. However, you can take a direct flight from Chennai to Trivandrum (a 1 hour 30 minutes flight) and then head to Varkala in a rented car. Many flights operate between Chennai and Varkala, and you can opt from carriers like SpiceJet, Indigo, GoAir, AirIndia, and Jet Airways, depending on your preference.

       2.By Train

The nearest railway station is Varkala Railway Station. You can take a direct train from Chennai to Varkala. Some trains operating between Chennai and Varkala are Trivandrum Express, Anantapuri Express, Trivandrum Mail, and Egmore Guruvayur Express. It takes about 15 hours to reach Varkala from Chennai by train.

Here are the different train routes from Chennai to Varkala

• Chennai Central - Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express- 12695 : Board at Chennai Central and  get down at Varkala Sivagiri

1. Chennai Central- Thiruvananthapuram Central Mail - 12623:

   Board at Chennai Central and  get down at Varkala Sivagiri

2. Chennai Egmore - Guruvayur Express- 16127:

   Board at Chennai Egmore and  get down at Varkala Sivagiri

3. Ananthapuri Express- 16723:

   Board at Chennai Egmore and  get down at Varkala Sivagiri

4. Chennai Central- Thiruvananthapuram Central Weekly SF Express- 12697:

   Board at Chennai Central and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

5. Chennai Central- Thiruvananthapuram Central Super AC Express- 22207:

   Board at Chennai Central and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

6. Korba- Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express - 22647:

   Board at Chennai Central and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

7. Ahilya Nagari SF Express- 22645:

   Board at Chennai Central and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

8. Silchar - Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express (via Chennai Central) - 12508:

   Board at Chennai Central and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

9. Shalimar - Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express - 22642: 

   Board at Perambur and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

10. Silchar - Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express (via Perambur) - 12516: Board at Perambur and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

11. Silchar - Thiruvananthapuram Central SF Express (via Perambur) - 12516: Board at Perambur and get down at Kollam Junction. Then board another train at Kollam Junction and get down at Varkala Station.

      3.By Road 

If you're not comfortable via flight/train, then another way of planning a road trip from Chennai to Varkala is by road. Take a bus ride from Chennai to reach Varkala. Several buses operate between the two destinations, and you can conveniently take a bus from Chennai Bus Station to Attingal Bus Station (Trivandrum).

Opting for a rented car is also an excellent option. You can hire a car from Chennai and head to Varkala. A rented car is a highly convenient option as you can use the same car to travel around Varkala throughout your trip. The approximate distance between Chennai and Varkala is 694 km, and it would nearly take 14 hours or more to travel from Chennai to Varkala.

Making Chennai to Varkala Road Trip Plans? Choose IndusGo as Your Traveling Partner

If a road trip fromChennai to Varkala is on your mind, then IndusGo can be your best travel partner. You can avail yourself of any car of your choice, which gets delivered at your preferred location. Moreover, you can ask for a driver or opt for self-driving a car.

A rented car is a cost-effective option and highly convenient as you do not have to worry about a mode of conveyance throughout your trip. You can reach Varkala in a safe and hygienic car by IndusGo and go about your sightseeing and beach hopping in the same car. You will get the cars for rent at highly affordable prices.

Tourists prefer traveling by road as it is a much better option. Road travelers in India vouch for IndusGo as their best travel partner. You can book a car for rent by contacting IndusGo at 9539580000 and ensure that Chennai to Varkala by car becomes a fun-filled experience.

Enjoy your beach activity and sightseeing in one of the most exquisite beach towns, and let us know your experience of the trip from Chennai to Varkala in the comments section below.