What to Wear in Varkala: Cliff Path, Beach and Temple

What to wear in Varkala in 2026 is shaped by a landscape you do not find anywhere else on the Kerala coast: a line of red cliffs with cafes, guesthouses and yoga shalas along the top, and a sacred beach at the bottom where a dip in the sea is believed to wash away sins. You will spend your days walking the cliff path, swimming or surfing below it, and perhaps visiting a 2,000-year-old temple. This guide covers Varkala's weather by season, what to wear on the cliff, the beach and at the temple, a packing list built around light cotton and kaftans, and how it differs from a backwaters trip.

What is the weather like in Varkala?

Varkala is in Thiruvananthapuram district on India's south-west coast (Kerala Tourism), and it is warm in every month. Incredible India's monthly averages show daily ranges of about 20°C to 35°C in January, 23°C to 36°C in April, and 22°C to 33°C in July (Incredible India). What changes through the year is rain and humidity:

• October to March, the best season. Incredible India says Varkala is at its best between October and March (Incredible India), and Kerala Tourism describes December to February as usually pleasant (Kerala Tourism). Dress for sun: linen, cotton and swimwear.
• March to May, hot and humid. Kerala Tourism notes high humidity and sultry conditions on the coast in these months (Kerala Tourism). Wear the loosest, lightest pieces you own and change once in the afternoon.
• June to December, two monsoons. The south-west monsoon runs from June to September and the north-east monsoon from October to December (Kerala Tourism). Kerala Tourism advises monsoon visitors to come prepared with umbrellas, raincoats and waterproof shoes (Kerala Tourism). Swap linen for quick-drying viscose.

On the cliff: cafes, shops and sunsets

Varkala's defining feature is its red laterite cliffs. Kerala Tourism notes it is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs meet the sea, and that the Geological Survey of India has declared them a national geological monument, known to geologists as the Varkala Formation (Kerala Tourism). Most of the social life happens on top: a path of cafes, shops, guesthouses and yoga centres looking out over the Arabian Sea.

Dress for the cliff the way you would for a relaxed beach town promenade:

• A short kaftan or a light cotton dress over your swimsuit, so you can go from cafe to sea and back.
• A breathable shirt worn open over a vest, with shorts or a wrap skirt.
• A wide-brimmed hat: there is little shade on the path at midday.
• Flat sandals with grip. The steps and slopes down the cliff face are steep and can be sandy.

Sunset is the main event, and the cliff fills with people for it. A long kaftan or printed co-ord set carries you from sundowner to dinner without going back to your room.

"Varkala is where I would pack two kaftans for every dress. You are always half on the beach and half at a cafe table, and a kaftan is the only thing that is right for both," says Ramola Bachchan, the fashion designer behind First Resort.

On the beach: swimming, surfing and Papanasam

Varkala Beach is also known as Papanasam Beach, one of the main beaches at Varkala, near the historic Janardhana Swamy Temple (Kerala Tourism). Incredible India explains that a natural spring on the beach is believed to have curative properties, and that a dip in its waters is said to cleanse body and soul, which gives the beach its name (Incredible India). It is a working ritual space as well as a swimming beach, so the southern stretch near the temple is where to be most covered.

For swimming and water sports, Kerala Tourism lists surfing, parasailing, paragliding and stand-up paddle-boarding (Kerala Tourism). What to wear:

• A swimsuit that stays put in waves, with a rash vest or long-sleeved top for surfing and paddle-boarding.
• A sarong or short cover-up for walking along the sand and up the steps.
• A light stole or scarf to cover shoulders if you walk toward the temple end.

Swimwear belongs on the sand; once you climb back up to the cliff path, pull a cover-up on.

What to wear to the Janardhana Swamy Temple?

The Janardhana Swamy Temple is a 2,000-year-old temple perched on the cliffs overlooking the sea (Incredible India). Kerala Tourism's guidance on temple etiquette is that most temples allow women in traditional attire such as a saree, churidar or long skirt and blouse, and also in modest modern outfits, while in most temples men are expected to come bare-bodied with a dhoti (Kerala Tourism). Rules vary by temple, so follow what the staff at the entrance ask.

For a traveller, the practical kit is:

• Women: a long kurta with churidar or pants, or a long skirt with a blouse, plus a stole. A modest ankle-length dress with sleeves and a stole also meets the "modest modern outfit" description.
• Men: a mundu or dhoti, with the shirt removed at the entrance.
• Everyone: sandals you can slip off, since footwear stays outside.

Our guide to temple dress in India goes deeper on regional customs.

Sivagiri, Kappil and day trips

A short journey from town is Sivagiri Mutt, with its multi-tiered white terraces and the samadhi of the saint and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (Incredible India). Dress as you would for the temple: covered shoulders and knees, a stole, and sandals you can remove.

North of the main beach, Incredible India points to Kappil, where the sea, a river and the backwaters meet, and to Anjengo Fort, about 12 km from Varkala (Incredible India). Both are hot, open outings: wear linen pants or a long tunic, a hat, and carry water.

Closer to town is the Varkala Tunnel, a 19th-century tunnel built for an inland waterway, which you can travel through on a boat ride (Incredible India). Boats are low and you will be sitting close to the water, so wear something you can step in and out of easily: cropped pants or a knee-length kaftan rather than a trailing maxi, with sandals that stay on your feet. Keep a light layer handy for the shade of the tunnel after the glare outside, and a dry bag or zip pouch for your phone.

Yoga and Ayurveda stays

Many visitors come to Varkala for a retreat. Kerala Tourism notes the massage, yoga and meditation centres near the beach and the Ayurveda centres that offer treatments and retreats (Kerala Tourism; Kerala Tourism). For a week of classes and treatments, you need less than you think:

• Soft cotton pants or shorts and loose tops for yoga, in breathable natural fibres rather than synthetic activewear.
• A long kaftan or tunic to wear between treatments. Ayurvedic oil treatments leave oil on the skin, so choose dark, washable pieces you do not mind marking.
• A light stole for early-morning sessions.

How is Varkala different from the Kerala backwaters?

A backwaters trip is about houseboats, villages and water, where you sit and watch the view go by. Varkala is about walking: up and down cliff steps, along the path, into the sea. That changes the wardrobe in three ways. Shoes need grip. Swimwear and cover-ups do more of the work. And there is more of a cafe scene in the evenings, so a couple of easy dinner outfits earn their place. If your trip includes both, our Kerala guide covers the houseboat, hills and Kochi.

Colour and fabric

With temperatures in the 20s and 30s all year and humidity that rises before the monsoon, fabric is everything. Choose cotton, linen and viscose; leave denim and heavy synthetics at home. Colour is free on the cliff: coral, turquoise and indigo look wonderful against the red laterite and the sea. Keep one white or cream outfit for the temple and Sivagiri, where lighter colours fit naturally.

A 7-day Varkala packing list

1. Two swimsuits, a rash vest if you plan to surf, and a sarong or cover-up.
2. Three kaftans: two short for day, one long for evenings.
3. One or two light dresses or a co-ord set for cafe dinners.
4. One temple outfit: a long kurta with pants or a long skirt and blouse, plus a stole.
5. Soft cotton pants and tops for yoga.
6. Flat sandals with grip, a hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen.
7. In the monsoon: a compact umbrella or raincoat and waterproof sandals.

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Also read: What to Wear in Kerala  ·  What to Wear in Pondicherry  ·  What to Wear to a Temple in India  ·  What to Wear in Mahabalipuram  ·  What to Wear in Costa Rica