From Varkala to Kanyakumari

levick

Hello all, does anyone know how I would get from Varkala to Kanyakumari? Is there a train I can get? I am travelling through Kerala from next week and so far the last leg of my planned route is as follows:
Kumarakom (backwaters) - Varkala - Kanyakumari - Trivandrum (Kovalam). Is this a sensible route?
Also, could anyone tell me if staying in Varkala for 2 nights is a good idea, or should I stay in Varkala for one and Kovalam at the end for one?
Thank you for any help, it is much appreciated!

federica

You can go by train from Varkala to Kanyakumari. Bus would be another option, then you can also stop at the Padmanabapuram palace and the temple in Suchindram. The train trip would be more relaxed. Maybe you have to change the train in Trivandrum, our train experts here can give you advice on this. No need to prebook the ticket, usually you can go there in general compartment, the train won't be so crowded and the journey doesn't take very long.

Stay at least for one night in Kanyakumari to watch sunset and sunrise from the ghats!

Difficult to give you an advice about Kovalam and Varkala. Both have advantages and disadvantages. I would make this decision dependent on a relaxed itinerary.

shashank.aggarwal

well I would prefer top stay at Varkala instead of Kovalam, and Infact I did the same few months back...

Varkala is more relaxed and less crowded...

from you can take a bus from Varkala to Trivandrum, which is hardly 50 KM, and from trivandrum can take another bus to Kanyakumari which would be again 2-3 hours..

As federica said, spend atleast one night in Kanyakumari, and see sunset and surise..

and you decision on amount of time to be spent at varkala depends on your taste..its actually a beach...and if you want to relax then its the Ideal place..

y

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Random Reviews

willdub8

Its a fabulous place but it is almost entirely International and the tourists that make it up range from really cool full on India Heads to "trying too hard to be young even though we now have two kids under two" types. The sunset is breathtaking and the temp in Jan is mid 30's.
I loved it for the mix though. The food is pretty hit and miss and it takes ages to arrive.

I am going back to India from mid Dec to mid Jan and was considering going to Pondicherry arer for two weeks and then another two weeks somewhere else. What is the beach scene like there at that time of year. I want to do a bit of swimming - Varkala style is cool. Any one any ideas ? I want to completely relax and don't mind a bit of travel so maybe a three centre holiday would be enough? Is Karnataka any good at that time of year? At the planning stage now so all ideas welcome.
Thanks

incitatus

Trains Varkala to KK
1081 dep 08.50 arr 12.10
6526 dep14.05 arr 18.00
at this time of year both Varkala and Kovalam will be very quiet tourist wise.

levick

Thank you for your help. Is it advisable to book train tickets in advance from home or can I book the day before/the day I travel?

shashank.aggarwal

you can book online on www.irctc.com..

for more help refer to railways section on the forum..

incitatus

I don't imagine the train will be very busy and certainly will be very quiet Trivandrum - KK unless there's a festival on in KK.

Also it may not be possible to reserve seats due to the short distance you're travelling-128 km.(there are often distance restrictions when booking long distance trains and these trains originate in Mumbai and Bangalore!)

So just buy your ticket on the day and hop on.

steven_ber

Completely agree with incitatus, just turn up at the station and buy an unreserved 2nd class ticket from the ticket office (Rs40-50) and jump on the first train going south*, if it terminates at Trivandrum, change for a train to Kanyakumari or Nagercoil, more trains will go to Nagercoil (16kms from Kanyakumari).

*From Varkala, watch out for any trains that terminate at Kochuveli, this is a new station in Trivandrum and a few trains terminate there, but other trains bypass the station.

I read about a new passenger train today that may be worth looking into when you arrive in Varkala.



Train 377 makes no sense, unless they run it empty between Kottayam and Trivandrum, so when you get to Varkala, ask about the train (Kottayam-Nagercoil passenger), if it does call at Varkala it will be at about 09:00-09:20, and it should run close to time as it's a short distance train.

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shashank.aggarwal

Steve I was just wondering why do we keep on referring to classes in Indian trains...as far as my knowledge goes the classes have been abolished a long time back now its :

1. General
2. Sleeper
3. 3 tier AC
4. 2 Tier AC

not sure about the highest AC class though.. and ofcourse the Chair Car..

steven_ber

'General' means nothing to tourists, likewise 'Sleeper' can confuse tourists, it's easy to think that you have to have a 'sleeper' at night.

I always refer to classes in a way a new tourist would understand.

The full list of classes: -

1A = First Class air-conditioned (AC1)
2A = 2 Tier air-conditioned (AC2)
3A = 3 Tier air-conditioned (AC3)
FC = First Class NOT air-conditioned
EC = Executive chair class, air-conditioned
CC = Chair class, air-conditioned
SL = Sleeper Class, NOT air-conditioned
2S = Bookable second class seat, NOT air-conditioned
II = Unreserved 2nd class, NOT air-conditioned

Another one....

A 'Passenger' train has tourists thinking that other trains are goods/freight trains.

steven_ber

I just had a good idea, I should have a look at the timetable.

2 short distance trains call at Varkala at 09:05 & 09:30 and get to Trivandrum at 10:10 and 10:35 (they should run very close to time, they start their jouneys in Cockin).

Then you could take train 377 at 10:50, this train gets to Nagercoil at 13:10.

Ask the Nagercoil station staff if a train is due to get you to Kanyakumari, but a bus (or taxi) will be quicker.