Varkala Beach, Fishing Villages and Vishu - A Celebration of God’s Own Country

Kerala is a place that you envision in your dreams; lush green vegetation, the subtle scent of spices in the air and a gentle sea breeze against your skin on the Varkala Beach. The first time I visited Kerala, I got on to a bus from Trivandrum up the coast and felt like I had died and gone to heaven.  It had been a long time since I had seen the sea, and just to feel the slight sting of salt in the air was enough to make me feel like I was home.

Sand between my Toes

My first stop and favourite town in Kerala was the small fishing village of Varkala. This little town on the Keralan coast is small enough to walk around in about 15 minutes, but sits on a long cliff that provides hours of peaceful entertainment and solitude. As soon as I put my bag down, I kicked off my shoes and went for a walk along the jagged coastline. Moving away from the busy town, the seaside stalls soon gave way to nothing but white sand and crystal blue water. There was no one else in sight, just me, myself and I.

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A World Away

The little cove I had been walking along soon came to an end, and I had to climb over some rather rugged rocks to see what was on the other side. Standing on top of a boulder, I looked down over another fishing village, with brightly coloured boats strewn along the glistening sand. There was a small green mosque that was almost camouflaged amongst the verdant palm trees, and two little boys played in the sea like it was their private swimming pool. Splashing each other and giggling, they were having so much fun; it took all my restraint not to run into the sparkling blue water and feel it against my sunburnt skin.

A group of fishermen were at the shore struggling to drag a heavy net of fresh fish onto the dry sand, so that they could count and divide the catch of the day. They beckoned to me to help them, so I walked over, took a corner of the salt-encrusted net and started to pull. It was hard work, made even more challenging due to the bright sun beaming down on us, but eventually we made it onto dry land.

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Celebration of a New Year

Talking to one of the fishermen who knew a little English, I was told that this was the wrong time to visit Kerala, as there was no Keralan festivalon. During a festival, the entire state comes alive in all its colours and vibrancy, and is a sight to behold. An interesting Hindu festival that is celebrated in true Keralan style is Vishu, marking the new year of the Malayalam calendar.

Vishu is essentially an astrological celebration that involves a variety of lovely religious rituals. The Vishukkani is a traditional arrangement of auspicious items such as rice, lemon, betel leaves and flowers, placed in the puja room in a metal vessel with a lamp alongside it. This is the first thing that a Keralan family will look at on this important day, beginning the New Year in a special way. The celebrations continue into the evening with firecrackers lighting up the night sky and gifts being shared.

While Kerala has something to offer in every season, I long to go back and be part of one of its famous celebrations.

Come and experience the rich culture of God’s Own Country and be a part of its traditional festival celebrations. With MakeMyTrip you can book convenient flights to Trivandrum, from where you can then get a bus or train to Varkala.

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