Varkala is a laid-back beach town on the Keralan coast, often compared to Goa thanks to its youthful, surfer lifestyle. It's been a favourite with backpackers for years and is becoming increasingly popular with general holiday-makers, most of whom stay on the colourful but busy North Cliff. Villa Jacaranda provides a friendly and comfortable alternative on the South Cliff, a tranquil area just five minutes’ walk from the dramatic Papanasham beach.
Fronted by two jacaranda trees and deep pink bougainvillea, the guesthouse is set on the bend of a quiet road, with views of the distant sea from its veranda. The four homely rooms are simply furnished and decorated in soft pastel colours. All have pretty, blue-railed verandas for reading and dining and there’s a large rooftop terrace with many a potted plant for the exclusive use of room 4, together with a lush garden with a small saltwater pool for everyone to enjoy. Owner-manager Ajay, who used to live in England, is a delight. He's a keen gardener and cook and is always around to look after you, though not in an obtrusive way. You can relax on one of two nearby beaches, visit local temples, go cliff-top shopping, join a yoga class, take surf lessons, have an Ayurvedic massage or chill out on the nearby Kerala backwaters.
Highs
- Excellent location on South Cliff, a 5-minute walk to the beach but quieter and more mellow than the more developed North Cliff
- The verandas and rooftop terrace provide pretty little outdoor spaces to eat, drink, read and watch the sun set into the just-glimpsed Arabian sea – ideal for escaping for a little while
- The small garden with saltwater pool and lily pond is full of fragrant flowers, dappled light, butterflies and birds
- Soulful singing from the nearby temple provides a lovely twice-daily soundtrack
- The welcoming owner Ajay and his staff are always on hand to recommend the best local eateries and things to see and do
Lows
- Varkala's very strong currents can make swimming at Papanasham beach dangerous, so pay close attention to the lifeguards and warning flags
- There are no phones for room service, or any common sitting or dining areas – this is somewhere you come for privacy, seclusion and relaxation
- Over 8s only
Best time to go
Villa Jacaranda is open all year round. September to February is peak season in this part of India and temperatures rarely exceed 26C - 28C, while March to May is much hotter. The monsoon season from June to mid-September is a romantic time to visit as everything is particularly lush and there are far fewer people about, but most days will bring heavy downpours.
Our top tips
There's an excellent Ayurvedic Centre (massages, treatments, yoga) next door, pop in for a rejuvenation massage or a blissful shirodhara treatment (warm-oil dripped on the forehead) – guests of the guesthouse get discounted rates.
- Boutique Guesthouse
- 4 rooms
- Breakfast (+ other meals on request)
- Over 8s only
- Open all year
- Outdoor Pool
- Spa Treatments
- Beach Nearby
- Pet Friendly
- Disabled Access
- Car not necessary
- Parking
- Restaurants Nearby
- WiFi
- Air Conditioning
- Guest Lounge
- Terrace
- Garden
- Gym
- Bicycles Available
Rooms
The four double rooms all have terracotta-tiled floors, lots of space and an unfussy design. Furniture is a mixture of local pieces and items which reflect the owner’s travels (Tuscan armoires, Byzantine-style chandeliers, Thai Buddha statues, French turn-of-the-century sconces, Burmese lacquer-ware trays and Vietnamese planters). Small alcoves, low tables from Syria and brass urli bowls with floating flowers add a touch of the Middle East, and garlands of jasmine blossoms are arranged on lotus leaves to perfume your evenings.
The white tiled bathrooms are spotless, with murals of plum and purple-coloured circles adding a bold design touch. Bath and beach towels are provided and woven cloths from Bangalore add splashes of hot colour.
Each room has the use of a veranda with views of the sea or garden (note that the veranda for room 3 is shared not private). Room 4 has large glass French doors onto its veranda, which merges with the rooftop terrace to create a wonderful private retreat.
Mosquito nets are available on request and mosquito plugs are provided, though sea breezes tend to keep insects at bay except between 6 and 6.30pm. There's also a resident cocker puppy and a couple of ducks that add a fun, homely touch.
Features include:
- Air conditioning
- Fan
- Safe box
- WiFi
Eating
Breakfast is served on your veranda between 8am and 10am and consists of simple, tasty vegetarian fare – homemade bread, toast and jam, porridge with nuts, fruit and honey, milkshakes and fruit salad. There are also eggs cooked however you like them, including Indian-style bhurji (with fresh onion, tomatoes, green chilli and coriander), and masala omelettes. The china is elegantly white, the coffee is delicious, and the tables are brightened with pink linen place mats and vases of flowers.
Light refreshments and free filtered water are available on request, and dinner can be arranged with prior notice (no alcohol is served as the house doesn’t have a licence, but you can keep your own alcohol in the in-room fridges). Ajay is an excellent cook and has developed an eclectic menu of tasty Anglo-Indian dishes, mainly vegetarian, which are dependent on what is seasonally available. We had his beetroot, cashew nut and lime salad, sambar dal with rice, green bean thoran, Thai egg fried rice and paratha. All delicious.
If you want to eat out there are many local restaurants to choose from, most perched in a line along the lively North cliff and serving all manner of international cuisine, with hauls of catch-of-the-day fish laid out for your selection. We loved Chimney Restaurant in Varkala town itself for its buzzy atmosphere and great fresh fish and tandoori chicken.
Features include:
- Breakfast
- Dinner by arrangement
- Lunch by arrangement
- Restaurants nearby
- Vegetarian options
Activities
- Wander over to Varkala’s cliff-cradled Papanasham beach (a 5-minute walk) and explore the huge 12th Century Janardhanaswamy Temple – an important Hindu pilgrimage site
- Rise with the dawn to watch local fishermen bring in their boats and listen to their songs
- Walk for 15 minutes (or take a short tuk-tuk ride) to Varkala's colourful and lively North Cliff to browse clothes stalls, eat at one of the many sea-facing restaurants, take a yoga class, or even go paragliding
- Book a trip to the Anjengo Fishing Village and Fort, or a punting boat trip to the privately owned Golden Island with its lone Shiva Temple and plethora of bird and plant life
- Watch a procession taking place during one of the many local temple festivals; colourful Kilithattumukku Bhagavathy Temple is a 10-minute walk away
- Hire a motorbike or scooter and go exploring
- There is an excellent surfing school nearby
- Meander along the Kerala backwaters from Kollam (an hour away by train or taxi)
- Take a longer day or overnight trip to see Neyyar Dam, Sivananda Ashram, the tea gardens at Ponmudi and Padmanabha Palace (the only wooden palace in India)
Activities on site or nearby include:
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Birdwatching
- Boat trips
- Historical sites
- Plantlife / flora
- Private guided tours
- Shopping / markets
- Surfing
- Traditional cultures
- Well being
- Yoga
Kids
Villa Jacaranda does not accept guests under the age of 8, as there is no play area and the pond is unfenced.
Best for:
Teens (over 12)
Family friendly accommodation:
All rooms can take a single extra bed, families of four would need to book two rooms.
Extra Beds Available
For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection
Location
Villa Jacaranda is an hour’s drive from Trivandrum in Kerala in southern India.
By Air
Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram International (50km away) is the closest airport, though Cochin International is only 185km away.
From the Airport
Villa Jacaranda offers a transfer service (enquire when booking).
By Train
The train from Cochin takes 3 to 4 hours to Varkala Station, from where you can pick up a taxi to Villa Jacaranda (a 10-minute journey). Varkala also has rail links to Madras (Chennai), Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Rajkot and Mangalore.
Getting Around
North Cliff and the beach are within walking distance and tuk-tuks and taxis are readily available.
Detailed directions will be sent to you when you book through i-escape.
Airports:
- Tivandrum Thiruvananthapuram International 55.0 km TRV
- Cochin International 185.0 km COK
Other:
- Beach 0.5 km
- Shops 0.3 km
- Restaurant 0.5 km