▲ 34 r/varkala

My First Solo Trip to Varkala ❤️🌿

After watching solo travel YouTubers for so long, I finally found the courage to plan and complete my first solo trip to Varkala! ❤️ I had so many doubts, but I did it on my own, and I couldn’t be prouder of myself. 3 days, so many memories, and a big achievement for me! 🌿🏍️

In Ponmudi, I found a hidden spot with steps leading up to a viewpoint. Since it was a long weekend, almost every place was crowded. But this spot was completely empty! 🥹 The sound of birds, the water flowing below, the trees all around, and the moss-covered steps made the place so peaceful. Going there was totally worth it! ❤️

Meenmutty Falls was also a nice experience. About 1 km before the main falls, there’s a spot where families can enjoy the water, have food, and spend some time together. I feel it would be really nice to visit that place with family. You can trek to the main falls and enjoy the view, but getting into the falls for a bath is not allowed.

I also overthought a lot about going kayaking in the mangroves. I kept thinking, “How am I going to do this alone? Will I be able to manage?” 😅 But after doing it, I was so happy that I didn’t miss the experience. Definitely don’t miss it! Just make sure you have enough energy and eat well before going.

Since it was a long weekend, there was quite a lot of crowd. Still, I got to explore the places I wanted and create some really good memories.

First of all, I want to thank myself for making this decision and actually doing it instead of just overthinking. ❤️

My first solo trip, successfully completed! 😊🏍️🌿

u/swagboy1243 — 11 days ago
▲ 3 r/varkala+1 crossposts

First solo trip to Varkala from Chennai (Oct 1–4) – Need suggestions

Hi everyone!

I'm planning my first solo trip to Kerala from Chennai and would really appreciate some advice from experienced solo travellers and people familiar with Varkala. Here's my current plan:

Trip Details • Start & End Dates: September 30 – October 5, 2026 • Route: Chennai → Varkala → Erode → Chennai • Number of Days: 3 nights / 4 days in Varkala

Itinerary


Sep 30: • Leave Chennai by train to Varkala Oct 1 – Day 1: Beaches & Coastal Exploration • Reach Varkala Railway Station around 10 AM • Check-in and freshen up • Varkala Cliff & Beach • Odayam Beach • Edava Beach • Kappil Beach & Kappil Lake • Sunset • Return to Varkala

Oct 2 – Day 2: Backwaters & Water Activity • Travel to Paravur/Nedungolam • Planning to try mangrove kayaking • Explore nearby backwaters/village areas • Return to Varkala • Relax in the evening

Oct 3 – Day 3: Mountains • Leave Varkala early morning, around 6 AM • Ride to Ponmudi by rental scooter • Explore the mountain roads, viewpoints and Golden Valley if accessible • Start returning early enough to avoid the Kallar/checkpost closing time • Return to Varkala

Oct 4: • Relaxed morning • Check out and return the scooter • 11:20 AM train from Varkala to Erode • Erode → Chennai by confirmed bus

Oct 5: • Reach Chennai early in the morning and go to work 😅


Costs & Budget

• Budget for Kerala portion: Maximum ₹4,500 (Train tickets and accommodation are already booked separately.) Already booked • Chennai → Varkala train: ₹496.80 — currently waitlisted • Varkala → Erode train: ₹316.80 — currently waitlisted • Erode → Chennai bus: ₹570 — confirmed • Accommodation: ₹1,105 for 3 nights Planned expenses • Scooter rental: around ₹1,600–₹1,700 for 3 days • Rental option I'm looking at includes 214 km, with around ₹5/km for additional distance • Remaining budget for petrol, food, kayaking and other small expenses


Accommodation • Staying in Varkala for all 3 nights rather than changing accommodation. • Accommodation is already booked for ₹1,105 total.

Transport • Chennai → Varkala: Train • Local travel: Planning to rent a scooter • Varkala → Erode: Train • Erode → Chennai: Confirmed bus The main reason I'm considering a scooter is to explore the beaches and surrounding areas and especially to ride to Ponmudi.

Food & Experiences I'm mainly interested in nature, peaceful places, scenic roads, beaches, backwaters and mountains rather than crowded tourist attractions or nightlife. I'm planning to try local Kerala food and one water activity such as mangrove kayaking. This is my first solo trip, so I'd really appreciate advice from people who have travelled around Varkala/Kerala. Would you change anything in this itinerary? I'm especially looking for suggestions for: • Hidden/less-touristy places around Varkala • Solo-friendly activities that don't require a group • Cheap local food • Whether renting a scooter is a good idea • Reliable scooter rental recommendations • Whether a 125cc scooter is suitable for Ponmudi • Any better alternatives to Paravur kayaking • Things I should avoid or be careful about • Any general advice for a first-time solo traveller My budget is tight, so I'm trying to avoid activities where I have to pay for a private boat/group. Any suggestions or changes to this plan would be really appreciated! 🙏🌴🛵

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u/swagboy1243 — 29 days ago

Oneplus nord 5 oxygen os 16.0.5 update

Why it's showing contact person name two time in the notification for whatsapp. Does anyone facing the same issue.

u/swagboy1243 — 4 months ago