Varkala

Varkala is located 45 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city is an important hindu pilgrimage center. Varkala is known for Papasnanam Beach and 2000 years old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple. Sivagiri is also the final resting place of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer. The 'Sivagiri Pilgrimage' is usually conducted between 30th December and 1st January every year. The Sivagiri Mutt - a religious retreat was founded by Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) the renowned philosopher and social reformer of modern Kerala. Even decades after the Guru breathed his last here in 1928, his Samadhi (resting place) continues to be thronged by thousands of pilgrims. The Sivagiri Mutt is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Sangham, a religious organization established by the Guru to propagate his concept of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God'.