Posts

Showing posts with the label varkala beach

Sivagiri Mutt

Image
Sivagiri Mutt The hilly andquaint reaches of Varkala are home to one among the holiest sites inall of God's Own Country, the Sivagiri Mutt. Here lies theheadquarters of the SreeNarayana Dharma Sangham, an organisationbuilt by Sree Narayana Guru's disciples and followers, honouring oneamong the world's finest social reformers and crusader for justice.Spread over 200 acres, its location on an elevated plateau, alongwith the very structure and functioning of the place, has providedspiritual succour to thousands of people over the years.Itis said that SreeNarayana Guru himself fell in love with the overallambience at Varkala and decided to build a hermitage atop the SivagriHill. This is where the pilgrim centre we see today lies, and it alsohas the Samadhi of the Guru. The Guru set up an elementary schoolhere, inviting people across caste lines. He built a new temple atthe site and dedicated it to the Goddess of Knowledge, Saraswathi.Thus, the Saradha (Saraswathi...

SHANGHUMUGHAM BEACH

Image
SHANGHUMUGHAM BEACH Shanghumugham is a city beach, the beach of the capital. Conveniently located 8 Kilometres from Trivandrum city centre, city folks reach here to find much needed solace. Shanghumugham (also  Shamghumugham ) evenings are magical. Multitude of red in multiple shades spreads brilliance over the horizon. Gentle breeze sends cool comfort, as darker waves continue to splash over the sands in the backdrop of a sinking sun.  The long stretch of golden sands ideal for a stroll or beach side relaxation is however not a good swimming spot. Water here is simply not suitable for bathing. The beach is usually clean thanks to the efforts of local authorities. Still a fishing hamlet, Shamghumugham is similar to other fishing villages along Kerala shore line. Wooden boats and canoes can be seen resting on golden sands while not busy in action out in the sea. Beach side attractions Beach side attractions are  the mermaid,...

Varkala Beach

Image
Varkala Beach Location: 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city in Thiruvananthapuram district and 37 km south of Kollam, south Kerala. Varkala, a calm and quiet hamlet, lies on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. It has several tourist attractions that include a beautiful beach, a 2000-year-old Vishnu Temple and the Ashramam - Sivagiri Mutt a little distance from the beach. The Papanasam Beach (also called as Varkala Beach), which is ten kilometers away from Varkala, is renowned for a natural spring. Which is considered to have medicinal and curative properties. A dip in the holy waters at this beach is believed to purge the body of impurities and the soul of all sins; hence the name 'Papanasam Beach'. A two thousand-year-old shrine the Janardhanaswamy Temple stands on the cliffs overlooking the beach, a short distance away. The Sivagiri Mutt, founded by the great religious reformer and philosopher Sree Narayana Guru (1856 - 1928) is also close by. The S...