India Varkala | Accommodation, restaurants, shops, Show Kathakali | Varkala India, India bag, travel to the India

Varkala India This article

I spent 8 days in total in Varkala and enjoyed it almost every second.

I love the beach! And compared to Kovalam, Varkala is more laid-back and soothing. Just imagine a cliff surrounding a beach with luscious palm trees in the background. The sound of the ocean makes your thoughts flow away. Fruit sellers are yelling "Pineapple, pineapple madam", "Coconut, coconut" and at the same time crows are making awful noise.

The beach at North Cliff is in fact very nice if you look beneath it, but I'm sorry to say that it's buried in plastic, cans and bottles hanging from the cliff. It's very sad that the local government/population isn't doing anything. It's just laying there, like it was the most natural thing in the world.

For some years backpackers have preferred Varkala over Kovalam when they visited Kerala, because it's supposed to be less touristy.

I will tell you right away: Varkala has become touristy.

Varkala India: A LONG stairway
Don't get me wrong, Varkala was stunning and it was easy to get around. It was perfect for solo travelers like me. But it's overrated as a backpacker's destination. When I stayed at Shiva Garden I talked to travelers who have been to Varkala for the last decade.

I asked them: "So you have been here several times, you must love Varkala?"

Their answer was: "No, I love Shiva Garden, not Varkala anymore."

It's inevitable. Ever since the local government launched Kerala as 'God's Own Country' in 2000, the tourist arrivals have boomed in the state and especially along the coast.

Naturally, places like Varkala becomes touristy. On the bright side, even it was touristy I didn't feel it was overcrowded.

Backpackers, tourists, families, retirees and the hippies -? you will find them there.

Even if Varkala is touristy there are still some cheap rooms and cheap food. I will tell you about my experiences from Varkala, whether it was the food, the shopping and the 'tea-pot-beer'-drinking.

:-)

By air: The nearest airport is near Trivandrum. At the airport you can arrange pre-paid taxis to Varkala. The taxi booth is right next to the arrival exit -? you can't miss it.

By train: Several trains to Varkala leave cities and towns like Trivandrum (30 min-1 hour), Kochi (3-4 hours), Alleppey (2-3 hours), Kozhikode (8-8,5 hours) and Kollam (30 minutes).

Note: Most of the trains are on-time, but be prepared for delays as well.

For more information on train travel in India, visit this page

To get the cheapest train ticket (at least it was the cheapest I got), buy a train ticket directly at the train station.

Ask for General Quota -? unreserved seats.

A trip from Trivandrum to Varkala on General Quota cost me Rs 21, while a ticket through Cleartrip would have cost me Rs 58. The differences are small, but it's at least a way for budget travelers to save money on train travel.

If you buy General Quota unreserved seats, the seats are located in the first and last coach of the train.

The disadvantage about this type of ticket is that you're not guaranteed a seat. But if you're just going to Varkala, you're looking at a 30-minutes to 1-hour journey. It's feasible at Rs 21.

When you get off the train, there are Rickshaws and taxis waiting to take you to Varkala beach. It takes approximately 5-10 minutes to get there. For Rickshaws expect to pay between Rs 50-80 depending on your bargaining skills.

By bus: The bus routes I know about start from Trivandrum (Thampanoor bus stand) and Kollam, but I'm sure that you can get a bus to Varkala from other places in Kerala. One of my class mates took a bus from Ambalapuzha (30 minutes south of Alleppey) to Varkala and that cost her Rs 60.

By taxi: You can also a taxi to Varkala but it's of course expensive. We took a taxi from Varkala to Alleppey (we were 5 girls), and it cost Rs 2700 (they had to arrange a bigger car). If we were maximum four people, it would have cost us Rs 2100 to Alleppey. The taxi will usually pick you up at the guesthouse/hotel.

I arranged the ride at a travel agency right next to Little Tibet. Otherwise there's a taxi stand at the far south of North Cliff.

Important places to know about Varkala India:
Pharmacies can be found along the stretch of North Cliff You can't find banks and ATMS at Varkala beach. You have to take a short rickshaw-ride to Varkala village (less than 5 minutes). When the Rickshaw drives downwards the main hill and towards the village, you'll see an ATM on the right side of the road. It's near the Temple Junction. Otherwise several travel agencies do cash withdrawals. There's a 3-4 % fee.There's no shortage of internet cafes in Varkala. They charge Rs 40 per hour, and the connection is slow.

 

Alappuzha Kerala | Floating Alappuzha backwaters | Accommodation, food of Kerala | India backpackers

Alleppey Kerala: Backwaters and Alleppey beach

Alleppey in Kerala, also known as Allapuzha (ala-po-rah), is often referred to as Venice of the East by travel magazines and local tourism government.

It neighbors Vembanad Lake. The network of canals and lagunes -- called the backwaters -- is the main reason why travelers visit Alleppey.

Since the 90s, the number of house boats have increased dramatically.

It started with a couple of house boats in the 90s, but as of today there are 500-600 house boats roaming the backwaters. They were originally used for cargo transport, but now most of them cater travelers and tourists.

The house boat industry in Kerala employs around 1800-2000 Keralites, including boat drivers and chefs.

Alleppey Kerala: Women at Muhamma coir sub-center (Alleppey district) Alleppey itself is quite small, and it's easy to get around. The city center around Mullackal road, is a dusty and a busy place, with traffic jams.

The lake side of town is the most charming part, with luscious jungle and lake side view. This is where many homestays and resorts are located :-)

If you want to cool down, you can visit Alleppey beach. Have in mind though that it's not regular custom to wear a bikini and jump into the water. The currents are very strong, and you will most likely experience staring from the locals.

Some of my class mates solved this problem. They found a resort on the beach, where other travelers where sunbathing in their bikinis. My class mates decided to 'join them'. This way, they felt more comfortable, and there were almost no locals nearby :-)

Alleppey Kerala: Alleppey beach

Beware that Alleppey is a mosquito magnet! Compared to other places in Kerala and India, this place has a high density of mosquitoes.

Kerala is the state with highest literacy rates in India, where 93,3 % of the population can read and write. This is due to the Communist Party in Kerala, who has been prioritizing education and health.

Alleppey and Kerala has its darker sides though. If you take the time to walk in the streets of Alleppey, you will notice long queues to government liquor shops, where local men are struggling to buy liquor.

Did you know that an average Keralite drinks more than 8 liters of alcohol per year?

It's sad that Kerala is also known for its alcoholics, and it has a strong connection to the high unemployment in the State.

By air: The nearest airport to Alleppey is Kochi airport.

For more information on how to get to/from Kochi airport, visit this article -- Kochi India Cheap flights to Kochi/Alleppey:

By train: Alleppey can be reached by train from most major cities and towns in Kerala, for example Kochi (1-2 hours), Trivandrum (2-3 hours), Kozhikode/Calicut (5-6 hours) and so on.

The railway station in Alleppey is a 10 minutes auto ride from downtown (Rs 50-70).

By bus: One of the cheapest ways of traveling in Kerala is by bus. Most inter-state buses stop at Central Bus station in Alleppey (KSRTC).

For example: From Ambalapuzha to Alleppey we paid Rs 14 for the express bus. Ordinary local buses cost Rs 10 from Ambalapuzha.

By foot, it takes 10-15 minutes to Mullackal road. An auto from the bus station to Lake Side cost around Rs 20 depending on your bargaining skills. There's a long line of autos right next to the shops across the bus station -? you can't miss it.

KSRTC bus station in Alleppey Kerala

By taxi: Taking the taxi is obviously the most efficient way to travel from A to B. It's of course a lot more expensive than local transportation. But if you're traveling in a group, it can be economically manageable to take a taxi.

From Varkala to Alleppey we paid Rs 2700 for a taxi (February 2011), and we were 5 people. They had to arrange a bigger car for us, so that's why it was more expensive. If we were 4 people or less, it would have cost Rs 2300.

Alleppey Kerala: On a local bus Getting around: Auto rickshaws are the most common transportation in Alleppey. From Alleppey city center to Lake Side, we paid Rs 50 each time.

There are also local buses in Alleppey. From Lake Side to the city center, the cost is Rs 4,5.

Exploring Alleppey by foot is the most rewarding thing to do. As I mentioned earlier it's quite easy to get around.

We went by foot a lot of times when we stayed in Alleppey. But when the sun and humidity was too much for us, we took an auto.

Return to top

Important information for Alleppey:
Banks and ATMs: ATMs are scattered around town, especially along the main road, Mullackal road.Internet: Rs 40 per hour (Hello World, Blue Moon), Rs 3 for a copy

Kochi India | Fort Kochi and Ernakulam in Kerala | Accommodation, restaurants, attractions and shops | India backpacker, travel to the India

Kochi India: the Chinese fishing nets in Fort Kochi

All information below is subject to change Kochi consists of Fort Kochi, Mattancherry, Willingdon island and Ernakulam and much more. In this article I will focus on Fort Kochi and Ernakulam.

Fort Kochi has been strongly influenced by European culture for centuries, and it is deeply reflected in its architecture, food and history.

If you compare Ernakulam and Fort Kochi, it can be hard to digest that these two belong to the same country. Fort Kochi is absolutely stunning with its great architecture, laid-back and charming cafes.

But if you expect and want a 'real' piece of India, Fort Kochi is not the place to go and visit. Not many things will remind you of India in Fort Kochi.

I stayed in Fort Kochi for 3 weeks because of my field work. So I got to know this place very well.

Kochi India: Santa Cruz Church What I do know is that if you want to escape from the hassle and noise, Fort Kochi is perfect. It was very quiet compared to several places in India and Kerala.

So a couple of days of voyage into Fort Kochi will do good for your mind and body.

Another thing about Fort Kochi (and Kerala) was its people. I got to know fantastic Keralites during my stay there, and I will never forget them.

In general, the South Indian culture differs from the North Indian. And I'm probably not the only one thinking that Kerala is much more calmer than the north.

In fact, the differences are quite noticeable. You will notice it you too. People in the south harass you a lot less than they do in the north.

By air: Domestic and international flights land at Kochi airport, located 1,5 hour from Ernakulam city center.

From the airport you can take taxis to Ernakulam city center or Fort Kochi. I took a taxi from Ernakulam to the airport, and it cost me Rs 600. The ride took one hour. From Fort Kochi, a taxi to the airport will cost around Rs 700-800.

Here's the KSRTC AC-bus time table to and from airport:

Time table is picked up from stayinkochi.com.

Boat to Fort Kochi By train: There are two railway stations in Kochi, Ernakulam Town (around 3 km north of city center) and Ernakulam Junction.

Ernakulam Junction (ERS) is the closest station to the ferries heading for Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and the other islands (Vypeen and Bolghatty).

When arriving at Ernakulam Junction, take a pre-paid Rickshaw. The booth is right outside the main entrance. It cost Rs 20 from the railway station to the main boat jetty, in addition to a service charge (Rs 1). The ride takes 10 minutes.

When arriving at the main boat jetty, there's a ticket booth on your left side. If there's a long queue, there's a separate lady queue to the right. The ticket cost only Rs 3, and the boat ride takes 20 minutes to Fort Kochi.

Time table: Ernakulam to Fort Kochi -- (picked up from stayinkochi.com)

Time table from Fort Kochi to Ernakulam/Willingdon island:

Kochi India

When arriving in Fort Kochi, you can either walk or take an auto rickshaw to the main tourist area, where most of the guesthouses, homestays and hotels are located in town.

Most of the accommodation facilities are heavily concentrated around Princess street, Bastian street, Burger street and Peter Celli street, while many hotels and resorts can be found on Tower Road and along the shores.

How to leave Kochi: the same way you got in. By rail Ernakulam Junction connects to most major towns and cities in Kerala. Trains to Trivandrum also leave Ernakulam Town.

Kochi India: Ticket booth at Fort Kochi jetty Most trains to Goa (Madgaon) leave Ernakulam Junction and take between 12-16 hours, depending on train route. If you're on your way to Wayanad, you can take the train from Ernakulam Junction/Town and get off at Kozhikode (Calicut). The train ride takes 4-5 hours, and another long bus or taxi ride from Calicut to Wayanad.

You should have at least one hour at your hands when arriving at the railway station. I will tell you about one incident.

I booked a seat on a train from Ernakulam Junction to Trivandrum. I arrived there 45 minutes before departure. Guess what they said?

"I'm sorry, but the train route to Trivandrum has been moved to Ernakulam Town. Only for today."

I grabbed my stuff, and ran to find an auto. The ride from Ernakulam Junction to Ernakulam Town took 15 minutes, and cost Rs 35. I was glad that I showed up early, that's for sure :-)

Important information for Kochi:
Police: Office at Ernakulam Junction Railway station. Tourist police tel: 0484-2224067Hospital: Try Medical Trust Hospital, a private hospital and has a 24 hour ambulance service. Tel: +91 484 2358001. Website: Medical Trust HospitalKSRTC bus station: General inquiry tel: + 91 484 2372033Internet: Rs 40 per hour, international calls: from Rs 15 per minute

Railway travel India | How to choose the rights seats and berths | Tips on travel by train in the India

Millions of Indians take the train every day. India has enormous train stations, 'endless' platforms and there is some panic involved in finding the right train, and the right coach.

I personally couldn't relax before I knew I was on the right track.

This article is aimed at helping newbies finding their way on Indian railway stations. I will focus on sleeper class (SL) and second sitting (2S).

What are the differences between these two? How do they look like?

Which berth should I choose?

All of these questions will be answered here in this article.

On short distances you can choose second sitting (2S). It's usually the cheapest option. I chose the 2S quite often. There was no air-con, only fan. The luggage can be stowed away in the upper shelf right above your head.

On short and longer distances you can choose sleeper class. You have 'beds' where you can sleep and relax. There are no pillows and quilts in sleeper class, so feel free to bring your own.

There are 5 types of berths you can choose from in sleeper class: lower, middle, upper, side upper and side lower.

Rail travel India: The different berths in sleeper class The lower, middle and upper are faced horizontally in the train, while the side upper and side lower are faced vertically (along the windows).

Which one should you choose?

If you're scared of heights, lower berths would be the best option. Here you also get to sit next to the window. During daytime though you have to expect that strangers will come and sit on your berth. If you want to take a nap, it's not always possible.

If you choose the upper berths (upper and side upper), you can go to bed whenever you want. There's a short stepladder from lower berth to upper berth. If you know that you're a heavy sleeper and sleep in one position the whole time, upper berth can be nice.

I tried an upper berth once, but it was creepy to fall asleep because the train was driving fast and I was afraid to fall out of bed.

The middle berth can be a solution for travelers who are afraid of heights, but middle berth is seldom folded out during daytime because people want to sit on lower berth.

My favorite berth is side lower because during daytime you can sit on regular padded chairs. If you want to sleep, you can fold out the berth into a bed. You also get to sit right next to the window.

Rail travel India: One version of Second sitting (2S) on Indian trains It's cheap. Even if there's no fan, you can open the windows and the fresh breeze will make up for that. If you're lucky to get a window seat, you can see the beautiful landscape while sitting on the train.

Rail travel India: Another version of second sitting (2S)

Thousands of Indians take the 2S, and you will definitely get to know a few on the road. It's a social train ride.

The disadvantages about 2S and Sleeper (SL) is the noise, and all the bugs and cockroaches.

But if you have been in India for quite some time, this shouldn't bother that you that much. If you're taking an evening or night train in 2S or sleeper, the small bugs will of course be attracted to the lights above you.

If you're sitting in the aisle, they will definitely land on you, or eventually in your mouth while sleeping.

When it comes to the cockroaches I only saw the smaller ones, and they were crawling in the cracks of the walls and the 'bed'. It's better to close your eyes and pretend they're not there.

Another annoying thing that can happen on train travels is beggars. When I took the sleeper class from Alleppey to Kochi in Kerala, there was a albino beggar walking in the aisle, asking for money.

I have only experienced this once in sleeper class, so whether this is a 'typical' thing or not, I'm not sure.

Rail travel India: Platforms in India Arrive early at the train station. If you're in big cities like Delhi, Jaipur, Trivandrum or Mumbai I would suggest to arrive one hour before departure.

Why?

In the cities there are several platforms to choose from. Your goal is to find the right platform where your train leaves from.

The platforms are long (I'm not exaggerating), and it's not always easy to find your way around when thousands of people are around you. It can be overwhelming at first, so that's why you should take your time.

After you've found the platform, you need to 'calculate' where on the platform 'your' coach will stop. It's crucial because you only got a few minutes to find the right coach and get on the train before it leaves.

It's not the end of the world though if you don't find it, because you can walk across the coaches till you find your seat. But knowing where your coach will stop will save you a hell lot of time, and it can be tight to walk in the aisle with your backpack touching people's faces and irritating them.

So how do you find the right spot on the platform?

There are three ways of finding out: Almost every time I took the train in India, I asked the information desk.

There's usually a queue/struggle to get to the information desk. There's no sense of queue system here -? you just have to break through and be rude yourself. It can be frustrating when people are pushing you away from the queue, but my solution there is to use your backpack to push them away.

Ask the half-sleeping officers at the train station, or the patrolling station officers. They usually know. Look for a writing board near the station chief's officer (usually on platform 1). There you'll find information on the incoming trains: which platform and which coach will land where on the platform.

Example: If your coach is S1 (sleeper 1), and it says number 11, then you have to find number 11 along the platform.

Didn't get the chance to buy a train ticket in advance?

No worries. You can buy train tickets at the railway station. Specify the route and class you want to travel in.

If you want to travel cheapest as possible, ask for General Quota. The seats in General Quota can't be reserved, but on the bright side you get really cheap tickets. With General Quota from Trivandrum to Varkala I paid Rs 21, and from Jaipur to Ajmer I paid Rs 50.

If you buy an unreserved train ticket, the coaches are the first and last of the train. You have to be prepared to stand because it's unreserved seats. If it's a short trip though it's worth the standing.

Yes, you can get food on the train. Workers on the train will frequently run and forth in the aisle, screaming "Kappi-kappi", "masala-masala" and so on.

A chai tea cost around Rs 10, and a hot masala dinner will cost around Rs 50. When the train stops at a station, there's usually people selling bottled water and Indian sweets. Make sure that the sealing of the bottle has not been tampered.

Is it safe?

I honestly didn't try any meals on board because they didn't look inspiring. I only drank chai tea, and I was fine after that.

A better (and safer) option is to buy snacks before departure, or get a quick bite at a restaurant before you leave.

Trivandrum India Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram India | Trip to the India, India backpack

Trivandrum India: The Centre of the city of Trivandrum -

Welcome to the capital of Kerala!

Trivandrum is the city's hub of Kerala, and is connected to most cities and towns in the State.

Trivandrum is very quiet compared to other cities of the India. It is almost too quiet after 8 pm.

Frankly, Trivandrum has become more like a travelers stop Kovalam and Varkala.

Backpackers in Trivandrum, few remain more than a day unless they have to.

It is because there is not much to do in Trivandrum. For me, the center of the city lacked the charm and was only dirty and crowded. The northern part of the city where, schools and Government offices is the best part where can meet the Green State of Kerala.

When he was in a field work, I got to see their pearls. The best of Trivandrum is its restaurants. My favorite restaurant was Ariya Niwas, I will talk more about this restaurant later in this article.

Air: Many domestic and international flights land at the airport of Trivandrum, located 3-4 km outside the city centre and 16 km from Kovalam.

From the airport you can take a taxi or a Rickshaw to the Centre of the city, Kovalam and Varkala or other places in Kerala. In February, 2011 pay Rs 500 a taxi from the airport to the Centre of the city (we were 5 people).

The taxi stand is just outside the door of departure of the arrival hall.

Be careful with resellers outside the airport. One of them suggested we have in the City Centre for Rs 900 (!) It is much better to take a prepaid taxi.

Visit the website of the Trivandrum Airport (opens in a new window)

By train: Trivandrum is connected to major cities throughout the State. Long distance train takes depends on what train take. Some express trains used for example 30-40 minutes to Varkala, 2 hours and 15 minutes to Alappuzha, 3 hours and 15 minutes to Ernakulam and so on.

The train station in Trivandrum is located near KSRTC bus support. A Rickshaw from the Princess Street to the train station costs Rs 15-20 depending on your bargaining skills.

To find out which platform and where it will land on the platform 'their' head coach, request the Office of information. If it is too comprehensive to search for a Board of large written close to the main station of the officer.

Of Trivandrum to Kovalam: There are no trains to Kovalam. The cheapest way of Kovalam is to take the local bus. There are frequent buses leaving this Fort between Trivandrum and Kovalam, and costs 9 (ida) Rs. We only ran the bus when we get to the bus station. After 10 minutes, there was another ready bus.

The bus stop is near the Shri Padmanabhaswami temple on MG road (a 20 minute walk from Princess Street and 25 minutes from the railway station), and the trip takes less than an hour. The trip can be irregular because of the bad road condition, so they hang!

important information for Trivandrum:
Police: Number of phone: 100 fire: phone nr: 101 ambulance: phone nr: 102 Internet: Rs 20 per hour, copy = 5 Rs

India Varanasi backpack | Places to visit in the India - Varanasi Varanasi | Accommodation, restaurants and Ghats of Varanasi

Backpacking India

Varanasi, also known as Varanasi, is known for centuries for its 'Ghats' (a ladder leading to a sacred river). Million people had bathed in the River Ganges, in themselves soaked in holy water.

And millions of bodies have been cremated in the Ganges. If a poor family cannot afford the luxury of enough wood for the fire, there may be possibilities of that body will be cremated.

Parts of the body is one of the many things that settles in the bottom of the Ganges.

The locals have a strong belief that the water is holy, and not think about the disease can be obtained by bathing in water. Tomorrow take a boat trip on the river and it was noted that the water was of consistency of waste water. His belief is alarming, but also fascinating in some way.

Backpacking India Varanasi: Animated streets of Varanasi
Grab a cup of lassi while studying the life in the narrow streets. The motives of the ghats was probably the most interesting part of my trip to Varanasi. Each ghat is special, aesthetically and spiritually. For example, main Ghat is where he carried out a ceremony of the night (starts at 6 pm).

While walking in the streets of ghat, they also encounter corpses in a procession. Don't be surprised - is actually very common in Varanasi.

Varanasi is chaotic, and full of noise and traffic (old Delhi is worse). The charm was definitely the Ghats:

Enjoy Varanasi!

Air: Land of flights at the airport of Varanasi, located 18 km from the Centre of the city of Varanasi. From there you can organize taxis prepayments to enter the city. The trip takes between 1-1, 5 hours. We were already 6 people traveling together, we have paid in total around 850 Rs (this was in March 2011).

I saw two taxi, one inside and outside cabins. The busiest taxi cab was outside the arrivals entrance. You will see a man by a wooden table, waiting for the people of the book. They have a list of addresses, which is why the taxi driver knows where to drive you.

If you are on a tight schedule and you want to save time by flying, Jet Airways and Kingfisher can be extracted. Both fly in and out of Varanasi. I have tried both and recommend both.

From the Center to Varanasi airport I paid Rs 500 for a taxi. It is organized by Hotel Surya.

By train: Varanasi is connected to cities like Delhi (12-17 hours), Agra (13-14 hours), Jaipur (17.5 hours), Calcutta (14-26 hours), Allahabad (3-4 hours), Patna (4-7 hours), new Jalpaguiri (16 hours - if you are starting from Darjeeling) and so on. The duration depends on what train take. Express trains are the most efficient.