Varkala is a calm and quiet hamlet on the outskirts of Trivandrum. It has a beautiful beach , a 2000 year old Vishnu Temple and the Ashram – Sivagiri Mutt which is a little far away from the beach. The beach in Varkala is also known as Papanasam beach meaning “ Destroyer of Sins “. High cliffs with rich mineral springs border the excellent beach. A 2000 year old Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Center are the two main attractions of the beach. The mineral springs here are believed to have medicinal properties. It is believed that a dip in the waters of Papanasam Beach washes away all the sins in one's life. In the Malayalam month of Karkidakam, thousands offer Vavubali at this beach, a ritual belief to help the souls of ancestors to rest in peace.