SeasonMapWhat's on in Varkala, India through the year
Varkala, India has 6 curated events through the year — 1 festival, 2 holidays, 2 seasons and 1 local rule. The ones to plan around: Sivagiri pilgrimage (December) and Cliff season (October). January, February, August, October and December are its peak-crowd months.
Updated September 2026 · every event curated and sourced · dates for 2026 where they are announced, the usual window where they are not
Varkala events and crowds by month
| Month | What starts | Crowds |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | Peak crowds |
| February | — | Peak crowds |
| March | — | Busy |
| April | — | Busy |
| May | Cliff shuts for the monsoon | Busy |
| June | Swimming banned in the monsoon | Busy |
| July | — | Quiet |
| August | Onam | Peak crowds |
| September | — | Shoulder season |
| October | Cliff season | Peak crowds |
| November | — | Busy |
| December | Christmas and New Year peak, Sivagiri pilgrimage | Peak crowds |
January in Varkala
Varkala weather in January →Peak crowds — Cliff season, Christmas and New Year peak
Nothing new starts in January.
Still on: Cliff season (15 Oct – 31 Mar), Christmas and New Year peak (20 Dec – 5 Jan), Sivagiri pilgrimage (30 Dec – 1 Jan)
February in Varkala
Varkala weather in February →Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Cliff season
Nothing new starts in February.
Still on: Cliff season (15 Oct – 31 Mar)
March in Varkala
Varkala weather in March →Busy — Cliff season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in March.
Still on: Cliff season (15 Oct – 31 Mar)
April in Varkala
Varkala weather in April →Busy — Summer vacation (Kerala / far south) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
Nothing new starts in April.
May in Varkala
Varkala weather in May →Busy — Summer vacation (north & east) in India
- Season
Cliff shuts for the monsoon
25 May – 15 Sep · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosuresMost of the North Cliff strip boards up for the season and the laterite edge loses another metre or two to the rain. The ayurveda places and the temple town below carry on regardless.
June in Varkala
Varkala weather in June →Busy — Summer vacation (north & east) in India, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it
- Rule
Swimming banned in the monsoon
1 Jun – 30 Sep · usuallyClosuresRiskPapanasam is red-flagged for the monsoon and swimming is prohibited. The rips here are strong enough to matter even in season, and the beach itself narrows to almost nothing under the cliff. Source ↗
Still on: Cliff shuts for the monsoon (25 May – 15 Sep (usually))
July in Varkala
Varkala weather in July →Quiet — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather
Nothing new starts in July.
Still on: Cliff shuts for the monsoon (25 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Swimming banned in the monsoon (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))
August in Varkala
Varkala weather in August →Peak crowds — travelers describe it as peak season, Onam
- Holiday
Onam
17–26 AugSchool holidaysClosuresCrowdedKerala's own holiday lands in the tail of the monsoon, when the cliff is still shut. The beach fills with Malayali families on day trips instead of the winter crowd, which is a better week to be here. Source ↗
Still on: Cliff shuts for the monsoon (25 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Swimming banned in the monsoon (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually))
September in Varkala
Varkala weather in September →Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month
Nothing new starts in September.
Still on: Cliff shuts for the monsoon (25 May – 15 Sep (usually)), Swimming banned in the monsoon (1 Jun – 30 Sep (usually)), Onam (17–26 Aug)
October in Varkala
Varkala weather in October →Peak crowds — Cliff season, Autumn break (Dussehra / Diwali) in India
- Season
Cliff season
15 Oct – 31 MarDry seasonCrowdedThe cafes and the yoga shalas reopen along the cliff path, the sea flattens off and the sunset walk from the helipad to the north end is the whole day's plan for most people here.
November in Varkala
Varkala weather in November →Busy — Cliff season
Nothing new starts in November.
Still on: Cliff season (15 Oct – 31 Mar)
December in Varkala
Varkala weather in December →Peak crowds — Cliff season, Christmas and New Year peak
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year peak
20 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyRates on the cliff triple and the beach is shoulder to shoulder by four. Book weeks ahead or take the middle of January, when it is nearly as good and half the price. Source ↗
- Festival
Sivagiri pilgrimage
30 Dec – 1 JanPilgrimage seasonCrowdedThousands of pilgrims in yellow walk up to the Sivagiri Mutt over three days at the turn of the year, for the guru who preached one caste and one religion. The town looks entirely different for it. Source ↗
Still on: Cliff season (15 Oct – 31 Mar)