Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala

Vishnu (as Janardana) temple · Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

The Janardanaswamy Temple, also called the Varkala Temple, stands on high ground at the entrance to the beach road in Varkala, a seaside town in Thiruvananthapuram district, Kerala. It faces Papanasam beach and is dedicated to Vishnu in the form of Janardana; Wikipedia notes that he is known locally as Varkaleswara, the lord of Varkala.

Kerala Tourism describes the temple as about 2,000 years old by tradition, but says the original date of construction is not known; the oldest firm evidence it cites is an inscription dated 1252 CE on the mandapa in front of the shrine. The temple is closely tied to rites for ancestors performed at the beach below, especially on Karkidaka Vavu.

By the HinduTone Editorial Team · Last reviewed 1 November 2026. Editorial policy & corrections

Faith & Tradition

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Religious Significance of Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala

Varkala is widely regarded as a place for rites to departed ancestors. Kerala Tourism records that on Karkidaka Vavu, the new-moon day of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam (July–August), large crowds gather at Papanasam beach to offer bali to their ancestors, and that priests from the Janardana temple help devotees perform the ritual. The News Minute describes the same scene and the local belief that bathing in the sea here washes away sins, which is the origin of the name Papanasam.

The temple legends, retold by Kerala Tourism and Wikipedia, link the place to Brahma, Narada and the nine Prajapatis. According to one story, Narada threw down his bark garment (valkala), and the place where it fell came to be called Varkala; Vishnu is said to have created a pond with his discus so the Prajapatis could atone there, and the devas are believed to have built a temple to him as Janardana. Wikipedia also lists the temple among the 108 Abhimana Kshetrams of the Vaishnava tradition.

A widely told belief concerns the image itself. The idol's right hand holds an offering (aabhojana) and is raised towards the mouth, and devotees believe the hand is slowly rising; according to tradition, the present age (Kali Yuga) will end on the day the deity eats the offering.

Heritage

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History of Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala

According to legend, the ancient temple fell into ruin and was rebuilt by a Pandya king who had been told in a dream to search the sea near the ruins, where he recovered the present image. Kerala Tourism and Wikipedia give this as tradition and do not name the king or a date.

The documentary record is later. Kerala Tourism reports an inscription dated 1252 CE engraved on the lower part of the mandapa in front of the temple, and another inscription that credits a renovation to Umayamma Rani, who ruled the region in the later 17th century (Wikipedia gives her reign as 1677–84 CE).

The temple also holds a large bell associated with a Dutch ship. Kerala Tourism says the bell is marked 1757, probably the year it was cast, and recounts the legend that a Dutch ship stalled off the coast until its captain vowed to offer the bell to the deity; Wikipedia records the names inscribed on the bell and a related account that it came from a Dutch vessel.

Architecture and sacred features

Kerala Tourism describes a broad flight of steps leading up to the temple past a high, tile-roofed entrance arch. The circular sanctum is topped by a conical dome of copper sheets, and the square mandapa in front of it has wooden carvings of the Navagrahas (nine planets) on its ceiling. A hall houses the bali peetha, and tall granite posts carry brass bells and oil trays for evening lamps.

The main shrine holds a four-armed standing Janardana, which Kerala Tourism says carries a conch, discus, mace and pot; Wikipedia adds that he is flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi and that there are smaller shrines to Shiva, Ganesha, Sastha and the Naga deities in the complex. Painted images of Hanuman and Garuda stand near the entrance to the inner shrine. Chakra Theertham, a temple pool on the northern side, is about 240 ft in circumference, according to Kerala Tourism.

Plan Your Visit

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Darshan and Visitor Information

The temple is an active place of worship and follows the customs of Kerala temples, so visitors should dress modestly and expect traditional dress rules inside the shrine. Crowds are very large on Karkidaka Vavu and during the Arattu festival. Confirm current darshan timings, dress rules and ritual arrangements with the temple office before visiting.

Timings and arrangements change with seasons and festivals. Confirm current details with the temple administration before travelling. Last reviewed 1 November 2026.

Sacred Calendar

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Festivals at Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala

Meenam (March–April)

Arattu festival

A ten-day festival that begins with the flag hoisting on Karthika day and ends with the Arattu (holy bath of the deity) on Uthram day; it includes a procession of five caparisoned elephants and all-night Kathakali on the fourth and fifth days.

Karkidakam new moon (July–August)

Karkidaka Vavu

Devotees offer bali to their ancestors at Papanasam beach, guided by priests of the Janardana temple.

Chingam (August–September)

Ashtami Rohini

Krishna's birthday is celebrated at the temple, according to Wikipedia.

Location

How to Reach Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala

The temple is in Varkala town at the entrance to the beach road, on the high ground above Papanasam beach, according to Kerala Tourism. Wikipedia gives it as about 2 km from Varkala railway station, about 25 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city and about 14 km north-west of Attingal.

Location: Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

Nearest railway station: Varkala (about 2 km, per Wikipedia)

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Questions

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Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala: Frequently Asked Questions

Which deity is worshipped at the Janardanaswamy Temple, Varkala?

Vishnu in the form of Janardana, a four-armed standing image flanked by Sridevi and Bhudevi. Locally he is also called Varkaleswara, the lord of Varkala.

How old is the Janardanaswamy Temple?

Tradition gives it an age of about 2,000 years, but the original date of construction is not known. Kerala Tourism cites an inscription dated 1252 CE on the mandapa, and a later renovation is credited to Umayamma Rani in the 17th century.

What is the connection between the temple and Papanasam beach?

The temple overlooks Papanasam beach, where devotees perform rites for their ancestors, especially on Karkidaka Vavu. Kerala Tourism says priests from the Janardana temple help devotees perform these rites.

What is the legend of the raised hand of the idol?

The image's right hand holds an offering and is raised towards the mouth. Devotees believe the hand is rising slowly and that the present age will end when the deity eats the offering.

What is the Dutch bell at Varkala temple?

A large bell marked 1757 hangs in the temple. Legend says the captain of a Dutch ship that stalled off the coast vowed to offer it to the deity, and the ship was then able to sail on.

When is the Varkala temple festival?

The main festival, Arattu, falls in Meenam (March–April). It runs for ten days from the flag hoisting on Karthika day to the holy bath on Uthram day, with an elephant procession and night-long Kathakali.