Janardhanaswamy Temple, Varkala
Legend holds that the temple’s idol was found in the sea by a Pandya king following a divine dream. He retrieved the idol and built a temple around it.
Architecture of the Temple
Built in ancient Pandya-Kerala architectural style, featuring:
Unique features: an ancient bell cast from a Dutch shipwreck—donated as a vow by its captain after his ship was freed following the bell’s placement in the temple.
A round sanctum (sreekovil) topped with a conical copper-sheeted roof, and a square mandapa with wooden Navagraha carvings on the ceiling.
Inner entrance adorned with idols of Hanuman and Garuda; main shrine houses Lord Janardana with Sridevi and Bhudevi.
The complex includes shrines for Shiva, Ganesha, Shastha, Naga, and others.
How to Reach to Temple
By Road: Varkala is about 45 km north of Thiruvananthapuram.
By Train: Nearest is Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station, just 2–3 km from the temple.
By Air: Trivandrum International Airport lies approximately 50–55 km away.
Temple Timings
