Varkala: British fort, Light house, & Papanasham Beach (July 30, 2023)

We enjoyed a quiet Sunday morning and then drove down to Varkala for Sunday afternoon/evening.  We passed many churches on the way and Shaji informed us that we were in a Christian area.  

We think these are Catholic churches.

Another Catholic church.  Such different architecture.

We also saw a few cemeteries here which we had not seen since we have been here.  Most people are burned/cremated and then ashes are sprinkled in the rivers.

This was a Baptist church.  Notice the round shape.

Varkala is a fishing village.  We had the ocean on our left and a salt-water canal or river on our right.  There were people selling fish in front of their homes.  Shaji said he was bought dried fish from them.

The fishing boats are very different that our fishing boats.

We stopped at a British fort that was built in 1695. It was built to protect the East India Trading Company.  It is named the Anjengo Fort.  It is not your typical fort.  It is more of an enclosed bastion with many lookout-points to the east and to the west.  

There is also a light house that is 130 feet tall and it helped to guide the British ships.

The lighthouse is supposed to be open from 3:00 - 5:00 pm.  We were there at 3:00 and it was not open.  We have found many of the Indians are not always punctual.

We walked onto Papanasham Beach that is famous for Hindus.  They bring offerings for past loved ones and even bring ashes to this site. It is interesting because most beaches are roped off and people don’t go swimming. And most people are in long pants and button up shirts and the women are wearing sarees and kurtas. 

The mounds that you see are supposedly where a priest will come and make a mound and will sit on it and pray and preach.  We didn’t see this so who knows…