After waiting for almost four months, we finally got the opportunity to travel again. This time, we had planned a Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip with our family. Although June isn’t considered the best time to visit Kerala because of the monsoon, we decided to go ahead with our plan and experience the rains instead of avoiding them.

Almost everyone advised us against travelling to Kerala between mid-June and mid-September. We were told that it rains almost every day during this period, and travelling could become challenging. Knowing this well in advance, we packed accordingly. Along with our regular luggage, we carried extra pairs of clothes, three umbrellas, and raincoats so that the rain became a part of our journey rather than a problem.

All set to head to Trivendram from Jaipur Airport

Beginning Our Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip from Jaipur

Our flight from Jaipur was scheduled for 10:20 AM.

As always, we were impressed by the cleanliness and discipline at Jaipur Airport. Every time we visit, we notice how organised the airport is. It always leaves us wondering why the same level of order isn’t visible in many other parts of the city.

Our first stop was Bengaluru, where we had a layover before boarding our flight to Thiruvananthapuram.

A Nostalgic Layover at Bengaluru Airport

Bengaluru is a city that always feels special to me because this is where I started my professional career at HP. Landing here brought back many old memories.

Since we had enough time before our connecting flight, we asked a few airport staff members if there was an economical place to have lunch. They suggested a canteen located just outside the airport.

It was nearly a one-kilometre walk, but it proved to be a great suggestion. We ordered a South Indian thali along with a few snacks. The food was fresh, hot, and delicious. More importantly, it was significantly more affordable than eating inside the airport while still being sufficient for our family of four.

If you happen to have a layover of three to four hours at Bengaluru Airport, this canteen is definitely worth considering. Spending a little time walking outside the airport can save you quite a bit of money without compromising on the quality of food.

Landing in Thiruvananthapuram

Our flight from Bengaluru to Thiruvananthapuram took around one hour and ten minutes.

As the aircraft began its descent, we were welcomed by beautiful views of the sea below. It was our first glimpse of Kerala and a lovely way to begin this Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip.

Our driver was already waiting for us outside the airport. Without wasting much time, we started our journey towards Varkala, where our stay for the night had already been booked.

Driving from Thiruvananthapuram to Varkala

Our hotel, Credible Heritage Resort, is around 50 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram Airport.

Although the distance wasn’t very long, the drive took us nearly two hours. The road passes close to the coastline. While the sea wasn’t visible throughout the drive, the journey itself was pleasant and gave us our first feel of Kerala.

We reached the resort around 6:00–6:30 PM.

Since we were travelling as two adults and two children, we had booked a duplex room. The room was spread across two levels, with a separate upper section for the kids. It was comfortable, cosy, and a perfect place to relax after an entire day of travelling.

After freshening up for a while, we asked the hotel staff if there was somewhere nearby we could spend the evening.

The answer came instantly—North Cliff.

Our First Evening at Varkala North Cliff

The hotel staff told us that North Cliff is the most lively part of Varkala and is best experienced during the evening.

That recommendation turned out to be absolutely right.

The entire stretch is only about one to one-and-a-half kilometres long, but it is filled with cafés, restaurants, shops, and travellers enjoying the evening. Walking along the cliff while looking towards the sea made for a relaxing end to our first day.

If you’re planning a stay in Varkala during your Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip, we feel that spending at least one evening at North Cliff is worth it.

Among the many cafés on the street, we particularly liked cafe Del mar, located roughly in the middle of the lane. It was clean, had a pleasant ambience, and felt inviting.

Near the beginning of the road, we also noticed another café where live music was being performed. Many couples were enjoying the music along with their meals. If seafood is your preference, God’s Own Country Restaurant, appeared to be one of the more popular places in the area.

North Cliff also has several hotels, homestays, and hostels. However, from what we observed, many of them require guests to carry their luggage through the walking street. Families travelling with children may find the resorts located near the entrance of North Cliff more convenient.

Dinner and the End of Our First Day

For dinner, we searched for a pure vegetarian restaurant and finally had our meal at Punjabi Dhaba.

To be honest, the food wasn’t particularly memorable.

People often say, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” Looking back, we probably should have explored more local food instead of searching for a North Indian vegetarian meal. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find many suitable vegetarian options nearby, so this was the best choice available to us.

After dinner, we returned to our resort to rest.

Our Day One Experience

The first day of our Kerala and Tamil Nadu trip was dedicated almost entirely to travelling—from Jaipur to Bengaluru, then onward to Thiruvananthapuram, followed by the drive to Varkala.

Despite spending most of the day in transit, the relaxed walk along North Cliff, the pleasant weather, and the excitement of finally beginning our long-awaited holiday made it a memorable start to the journey. The real adventure would begin the following morning.