During our Kerala and Tamil Nadu Trip, we visited Janardhan Swami Temple Varkala after breakfast before leaving Varkala for Jatayu Earth Center.

Located right in the middle of the market, Janardhan Swami Temple is one of the most revered temples in Varkala. If you’re spending a day or two in Varkala, it is easy to include this temple in your itinerary.

Reaching the Temple

We parked our vehicle near the sacred pond located just opposite the temple. The pond is considered important by the local people, and many devotees spend a few moments there before entering the temple.

The entrance we chose involved climbing around 100 steps before reaching the main temple complex.

Inside the Temple Complex

Like many temples we visited in Kerala, men are required to remove their shirts before entering the main temple. This was something we had already experienced at a few other temples during the trip, so we were prepared for it. The temple itself is quite old and follows traditional Kerala architecture.

Apart from the main temple, there are around 10 to 12 smaller temples spread across the complex, each with its own deity. We spent some time walking around these smaller shrines after completing the main darshan.

The entire complex is quite spacious and gives you enough time to walk around peacefully.

Our Darshan Experience

The main deity at Janardhan Swami Temple is Lord Vishnu. When we entered the temple, the morning rituals were already in progress, and the temple was filled with devotees. After removing my shirt, we joined the queue, completed the darshan and spent some time inside the temple.

One thing we noticed in this temple, as well as in several other temples across Kerala, was the lighting inside the sanctum. Since these temples are quite old, the lighting is intentionally minimal, making it a little difficult to clearly see the idol of the main deity. We had a similar experience at a few other temples during our journey.

The priests were performing various rituals during our visit. Since we couldn’t understand the local language and there wasn’t anyone around who could explain everything in English, we weren’t able to understand the significance of each ritual. Even then, simply watching the prayers and the devotion of the local people was an experience in itself.

Exploring the Rest of the Complex

After coming out of the main temple, we spent some time exploring the remaining temples inside the complex. Although our visit wasn’t very long, it gave us a glimpse of the local religious culture in Varkala.

Interestingly, we had also noticed another branch of the Janardhan Swami Temple near Varkala Beach earlier in the morning, where several rituals were taking place. Visiting the main temple later helped us connect both experiences.

Our Experience

Overall, we had a good experience visiting Janardhan Swami Temple. For us, the visit wasn’t just about offering prayers. It was also about experiencing the traditions followed in Kerala temples—the dress code, the architecture, the morning rituals and the devotion of the local people.

If you’re visiting Varkala, I would recommend keeping some time for Janardhan Swami Temple. Even if you’re not familiar with the rituals, the visit offers a nice opportunity to experience an important part of Varkala’s culture.