The short answer
Varkala Tunnel: what visitors should know first
Worth a short detour if you have transport arranged, not a destination on its own. Combine it with the Sivagiri Mutt or the railway station, since it sits a few kilometres inland from the main clifftop area and is easy to miss without specifically asking for it.
History and context
The story behind Varkala Tunnel
Construction began in 1867 under Travancore Diwan Sir T. Madhava Rao and was completed in 1880 during the tenure of Diwan Sheshaya Sasthri, with the engineering overseen by Chief Engineer Walthew Clarence Barton. The project produced two tunnels, one beneath Sivagiri of around 722 metres and a shorter one at Chilakkoor of around 350 metres.
For close to a century the tunnels carried boat traffic linking backwater routes from as far as Tirur in Malabar down to Thiruvananthapuram. Road and rail transport gradually reduced their importance through the 20th century, and the tunnel system was officially closed in 2007 due to silting and encroachment along the canal.
Useful facts
Varkala Tunnel facts at a glance
- Location
- Near Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station
- Experience type
- Short walk through a 19th-century hand-cut stone tunnel
- Known for
- Colonial-era canal engineering linking backwater trade routes
- Architect/Built
- Built 1867–1880 under Travancore Diwans T. Madhava Rao and Sheshaya Sasthri
- Time or schedule
- Open during daylight hours; confirm access locally
Why it matters
Why Varkala Tunnel is worth your time
The tunnel is a rare visible trace of 19th-century Travancore infrastructure, built specifically to solve the practical problem of Varkala's ridge interrupting an otherwise continuous stretch of coastal backwaters. It took roughly fourteen years to complete, spanning the tenure of two Travancore diwans, and represented a considerable engineering effort for its time, cut largely by hand through rock.
For visitors, it is a useful counterpoint to Varkala's beach-and-temple image, showing the town's role in Kerala's older internal trade network of coir, rice and cashew moving by water rather than road. It also connects to Varkala's railway history, since the tunnel sits close to the station that still carries the Sivagiri name associated with this part of town.
Highlights
What not to miss
- 01
The hand-cut stone passage
Walk through cool, dim tunnel walls cut directly into rock, a contrast to the bright cliff and beach scenery elsewhere in town.
- 02
The Sivagiri and Chilakkoor sections
Two linked tunnels, one considerably longer than the other, once carried boats between backwater canals on either side of the ridge.
- 03
Its link to the railway station
The tunnel sits close to Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station, itself named for this part of town.
Plan your visit
How to experience it
The Travancore state government built this tunnel through the Varkala ridge in the 19th century to connect backwater canals that had previously been broken by the high ground, allowing boats carrying coir, rice and cashew to pass through rather than being unloaded and carted overland. Two linked sections, one under Sivagiri and a shorter one at Chilakkoor, made up the system, and together they kept water transport running between the Malabar coast and Thiruvananthapuram for the better part of a century.
Visiting today means walking into a cool, hand-cut stone passage that feels distinctly different from the beach and cliff scenery elsewhere in Varkala. The tunnel is no longer part of an active shipping route; road and rail transport eventually made the canal system redundant, and it fell into disuse by the mid-20th century. Treat it as a short, atmospheric stop rather than a full outing, and combine it with other inland sights near the railway station, such as Sivagiri Mutt, since it is only a few kilometres from both.
Plan with confidence
Small decisions that make the visit easier.
- Confirm on the day whether the section you want to see is accessible
- Carry a torch or phone light for the dim interior
- Combine with Sivagiri Mutt or the railway station rather than a special trip
- Wear shoes with grip on the uneven stone surface
Know before you go
Timing, access and comfort
- Area
- Near Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station, a few kilometres from the cliff
- Time needed
- 20–40 minutes
- Best time
- Morning, when it is cooler to walk and reach by auto
- Walking level
- Easy
- Senior comfort
- The tunnel walk itself is level and short, though the stone surface can be uneven and the interior is dim, so a torch and sturdy shoes help. Access to the site involves a short walk from where an auto or taxi can drop you.
- Tickets and access
- No ticket for walking the tunnel section that remains open; check locally on the day, since parts of the wider canal system have been affected by silting and are not always accessible.
Best for
Plan it with
Plan the practical part
Hotels near Varkala Tunnel
Staying close keeps journeys short — useful for early starts and for anyone who tires quickly.
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Travelling with parents?
The tunnel walk itself is level and short, though the stone surface can be uneven and the interior is dim, so a torch and sturdy shoes help. Access to the site involves a short walk from where an auto or taxi can drop you.
Raahzo can arrange an arrival or day companion who handles tickets, queues and pacing, and keeps the family updated.
See concierge supportFAQs
Can you still walk through the Varkala Tunnel?
Sections remain open to walk, but the wider canal system has been affected by silting and closures since 2007, so it is worth checking locally on the day.
How far is the tunnel from Varkala Cliff?
It is a few kilometres inland, near Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station, so you will need an auto, taxi or hotel transport rather than walking from the cliff.
What was the tunnel originally built for?
To connect backwater canals interrupted by the Varkala ridge, allowing boats carrying coir, rice and cashew to pass through rather than being unloaded overland.
Sources and further reading
Timings, fees and access rules change. Recheck with the official source before you travel.
