Varkala Cliff

Varkala Cliff Latest News

Recently, UNESCO has placed the Varkala Cliff on its tentative list of World Heritage Sites. 

About Varkala Cliff

• It is a beautiful natural formation located in Varkala, a coastal town in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.
• This cliff along Kerala’s coastline exposes the Warkalli Formation of the Mio-Pliocene age (13 lakh to 2.5 crore years ago), along with natural springs and striking erosional landforms, offering both scientific and touristic value.
• It is locally called Sivagiri Thuruthu.
• Its laterite and sedimentary layers hold fossils and traces of ancient climates.
• The Papanasam Beach, located at the base of the cliff, is revered for its natural springs and believed to have therapeutic properties.
• It is a crucial aquifer and natural water harvesting system for coastal communities, hosted unique biodiversity in its microhabitat, and supports underwater reefs essential for local fishing communities.
• It is the 27th national geological monument in the country and the second in Kerala after the Angadipuram Laterite.

Source: DTE

‹ ›