Kerala popular coastal destination, Varkala, is under threat. While its dramatic cliffs and scenic beaches draw thousands of tourists every year, unregulated construction climate change, and weak enforcement are putting its unique geological landscape at serious risk. Environmentalists and scientists are sounding the alarm as erosion, drainage issues, and illegal infrastructure continue to weaken the fragile cliffs.
Varvara’s Allure: A Cliffside Paradise Under Pressure
From atop the North Cliff the beach below looks like a postcard. With golden sand and crashing waves, it’s no wonder Varkala has become one of Kerala’s top tourist destinations. The North Cliff buzzes with energy lined with nearly 250 shops eateries, and resorts. But this crowd-pleasing stretch also hides a dangerous truth: parts of the cliff are eroding, with the pathway dangerously close to collapse in some sections.
Climate Change, Erosion & Construction: A Triple Threat
Experts say the cliffs are especially vulnerable due to their geological makeup. The top hard laterite below that are fragile layers of sandstone and clay and this makes the cliffs prone to erosion, especially during monsoons and heavy rains something that’s worsened by climate change and poorly planned drainage systems.
Lost Protections and Delayed Action
Varkala was once protected under the Coastal Regulation Zone-1 (CRZ-1), classified as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1996. But in 2019, this designation was removed to allow more development opening the doors to new construction just 200 meters from the high tide line. Although Varkala was declared a geo-heritage site in 2014, the formal process to protect it only began in 2022.
A Century of Erosion Mostly in the Last 30 Years
Activists estimate that Varkala cliffs have eroded over 109 meters in the last 100 years with two-thirds of that damage occurring since the 1990s. This period coincides with increased tourism rapid infrastructure growth and continuous vehicle traffic along the cliffs. Old photos even scenes from the 1965 Malayalam film Chemmeen show how much the cliff edge has receded.
Locals Left Behind, Outsiders Profit
Many local residents feel disconnected from the booming tourism economy. More than 90% resorts and shops aren’t owned by locals. People from outside lease the land and profit consequences. Now the municipal corporation has allowed illegal construction by turning a blind eye.
What Needs to Be Done?
Geologists, residents, and tourism officials agree better water drainage, erosion control methods like geo-tubes, and stronger collaboration between government departments are urgent needs. Most locals believe banning tourism isn’t the answer but they insist that sustainable development is. They want science backed solutions, not short-term gains.
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