Sivagiri Mutt is the ashram and samadhi of Sree Narayana Guru, about 3 km inland from Varkala's North Cliff, and the centre of the Sivagiri pilgrimage held every year from 30 December to 1 January. It's ten minutes away on a scooter, and outside pilgrimage week it's one of the quietest places in Varkala.
Most visitors come for the cliff and never realise what is a few kilometres up the road. For a great many people in Kerala, Sivagiri matters more than anything on the coast. This is how to visit it respectfully, and what pilgrimage week means for everyone else in town.
What is Sivagiri Mutt?
It is the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham, the monastic order of Sree Narayana Guru, the philosopher and social reformer whose campaign against caste discrimination reshaped Kerala in the early twentieth century. The Guru made Sivagiri his base in 1904 and died here in 1928. His samadhi is on the hill.
It's a working spiritual centre, not a monument. People come to pray, to sit and to pay their respects. The Guru taught "one caste, one religion, one God for man", and Sivagiri welcomes visitors in that spirit. Go in the same spirit and you'll be fine.
How far is Sivagiri from Varkala Cliff?
About 3 km inland from the North Cliff: ten minutes on a scooter, a short auto ride, or a hot walk you won't want to repeat at midday. It's on the town side of Varkala, near the railway station, which is officially named Varkala Sivagiri.
Our shop is about a kilometre from the station, so if you're collecting a bike from us, Sivagiri is a natural first stop before you head for the coast.
What should you wear to Sivagiri Mutt?
Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered. You'll see many devotees in yellow, especially around the pilgrimage, but you don't need to wear yellow to visit.
Expect to leave your footwear outside the shrine areas. Keep your voice down, and ask before photographing anyone. If you're not sure whether you can go somewhere, ask; someone will tell you.
When is the Sivagiri pilgrimage?
Every year from 30 December to 1 January. Devotees from across Kerala and beyond arrive in Varkala dressed in yellow, traditionally after ten days of observances beforehand. The Guru approved the pilgrimage himself in 1928, and the 2025 edition was the 93rd.
It's one of the largest annual gatherings in the region. For those three days Sivagiri and the roads around it are full from early morning.
Can tourists visit during the pilgrimage?
Yes, but think about whether you should. It's a religious occasion, not a festival put on for visitors, and the crowds are very large. If you're only curious, visit on an ordinary day: the hill is peaceful and you'll see far more.
If you do go during pilgrimage week, go on foot or park well away, dress modestly, and keep to the edges.
Getting around Varkala during pilgrimage week
Expect heavy traffic on the roads into town and around the station for a few days either side of the pilgrimage, and traffic restrictions near the Mutt. Parking anywhere near Sivagiri disappears, and trains into Varkala Sivagiri station are busy.
If you're riding, plan around it. Head for the coast early, avoid the station area at peak times, and leave extra time if you're catching a train. New Year's Eve on the cliff falls in the same week, so this is when the whole town is at its busiest. Book your vehicle ahead, because late December is when the good scooters go first. Check availability for your dates.
What else is near Sivagiri?
Janardhana Swamy Temple is back towards the beach, with Papanasam below it. Ponnumthuruthu, the little temple island in the backwater, is about 9 km away, and Anchuthengu's fort about 13 km south. The Sivagiri and town circuit is one of the five rides we recommend.
For a full plan, things to do in Varkala puts Sivagiri alongside everything else, and three days in Varkala fits it into a route.
Is Sivagiri worth visiting?
Yes. It takes twenty minutes of your day, and it explains something about Kerala that the cliff never will. Go in the morning, dress for it, and put the camera away near the shrine.