Fodor's Expert Review Kappil Lake

Eight kilometers (5 miles) north of Varkala lies Kappil Lake, where sand and ocean meets the backwaters. There's a beach, pedal boats are available, and you can drop in at quiet Kappil Bhagavathy Temple as well. These sleepier, less-touristy areas of the state are a good place to get a better sense of the more rural rhythms of life that occur in most of Kerala.