Beach town in Kerala, India
Internet in Varkala: speed, SIM cards and coworking
Is the internet good in Varkala?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Cliff cafés advertise wifi but speeds vary; good enough for email, mixed for video calls. Mobile 4G/5G is usually reliable.
Getting online in Varkala
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Home fibre | Fibre from BSNL, Jio and Airtel in newer guesthouses and apartments; check speed before booking a long stay. |
| Cafés and coworking | Cliff cafés advertise wifi but speeds vary; good enough for email, mixed for video calls. Mobile 4G/5G is usually reliable. |
| Outages | Power cuts in monsoon storms |
| Tourist SIM | Airtel kiosks in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru arrivals halls; passport, visa and photo needed. About ₹350–450 for 28 days with 1.5–2 GB a day. |
| eSIM | Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors. |
| Carriers | Jio, Airtel, Vi |
| Monthly data plan | ₹350–600 ($3.6–6.2) |
| Blocked services | TikTok, WeChat and many other Chinese apps are banned since 2020; VPNs are legal. Regional mobile-internet shutdowns happen during unrest. |
Coworking in Varkala
There's no dedicated coworking scene here; people work from cafés and accommodation.
Internet speeds in South Asia
National medians, Speedtest Global Index.
| Country | Fixed | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Nepal | 89 Mbps | — |
| Bangladesh | 71 Mbps | 39 Mbps |
| India | 64 Mbps | 128 Mbps |
| Sri Lanka | 37 Mbps | 59 Mbps |
| Pakistan | 18 Mbps | 32 Mbps |
| Afghanistan | 6 Mbps | 19 Mbps |
Quick answers
Is the internet fast in Varkala?
Median fixed broadband in India is 64 Mbps and mobile is 128 Mbps (Speedtest Global Index, 2026-08). Cliff cafés advertise wifi but speeds vary; good enough for email, mixed for video calls. Mobile 4G/5G is usually reliable.
Which SIM card should I get in Varkala?
Airtel kiosks in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru arrivals halls; passport, visa and photo needed. About ₹350–450 for 28 days with 1.5–2 GB a day.
Can I use an eSIM in India?
Yes. Local carriers sell eSIMs to visitors, and travel eSIMs work too.
More about Varkala
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Sources
Speeds are medians from Ookla's Speedtest Global Index, cited for reference. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.