The Janardhanaswamy Temple at Varkala is about three kilometers from the Varkala railway station. The Arattu festival at this temple is celebrated every year in Meenam (March-April) commencing with Kodiyettu (Flag hoisting) of Karthika day ending with Arattu on Uthram day. The festival lasts for ten days. On an average, more than ten thousand people gather every day to attend the festival. A colorful. the procession led by caparisoned elephants in which ornamental silk umbrellas, peacock fans etc. are carried, which is one of the prominent features of the festival.