South India - A Travel Guide Kanyakumari

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Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari, also known as Cape Comorin, is the Land's End of India.  The three seas - the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea - meet here, and a dip in their confluence is considered holy.  The shore temple in this famous pilgrim centre is dedicated to the Virgin Goddess Devi Kanyakumari.

What to See

Kanyakumari Temple

This temple, picturesquely located on the shores, is dedicated to Parashakthi, the Virgin Goddess doing penance. According to a legend, Parashakthi, is one of her incarnations as Devi Kanya, did penance here.  the sage Parasurama is said to have installed the deity.

Timings 4.30 am to 11.30 am & 5.00 pm to 8.30 pm

Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial

This grand memorial to Swami Vivekananda is on one of the twin rocks jutting out from the sea about 200 metres offshore. Before he went abroad as a leading religious crusader of India, Swami Vivekananda came down to Kanyakumari in 1892 and sat on the rock in meditation.  The Memorial was built in 1970.  There is a Dhyana Mandapam where one can sit in a serene atmosphere and meditate.  Sripaada Mandapam is another shrine constructed  over the footprint of the Goddess, who is believed to have done penance here.  Ferry services are available to reach the Memorial.  Timings 8 am to 4 pm

Thiruvalluvar Statue

To perpetuate the memory of Thiruvalluvar, the Tamil Nadu Government installed a statue of Thiruvalluvar in Kanyakumari at the confluence of the three seas.  The stone statue is 133 feet high including the pedestal.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial

This Memorial to Gandhiji is raised at the spot where his ashes were kept for public darshan before immersion.  The architecture of the Memorial is such that the sun's rays fall at the spot where the ashes were kept, on 2nd October, Gandhiji' birthday.

Venkateswara Temple

The Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Kanyakumari was built to replicate the Tirupati Venkateswara Temple in Andhra Pradesh. It was inaugurated in 2019.   The temple is open to the public every day from 6 am and closes at different times on different days. It closes at 7 pm on Sundays, 11:30 pm on Mondays, and 8 pm on Tuesdays to Fridays. It’s open from 6 am to 6:45 am on Saturdays, after which it opens again at 9:30 am and closes at 8 pm

Vattakottai

6 km from Kanyakumari. This circular fort, overlooking the sea, was built by the Dutch in the 18th century.  The sea here is calm and ideal for bath

Suchindrum Temple

13 km from Kanyakumari. The temple here is venerated by both Saivaites and Vaishnavites.  It enshrines on a single Lingam, known as Sthanumalaya, the triple aspects of God. The 18 foot tall Hanuman and the musical pillars in the corridor are worth seeing.

Padmanabhapuram Palance

32 km from Kanyakumari. Padmanabhapuram was the capital of the erstwhile Travancore State.  An old fort and a pagoda shaped palace with 17th and 18th century murals, wood work and other antiquities are worth a visit.

Shopping

Kanyakumari is famous for handicrafts, sea shells, cotton sarees and spices.

How to go

The nearest airport is Trivandrum 86 km  and Turicorin 115 km.    Kanyakumari is linked by Rail. 

Distance

Chennai 703 km
Madurai 245 km
Rameswaram  308 km
Tiruchendur 89 km