Location : Located in
the extreme southern tip of India, in the south Indian State of Tamil Nadu.
Tourist Attractions : Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi
Mandapam, Vivekananda Memorial, Suchindram Temple.
Best Buys : Shell craft items, Local handloom and
handicraft items.
Best Hangouts : The Kanyakumari Beach
Best Activity : Stroll along the beach side.
Nearby Tourist Destinations : Trivandrum (86 km),
Tirunelvelli (91 km), Rameshwaram (300 km), Madurai (242 km).
When to Visit : September to May
About Kanyakumari
Referred to by the British as Cape Commorin, Kanyakumari is located at the
southern tip of the Indian subcontinent and is the meeting point of three
oceans - the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. The small
temple dedicated to Kanyakumari, or the youthful form of the primeval energy
Shakti (Mother Goddess) is located on the seashore, in the town known by the
same name.
Kanyakumari represents the site where the spiritual leader Swami
Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock. The list of attractions in
Kanyakumari is endless. Besides its significance as a major Hindu pilgrimage
center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the
waters. The tourist destination itself is a beautiful place to move around.
Major Tourist Attractions in Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari Temple
Close to the sea shore of Kanyakumari, the Kanyakumari Temple is one of the
major tourist attractions in south India. The temple is dedicated to Parvati
as Devi Kanya, the Virgin Goddess who did penance to obtain the hand of Lord
Shiva. The deity, Devi Kanyakumari is' the protector of India's shores' has
an exceptionally brilliant diamond on her nose ring which is supposed to
shine out to sea. Non-Hindus are not allowed in the temple premise.
Gandhi Mandapam
The Gandhi Mandapam is located very close to the Kumari Amman Temple. This
is the place where the urn containing the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi was kept
for public view before a portion of its contents was immersed in the three
seas. It resembles an Oriyan temple and was designed so that on Gandhiji's
birthday (2nd October), the sun's rays fall on the place where his ashes
were kept.
Vivekananda Memorial
Built in the memory of Swami Vivekananda in 1970, the Vivekananda Memorial
is about 500 m away from mainland. This memorial stands on one of two rocks
separated by about 70 m. The greatest social reformer and saint, Swamy
Vivekananda spent some time meditating on the rock where the memorial stands
today. A meditation hall is also attached with the memorial. The design of
the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all
over India. It houses a statue of Vivekananda. The divine foot print 'Pada
Parai' of Devi is also seen here. Ferry service is available to reach the
memorial.
Suchindram Temple
About 13 kms. from Kanniyakumari, Suchindram has a temple dedicated to a
deity who is the representation of the combined forces of Siva, Vishnu and
Brahma. It is one of the few temples in the country where the Trinities are
worshipped. The temple has a beautiful gopuram, musical pillars and an
excellent statue of the Hanuman, apart from a valuable collection of art
from different periods.
Getting
There
Air : The nearest airport is at Trivandrum (80 km). It is directly
connected with Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by regular
flights.
Rail : Kanyakumari is connected to Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, and
Mumbai by broad-gauge railway network. Tirunelvelli (80 km) is the other
nearest railway junction and can be reached by road via Nagarkoil (19 km).
Road : Kanyakumari is connected by road to all the major cities and
towns of the neighbouring states.
Accommodation
Excellent accommodation facilities are offered in and around Kanyakumari.
In order to make the travel tour to Kanyakumari even more entertaining you
need to pick just the right kind of accommodation for you and your family or
friends in Kanyakumari. The various hotels in Kanyakumari offer world class
facilities, as per the tourists choice. You may take your pick from a range
of luxury and budget hotels in Kanyakumari besides the star categorized
hotels around the landmarks of Kanyakumari.
