Kanyakumari

This is a quiet and tranquil place. The beaches are especially quiet and attractive. It is also the place where the great Indian philosophher Vivekenanda meditated. There are also numerous temples. It is the point of confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Kanyakumari is home to another unique geographical phenomenon that allows you to witness the sunrise and sunset at the same beach. The town gets its name from the Hindu goddess Kanyakumari, who has a temple dedicated to her here.

One myth about the goddess is that she was a reincarnation of the goddess Parvathi who was due to marry Shiva but failed to turn up for her wedding

Sightseeing

Often described as the southernmost tip of India (not quite correctly though), Kanyakumari is more than just that. Kanyakumari is the land of Goddess Parvati and bears witness to the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Also known as Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari is held in high regards by the Hindus owing to its scared temples. One of the main attractions in Kanyakumari is the Kumari Amman Temple. This temple sees a huge congregation of devotees every year. Mahatma Gandhi also visited Kanyakumari and another prominent attraction is a mausoleum dedicated to him in the form of an Orissan Sun Temple.

Vivekenanda Rock Memorial

This is where Vivekenanda meditated in complete solitude and attracts numerous devotees every year to feel the presence of the Swami.

Thiruvalluvar statue

Perhaps the most recognizable landmark of Kanyakumari is the Thiruvalluvar statue with the pedestal the statue measures an exact 133 ft to represent the 133 chapters of Tirukkural, the most important work in Tamil of literature.

Temples

Thanumalayan Temple

Thanumalayan temple is situated opposite to the Suchindram Electricity Board and can be easily reached by taking a cab or a bus from the main city of Kanyakumari.

Kumari Amman Temple

Kumari Amman Temple is just a few minutes walk away from the Tsunami Memorial Park and can be easily reached by taking a cab or an auto rickshaw.

Devi Kumari Temple

On the Beach Road

Thirunandhikarai Cave Temple

This temple is located around 20 km from Kanyakumari, and around 5 km from Thirparappu falls, in the village of Thirunandhikarai

Nagaraja Temple

This temple is near Yuva Raja Theatre and can be reached easily by taking a cab or an autorickshaw

Guganathaswamy Temple

Close to railway station

Waterfalls and Beaches

Kanyakumari has several of these: quiet and secluded

Tips for Visiting

Last boat to the Vivekananda rocks leave at 4PM. So plan ahead and be there before 3PM so that you will have sufficient time to buy the tickets and board the boat.

TTDC Hotel (Hotel Tamilnadu by Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation) is an excellent place to stay in Kanyakumari. It is facing the ocean and less than a minute walk to the beach.

You cannot see the sunset and sunrise if the sky is cloudy. Choose a bright day to visit Kanyakumari

If you are a Kerala Government employee or Central Government employee, you can get huge discount and stay in Kerala Guest House in Kanyakumari facing the beach.

There are not many good restaurants in Kanyakumari.

Set an alarm and wake up early. Don't miss the sunrise.

No hotel offer good view of the sunrise. You really need to go to the beach or sunrise point in the beach to get a good view of the sunrise in Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari beach is a very tiny area. The beach itself is not much fun to bath and swim. It is very rocky also. However, the view from the beach is spectacular.

Kanyakumari is in Tamilnadu state even though it appears to be at the tip of Kerala in the maps.

Driving from Thiruvananthapuram to Kanyakumari is fun but very slow due to narrow roads.

Festivals

The most prominent festival in Kanyakumari is the Cape Comorin festival that is celebrated in the month of October. A three-day festival the Cape Comorin festival is held in a grand way and the festivities include various cultural programmes that add colour to the festive spirits.

In October, Navaratri – the nine day festival devoted to Goddess Durga is also celebrated with great fanfare.

Another important festival in Kanyakumari is Chaitra Purnima Festival that is celebrated in the first week of May, when different cultural programmes are organised. Vaisakha festival is celebrated in May/June when the idol of goddess is taken around Kanyakumari in procession on various mounts.

In July-August, the Kalabham (sandal) festival is held when the image of the God is covered with sandal paste. On the last Friday of the month (as per the Tamil calendar), the image is covered with flowers brought by the devotees.

Travel Information

Kanyakumari is well served by buses and trains from places as far away as Chennai (over 700km away)

Weather

October to February: October can be described as a good time to enjoy sightseeing and other water activities at the beach. While there might be some humidity during the day but evening sea breezes make up for a great sunset view. Also, it is during this month, the famous Cape festival is celebrated which attract lot of people. November marks the onset of the winter season in Kanyakumari when there is no humidity and the weather is pleasant. December to February is the peak tourist season when both day and night temperature is moderate. Since this is winter season, the temperature does not rise beyond 30 degree Celsius.

March to May: These months constitute the summer season in Kanyakumari. Though the temperature in March is generally pleasant, April and May can be warm but still the maximum temperature does not go beyond 35 degree Celsius. Swimming and surfing can be thoroughly enjoyed during these months as well. Also, the cool breezes always keep the weather cool and comfortable for tourists.

June to September: These months constitute the monsoon season in Kanyakumari. While June and September observes very scanty rainfall, the rain showers become heavy during the months of July and August. If you love rain, watch the glistening green hue of the Kanyakumari’s natural beauty and landscape. Being an off-season, you can enjoy attractive discounts at hotels and restaurants during this time.