Kanniyakumari or Cape Comorin is at its pinnacle during Chitra
Pournami (full moon day in April) when the sun and moon are face to
face at the same horizon. Other full moon days are also special when
you can see the sunset and the moonrise almost simultaneously. A
fine beach landscape with multi hued sands is another interesting
aspect of Kanniyakumari. Palm leaf articles of Kanniyakumari are
very famous.
Landmarks
Kumariamman Temple
Picturesquely situated overlooking the shore, this temple and the
nearby Ghat attract tourists from all over the world. Dedicated to
the virgin goddess Kanniyakumari (Parvati) who stands guard over the
country, the temple is built at the spot where the goddess is
believed to have waited for her consort Lord Shiva to come and claim
her hand in marriage. When she was unsuccessful, she vowed to remain
a virgin (Kanya).
The Diamond nose-ring of this deity is famous for its sparkling
splendour, which is supposed to be visible even from the sea. It is
believed to have (mis) guided many a ship to the treacherous rocks
near the shore. Due to the grave threat of the reflected light from
the nose-stud to the unsuspecting ships the door on the side facing
the sea was closed for ensuring the safety of the ships.
Vivekananda Memorial
A grand memorial to philosopher Swami Vivekananda, it is on one of
the twin rocks jutting out from the sea about 200 m offshore. There
is a Dhyana Mandapam where Swami Vivekananda's meditation
transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual
leaders of this century. Built in 1970, the unique structure is a
blend of various architectural styles of India. Close to the
Vivekananda Rock is another rock called Sripada Parai meaning the
rock that has been blessed by the touch of the feet of the goddess.
Poompuhar Shipping Corporation operates frequent ferry services from
the shore to the rock memorial at regular intervals.
Government Museum
Located near the tourist office at Beach Road, the museum contains
bronzes, coins, tribal objects, woodcarvings,zoological and
botanical specimens. The "Temple Car" from Samythoppu and Wales
Bones from Manavalakurichy in Kanniyakumari District add charm to
the museum.
Guganathaswamy Temple
This 1000-year-old temple is believed to have been built by Raja
Cholan.
Vattakottai (Circular Fort)
The 18th century fort overlooking the sea was built by the Dutch and
is located 6 km from Kanniyakumari. Here, the sea is calm and
suitable for a swim.
Suchindram (13 km)
Suchindram's Thanumalayan temple is dedicated to a deity who is the
representation of the combined forces of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma.
Inscriptions said to be of the 9th century AD can be found in this
temple. The temple is also famous for its 18-foot high statue of the
monkey god Hanuman with its musical pillars, Vainayaki (Female
Vinayaka) relief carving and a repository of art treasures belonging
to many kingdoms.
Nagercoil (19 km)
Named after the temple dedicated to Nagaraja - the King of Snakes -
Nagercoil, the images of the Jain Tirthankaras, Mahavira and
Parsavanathar are found on the pillars of the temple. There are
frequent buses from Nagercoil to any other part of the state and to
Thiruvananthapuram in neighbouring Kerala.
Padmanabhapuram (45 km)
The former capital of Travancore, Padmanabhapuram is known for its
fort, which encloses among other buildings a palace and a temple.
The wooden palace covers an area of 6 acres and has many
antiquities, including the armoury of the royal family. The
Ramaswamy temple has exquisitely carved panels depicting scenes from
the Ramayana. Tiruchendur is the site of a beautiful temple
dedicated to Lord Subramanya.
Udayagiri Fort (34 km)
Built by King Marthanda Varma (1729-1758AD), this fort has a foundry
for casting guns. The king's trusted European general De Lennoy's
tomb is located within this fort.
Pechipparai Dam (56 km)
Like most dam sites this one too is a popular picnic spot where
facilities for boating have also been provided.
Thirparappu Water Falls (60 km)
A picturesque spot with an ancient Mahadevar Temple.
Thiruvattar (60 km)
The temple here is one of the finest specimens of temple art and
architecture. The paintings on the walls of the temple are worth
seeing.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
The magnificent 133-foot height statue denoting the chapters in
Thirukkural has been opened for Tourist's visit in the midst of sea
on 1.1.2000 in Kanniyakumari.
Tiruchendur(91 km)
The temple located here on the shore of the Bay of Bengal is one of
the six abodes of Lord Subramanya and draws a perennial stream of
devotees.
Courtallam Falls (137 km)
Perched at a height of 167 m the water here is believed to contain
medicinal properties.
Olakkay Aruvi Water falls (33 km)
Olakkay Aruvi water falls in the Western Ghatts, 14 km from
Nagercoil and 33 km from Kanyakumari attract many holiday seekers
and trekkers. The beautiful waterfalls are an important picnic spot.
A small temple connected with the sage Agasthiar near the falls
attracts a large number of religious people on full moon day of the
month of Chithirai (April - May) and they worship the altar, after a
bath in the falls. The church of Manapadu is worth a visit.
Kumarakovil (34 km)
Kumarakovil at the foot of the Velimalai hills in Kalkulam Taluk,
about 15 km North - West of Nagercoil is the site of a temple
dedicated to Lord Subramaniya. Goddess Valli, the spouse of Lord
Subramaniya, is also enshrined in the temple. There is a vast lake
on the right of the temple where boating facilities are available.
The Lord Muruga Temple built on a hillock 200 feet high in lush
green fields of paddy, plantain and coconut trees is noted for
architectural beauty.
Mondaikadu Bagavathy Amman Temple (41 km)
The 7th century B.C. temple dedicated to Bagavathy Amman Mondaikadu
is situated on the seacoast, north - east of Colachel Port. The
Amman is in the form of an anthill about 12 feet high and with five
heads and is believed to be growing gradually. The annual festival
Mondaikadu Kodai is celebrated in March for 10 days and is the main
attraction. The temple, though small, attracts a large number of
people from all over the district besides a regular flow of pilgrims
from Kollam in Kerala state, about 160 km from Mondaikadu. .
Department of Tourism, Tamil Nadu organises a photographic
exhibition during the festival.
Thengapattinam Beach (54 km)
Thengapattinam, situated on the west coast is a place of historical
importance. This village had, in ancient times, trade relations with
foreign countries like Arabia. There was direct cargo boat service
between Thengapattinam and other foreign maritime towns. A
1200-year-old mosque was built by some Arab mechants who came here
and found the place suitable for their trade. There is an abundance
of coconut trees at the Thengapattinam beach, which is an excellent
picnic spot with backwater facilities. It is well connected with
Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram by regular bus service.
Festivals
Chithra Pournami Festival: April/May, Navarathri - September/October
Annual Holy Festival of R.C. Church - December.
General Information
General Information
Accommodation
Hotel Samudra has air-conditioned rooms. The Kerala House run by the
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation is claimed to be the
southernmost house of the subcontinent. Hotel Maadhini is one of the
better places to stay. Hotel Tamil Nadu offers you a range of
services.
The Vivaldi Tourist home, TTDC Youth Hostel, Hotel Sagar and Gopi
Niwas Lodge are a few budget options.
Places to Eat
Archana Restaurant at Hotel Maadhini has both veg and non-veg menus.
Sanga Restaurant of Samudra Hotel and Manickhan's Tourist Home
restaurant offer a wide variety of meals. Hotel Ananda and Sri
Ramdev Restaurant are some budget options.
How to get There
Air: The nearest Airport is Thiruvananthapuram (87 km)
Rail:
Kanyakumari is on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kanyakumari section of
the southern railway. The daily Nellai Kumari Express links
Kanniyakumari to ~Chennai~. ~Thiruvananthapuram~ and ~Mumbai~ are
also connected by direct trains. The Himsagar Express runs across
the length of the entire country form ~Jammu~ Tawi to Kanniyakumari
covering the distance in 74 hours.
Road:
Kanniyakumari is well connected by road to Chennai (703 km),
Madurai (242 km), and other major towns in South India. Local
buses go to Nagercoil, Padmanabhapuram, Thiruvananthapuram and
Kovalam among other places.
Shopping
Souvenirs and handicraft articles made from seashells and palm leaf
articles are the main items to buy at Kanniyakumari. Trinklets and
packets of coloured sea sand for children can also be bought here.
There are several shops selling these articles with varying prices
and a good bargaining power will get the best deal.
Climate: Max. Min. Summer 34.80ºC 21.60ºC: Winter: 33.8ºC 22.4ºC
Clothing: Tropical Season: Throughout the year
Languages:Tamil, Malayalam and English
Tourist Information
Tourist Office (Govt. of Tamil Nadu): Govt. of Tamil Nadu Tourist Office, Beach Road: Tel: 71276
Information Centre, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Beach Road: Tel:
71250.