At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari (also spelt as Kanniyakumari), an important pilgrim center. Kanyakumari is also famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days.
A Sight For Sore Eyes
The sea is fairly rough, so it is entertaining to watch it beat itself against the rocks and then subside, before it gathers itself up for another attack. With long stretches of sands of many hues, the beach offers a welcome change. A variety of shells are on sale on the Kanyakumari beach.
The beach is a beautiful sight with multi-coloured sand, but it does not really offer one the opportunity to sunbathe on soft golden sands, or to frolic in the waves either. The seashore is rocky and dangerous, and there is a manmade wall running along it. People are warned to stay off the rocks, and when if someone ventures out of bounds, he or she is quickly and severely reprimanded by a watchful policeman. There is a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view.
Major Attractions of Kanyakumari Beach
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The Sangam
Sangam is the meeting point of the three major bodies of water, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a bathing ghat, with steps leading into the water and a sort of lagoon formed between land by a series of rocks. People bathe and jump around, getting lightly battered by the remains of waves, which are washing over the rocks.
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Vivekananda's Rock
Kanyakumari is famous for Vivekananda's rock, a huge stone rising out of the sea, on which Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated. It now houses the statue of Vivekananda and is a memorial to him. Not surprisingly, Kanyakumari is a popular destination for Vivekananda's followers, so there are many Bengalis here, and some Bengali hotels and restaurants are available too.Kanyakumari is the ‘Land’s End’ of India. Here, the Bay of Bengal meets the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea and, at Chaitrapurnima (the Tamil name for all full moon day that generally falls in April), it is possible to enjoy the unique experience of seeing the sunset and the moon rise over the ocean simultaneously.
Kanyakumari is also a popular pilgrimage destination and of
Otherwise, Kanyakumari is highly over- rated, with its trinket stalls, a lousy beach and one of those places with megaphones at the end of each street which, during festival times, rip your eardrums apart between 4 am and 10 pm,KUMARI AMMAN TEMPLE
Picturesquely situated overlooking the shore, this temple and the nearby ghat attract pilgrims from all over India to worship and the bathe. According to legend, Devi did penance here to secure Siva’s hand in marriage. When she was unsuccessful, she vowed to remain a virgin (kanya). The temple is open daily from 4:30 to 11:45 am and from 5:30 to 8:45 pm, but non-Hindus are not allowed into the inner sanctum. Men must remove their shirts, and everyone their shoes, on entering this temple.
GANDHI MEMORIAL
Next to the Kumari Amman Temple, this striking memorial stored the Mahatma’s ashes until they were immersed in the sea. It resembles an Orissan temple and was designed so that on Gandhi’s birthday (2 October), the sun’s rays fall on the place where his ashes were kept. It’s open daily from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and 3 to 6 pm.SUCHINDRAM TEMPLE
This temple, about 13 km north –west of Kanyakumari at Suchindram, is noted for its ‘musical’ columns and its incredibly tall statue of Hanuman, the monkey god.PLACES TO STAY
HOTEL SINGAAR INTERNATIONAL, (Government Approved) 3 StarMUNDANTHURAI TIGER SANCTUARY
Mundanthurai is in the mountains near the border with Kerala. The closest railway station is at Ambasamudram, about 25km to the north-east, and buses run from here to Papanasam, the nearest village, from where you can catch another bus to the Forest Department Rest House.
As the name implies, this is principally a tiger sanctuary though it’s also noted for chital, sambar and the rare lion-tailed macaque. The best time to visit is between January and March, though it is open any time of the year. The main rainy season is between October and December. Tiger sightings are apparently extremely infrequent.
Of the nine waterfalls, the only one in the village itself is the 60-metre-high Main Falls, a five-minute walk from the bus stand. Its sheer rock face is carved with old Hindu insignia that is visible only during the dry months of January and February. Other falls, mostly accessed by shuttle buses, include the picturesque Five Falls (five km from town and the Old Falls, eight km away.
The nearest major town is Tenkasi, five km to the north, which is connected to Kuttralam by frequent minibuses.
Places to stay in Kanyakumari
Accommodation is available at the hotels in
Kanyakumari with options varying from reasonable
economic class to luxurious ones.
How to Reach Kanyakumari
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Air
The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (80-km), which is well connected with national and International flights. From Thiruvananthapuram one can take a taxi or bus to Kanyakumari. -
Rail
Kanyakumari is well connected by train services with all the places in India. Superfast trains connect the southern most railhead of India with northern cities like Jammu and Delhi. Intercity trains are running from almost all the southern cities. -
Road
Kanyakumari is connected by regular bus services with Chennai, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Trichy, Madurai, Mandapam (Rameshwaram), Nagercoil, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Tiruvelveli, Trivandrum, etc. Town bus service, tourist taxis and auto rickshaws are available.
