Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Have you been to the place where coalesce the three great seas – the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean? Kanyakumari, located in the state of Tamil Nadu, gives you this wonderful opportunity. The tiny seaside town has the privilege of being visited by such great personalities as Swami Vivekananda and Mahatma Gandhi. Besides sightseeing, Kanyakumari is also a much frequented pilgrimage destination in southern India. The temple of Goddess Kumari has made the town a must visit for devotees and pilgrims from all across the country. Referred to as Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari also features a beach and some wonderful sceneries to feat eyes upon.

Things to Do in Kanyakumari

Spend some quality time meditating in the meditation room at Vivekananda Rock Memorial. You will also notice devotees and pilgrims washing their feet on the shore before entering the temple at the beach. Bathing, however, is not allowed at the beach as the sea water is full of rough waves.

If you still want to enjoy bathing in the sea, you can make a visit to the Vattakotta Beach. The beach lies just at 6 km from the town of Kanyakumari. When you bath at the beach, you are advised to dress modestly. Because, these beaches are not the same as that of Goa.

Go shopping for items like straw hats, conches and sea shells. In addition, you can buy electronic items at throw-away prices. These electronics are imported from China. These items can prove to be wonderful souvenirs of your trip to Kanyakumari.

Also remember to try typical southern India food including idlis, sambar and dosai among others. Expect you food to be served on banana leaves. Take a sip of tender coconut water on the beach. There are many coconut shops around selling a variety of tender coconut.

In and Around

Hire a vehicle or an auto-rickshaw and enjoy a sightseeing tour in and around Kanyakumari. Start you tour in the town by paying a visit to the Vivekananda Rock, 100 m from the sea shore. Regular ferries are available to take you to the rock from the shore. Take a bus to reach Vivekanandapuram, the headquarters of the Vivekananda Kendra. The place covers a huge area of around 100 acres. Visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, which measures 133 feet in length. Get to the foot of the statue to soak up some of the most picturesque views of Kanyakumari. Another attraction along the shoreline is Our Lady of Ransom Church. Standing in dedication to Mother Mary, the church is 100 years old. The church building has been built on the lines of Gothic architecture. At an hour’s drive from Kanyakumari is Padmanabhapuram Palace.

Where to Stay

Hotel Parvathy International, Hotel Singaar International, Cape Residency Hotel, Hotel Sangam, Saagar Hotel, TTDC Youth Hostel, Hotel Ashoka, Hotel Priya, Vivaldi Tourist Home and Shankar Guest House are some budget stay options of accommodation in Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari Air/Rail/Road Link

Fly to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and then undertake a two hours road journey to reach Kanyakumari. Rail routes link Kanyakumari with places like Chennai, Kochi, Trivandrum, Bangalore, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata etc. Buses to kanyakumari are frequently available from Thriuvananthapuram, Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai.