A city of more than one geographical wonders, Kanyakumari, a part of Tamil Nadu state is one Indian holiday destination that deserves to be visited at least once by every vacation lover. Being the southernmost point of Indian peninsula, the place has always held and will continue to hold a lot of importance for our country. A striking feature about the beaches of Kanyakumari is that they are the only ones in the world where both sunset and sunrise can be experienced. Isn’t it marvellous!
In addition to being one of favourite tourist destination in India, Kanyakumari is also an important pilgrimage. They beautiful city is blessed with numerous temples that are frequented by thousands of devotes every year. Natural beauty, culture, religion and art is what Kanyakumari is all about.
Major Tourist Attractions
A city of sheer enchantment for its visitors has many places of tourists’ interest. Most important of them are as follows:
- Kanyakumari Temple – One place on the checklist of every traveller to Kanyakumari is the Kanyakumari Temple. Situated on the edge of the sea, the temple is dedicated to Kumari Amman who is considered to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The temple is also known by the names Kumari Amman Temple and Bhagvaty Amman Temple and is one of the 108 Shaktipeeths, the holy shrines of Hindus in the Indian Sub-continent. It is believed that Kumari kept waiting for her groom on their day of wedding but he never turned up. The goddess is now worshipped in the form if a black stone decked in silk attire, gold and diamond. The nosering of the idol shines so bright that it can be seen from a great distance too.
- Vivekananda Rock Memorial – Situated on the very spot of confluence of Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean, the memorial has a statue of the great Indian philosopher exactly on the point where he used to meditate. The beauty and backdrop of Vivekananda Memorial is bound to leave you spellbound. Simple life and high thinking was what Swami Vivekananda followed and preached. This place holds high reverence in the hearts of his followers.
- Thiruvalluvar Statue – A testimony in honour of the great Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, the statue is a major attraction for tourists to Kanyakumari not only from all over the country but across the globe. The massive 133 feet tall statue stands on the spot of confluence of Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The largest statue of Asia is one of the icons and architectural wonder of India!
- Padmanabhapuram Palace – Existing since as early as 1601 A.D., the palace used to be the dwelling of Travancore Rulers. The lavish intricate carvings, ethnic interiors and magnificent architecture are what this palace is about. Despite of its location in Tamil Nadu, the palace is maintained by the government of Kerala and is also one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The palace also has a small museum in its premises whoch preserves and exhibits pieces of art and weapons from the history.
- Gandhi Memorial – Possessing a collection of thousands of books, pamphlets and magazines in the library that it houses. This is the very spot where the holy ashes of the father of our nation were immersed in the confluence of three oceans.
- Trekking at Marunthuvazh Malai – An incredible way to delve into the beauty of nature, trekking at Marunthuvazh Malai is a fun-filled and adventurous activity that tourists love. The place has loads of amazing herbs. Another interesting fact about this hill is that it is believed to be the very part of mountain that was carried by Lord Hanuman to Lanka.
Other places that might be of curiosity to you if you travel to Kanyakumari are:
- Suchindrum
- Sri Padaparai
- Government Museum of Kanyakumari
- Sri Bhadrakali Devaswom Temple
- Thirparappu Falls
Festival and Fairs
Festivals at Kanyakumari add an extra light to this destination. For visitors including devotees and tourists, these festivals prove to be an extraordinary experience. Major festivals that are celebrated with full joy and fervour include Cape Festival, Navratri, Chaitra Purnima Festival and Sandal Festival.
The Cape Festival also known as Cape Comorin Festival is celebrated in the month of October every year and it last for 3 days. This there day festival is celebrated with full of enthusiasm and excitement including lot of pomp and show. Devotees take holy bath in the Triveni Sangam and seek blessings from their deities. It includes various cultural programmes, dance events, street shows and live performances to entertain the crowd.
Navratri is celebrated in the month of October. People are very fond of celebrating Navratri, which is dedicated to Goddess Durga that lasts for 9 nights. During this time, the whole city is beautifully decorated. The site of attraction includes various religious and cultural activities taking place all over the city.
Chaitra Purnima Festival is celebrated in the first week of May with various religious and cultural programmes. It also includes Vaisakha Festival in which procession of Goddess Durga is carried out kept kept on a on beautifully decorated chariots all across the city.
Sandal Festival also known as Kalabham Festival is celebrated in the month of July-August. During this festival, idol of deities and God is smeared with the sandal paste. Based on tamil calendar, on the last Friday of the month these idols are then covered with the flowers that are being brought by the pilgrims and devotees.
Holy, annual festival of the Roman Catholic Church, Car festival and many other festivals are celebrated with high spirits by the residents of Kanyakumari.
Best Time to Visit
As Kanyakumari is located near the sea, it experiences a pleasant and moderate climate throughout the year. However, the best time to visit Kanyakumari is in the months of October to March. The maximum temperature in summers touches 35 0C and in winters the minimum temperature falls around 210C
How to Reach
By Air – The nearest airport (Trivandrum Airport) is 80 Km away from Kanyakumari and is very well connected with all major cities and states across India
By Rail – Kanyakumari station is well connected by broad-gauge railway network to Trivandrum, Delhi and Bombay
By Road – The road network in Tamilnadu is very well developed across the state. Kanyakumari is well connected by road to all the major cities within the state and other states across India. Trivandrum is 86 km from the city. Many Bus services and private cabs run for the comfort of travelers coming to enjoy this beautiful destination.
