About the place
It is one of the districts of Tamil Nadu, located at a distance of 235 km from Madurai. This southernmost tip of the Indian sub continent is a Sangam Sthal of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The spectacular views of the surroundings at sun set and sun rise enthrall the visitors to feel a divine ecstasy. It is believed that the place is the abode of Kumari, the Virgin Goddess, who is supposed to have done penance so that she could marry Lord Shiva. The town hosts many pilgrimage centres viz. Gandhi Memorial, Vivekananda Memorial, Church of Our Lady of Joy and Kumari Amman Temple on the seashore.
Religious Spots
Kumari Amman Temple
Kumari Amman Temple, a popular pilgrimage of Kanyakumari located on the seashore, was built by the Pandya kings in 8th century and extensively renovated by the Chola, Vijayanagar and Nayaka rulers. The temple is dedicated to the virgin Goddess Devi Kanyakumari who is supposed to have done penance here so that she could marry Lord Shiva.
The magnificent structure of this temple is reflected in its Navaratri Mandapa which has been beautifully painted and carved. The image of Mahishamardini (Durga killing demon Mahisha) is highly fascinating. Inside the temple there is an 18th century shrine with the foot prints of the goddess Kumari who performed her penance at this spot.
Church of Our Lady of Joy
The “Church of Our Lady of Joy” built by St. Francis Xavier is located at the southern edge of the town. The church is believed to have been founded in the year 1540. The sandy beaches and the multi coloured granite rocks are among other attractions here.
The Church of St. Xavier enjoys a great fame and is visited by large numbers of devotes during the annual festival celebrated in between November and December which lasts for 10 days.
Monuments
Thiruvalluvar Statue
Near the Vivekananda Memorial, there is an imposing 40-m high statue of Tiruvalluvar, the 1st century BC Tamil poet, who wrote the epic Tirukural, often considered as one of the greatest classics of Tamil literature.
Kamarajar Manimandapam
Another remarkable monument of this district is Kamarajar Manimandapam which is dedicated to Late Sri Kamarajar, a freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, also President of Indian National Congress before independence. He was known by the name of Black Gandhi among the masses and king maker during congress regime. This building, where his ashes were kept for general mass to pay homage before immersion into the sea is today widely visited by people of the state to show their gratitude.
Udayagiri Fort
Udayagiri Fort is a worth visiting site in Kanyakumari owing to its magnificent structure and quite surrounding atmosphere.
The fort was rebuilt in the reign of Marthandavarma, the Venad King, during 1741-44. In the early days, the fort was of strategic importance. Prisoners captured in the campaign against Tippu were confined in this fort for sometime.
Recently, the district administration has established Biodiversity Park here in collaboration with the forest department. Tourists can see deer, ducks, fountains, birds and over 100 varieties of trees inside the fort.
Mathur Hanging Bridge
The Mathur Hanging Bridge is the tallest as well as the longest trough bridge in Asia, with a height of 115 feet and a length of one kilometer. Completed in 1966, this bridge has become a place of attraction for hundreds of tourists visiting every day. This is situated in Mathur, hamlet of Aruvikkarai revenue village in Thiruvattar Panchayat Union. The Kanyakumari District Administration has recently put up a staircase from top to the bottom of the bridge and has also built a children's park and bathing platforms over here to attract more tourists.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Padmanabhapuram is an ancient town and also one of the four municipalities in the district situated just 55 Km. south of Trivandrum, about two km. east of Thuckalay and 35 km. from Kanyakumari on the Trivandrum-Cape Comerin road. This town has a magnificent fort spread over an area of 187 acres. The palace is present at the very centre of this Fort, amidst hills, dales and rivers. The palace is under the control of a Curator of the Archaeological Department of Kerala Government. The prime attractions of this palace are the Entrance Hall, Uppirika Malika, and the Navarathri Mandapa.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Just off the coast, on a small rocky island lies Vivekananda Memorial, a place visited by large number of tourists. This is the spot where Swami Vivekananda, the great philosopher of India meditated before attending the World Religious Conference in Chicago in 1893. The Memorial commemorates the visit of Swami Vivekananda to “Shripada Parai” during 24th, 25th and 26th December 1892 for deep meditation and enlightenment.
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
The Gandhi Memorial located near the Kumari Amman Temple, is the place where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of Nation were kept before immersion. The building is designed in such a way that every year on October 2nd (Gandhiji’s birth day), at mid day the sun rays directly fall on the exact spot where his ashes were placed.
This beautiful monument was completed in 1956. Its central shape is 79 feet high representing the age of the Mahatma. The memorial was transferred to the administrative control of the Public (Information and Public Relations) Department from Public Works Department of Government of Tamil Nadu in the year 1978.
Beaches
Muttom Beach
Muttom beach is one of the widely visited beaches of Tamil Nadu, located about 16 kms from Nagercoil and 32 kms from Kanyakumari. Muttom is famous for its beautiful landscaping and high rocks dipping into the sea at the beach-side. The sun set view point at Muttom is one of the most Panoramic view points in the district. One more attraction of Muttom is the century old light-house built by the British. However, this beach has always been unsafe for the tourists since the rocks on which tourists go to see the sea view are slippery and a number of fatal accidents have occurred over the past few years.
Sanguthurai Beach
One of the most beautiful beach resorts of Tamil Nadu is Sanguthurai, about 10 kms from Nagerkoil. Recently, the district administration has sanctioned a project for putting up of a children's park, seating facility, open huts (Kudils) with Terracotta roofs and lighting facility at the beach at a cost of Rs.6.00 lakhs. With the development of these services, the beach has become popular leisure place for local residents.
Chothavilai Beach
Located about 10 Kms from Kanyakumari, Chothavilai Beach is one of the best natural beaches of the district. The beach has shallow water and huge sand dunes at the background.
The District Administration has taken several steps for the development of this beach by putting up rest shelters, kudils and a view tower over here for the benefit of tourists. The tourists can reach the beach through the newly laid coastal road which is a very beautiful drive along the sea-coast.
Nature’s trail
Tirparappu Water Falls
The water fall at Tirparappu is about 13 km. from Pechiparai dam. The river bed is rocky and about 300 feet in length. The water falls from a height of nearly 50 feet and the water flows for about seven months in a year. On the left bank of the river in between the water falls and the weir, there is a temple dedicated to Lord Siva enclosed by strong fortification. The District Administration has recently constructed a swimming pool here which is very popular among the children.
Fountain at Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is famous for its majestic hills, virgin beaches, pristine rivers and meandering rivulets. Most of the tourists visit this district for seeing Rock memorial and forts. The district administration has established water fountain at the juncture of Kanyakumari and Padmanabhapuram Palace to attract more tourists.
Maruthuva Malai
Maruthuva Malai or Marunthu Vazhum Malai is the abode of medicinal herbs forming a part of Western Ghats. It is believed that it is a part of Sanjeevi Mountain that Hanuman carried from Mahendragiri to Sri Lanka for healing the fatal wounds of Lakshman, the brother of Lord Rama. While carrying the huge mountain to the destination, Hanuman dropped a small portion here which now stands 800 feet high. The site is 11 km from Nagerkoil.
How to reach
By Air : The nearest Airport is at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).
By Rail : Connected with all important cities of the Nation from kanniyakumari and Nagercoil Railway Stations.
By Road : Kanyakumari is well connected by roads with important parts of Tamil Nadu and its neighboring states.
Distance Chart :
Calicut - 501 km
Coimbatore - 427 km
Cochin - 304 km
Chennai - 744 km
Ernakulam - 330 km
Madurai - 240 km
Pondicherry - 570 km
Trichy - 372 km
Tirunelveli - 89 km
