Surrounded by majestic hills and plains, the city of Kanyakumari lies at the southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula. It is geographically the end of the Indian mainland. Sometimes, it is also called as Cape Comorin and has been mentioned in Ptolemy’s work on ancient India by the same name. However, it derives its name Kanyakumari from the temple of Kumari Amman situated on the shore of the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean.  Once a centre for pearl trade, Kanyakumari today is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu and is a sprawling metropolis.

If we turn back the pages of time, Kanyakumari reflects an image of being a flourishing trade and commerce centre. May be that is why it has a political history of being under the rule of the Cholas, the Pandyas, the Cheras, the Nayaks and the kings of Travancore. Apart from the commercial importance of the city, it was also a prominent art and culture promoting region.

Kanyakumari sees a mixed cultural representation. Growth and education in this city has weakened the dominance of the caste system. Hindus and Christians form a considerable percentage of the population and Muslims are found in some regions of the city. Festivals like Christmas, Onam, Diwali, Muharram and Pongal are celebrated on a large scale here with great fervor and excitement. People of Kanyakumari mostly eat rice; drink beverages like tea and coffee and live a simple life.  Much like Kochi, Kathakali is an integral part of the Kanyakumari lifestyle. This dance representation of a story has been inspired from few of the many dance forms that were practiced as a medium of religious expression. ‘Villu Pattu’ or the bow song is another art form which is performed by the native Villu Pattu artists. A bow is used as a primary musical instrument in this story telling art form. The culture of this city is largely influenced by the culture of Travancore, the dynasty that once ruled Kanyakumari.

In the last few decades, Kanyakumari has seen an increasing graph in terms of tourism. Tourism is promoted on a large scale in this region. However, even if Kanyakumari has its own tourist sites, the surrounding districts are far more popular as tourist destinations. Kanyakumari surpasses all the tourist destinations around it because of the spectacular e sunrise and sunset it hosts for throngs of tourists. On full moon days, tourists can enjoy a rare sight where the moon rise and the sunset can be seen at the same time. The confluence of three water bodies- the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal add to the spectacular ambience of the shore.

The Kumari Amman temple or simply the Kanyakumari temple situated on the shore attracts tourists from all over the world. This temple is dedicated to Goddess Kumari Amman, who is known to be a manifestation of Goddess Parvati. Towards the southeast of this temple is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. It was built in the year 1970 by the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee to honor Swami Vivekananda’s visit to Shripada Parai in 1892. It is believed that he came here for meditation and spiritual enlightenment. The Vivekananda Rock Memorial stands on a rock about 500 meters away from the mainland. Swami Vivekananda swam to this rock and it is said that he became a great philosopher and attained enlightenment after a three day long meditation on this rock. A gigantic statue of Tamil saint and poet Thiruvallar is situated near the memorial. It is 133 feet in height and is one of the tallest statues in Asia. Another memorial, the Gandhi Memorial is also worth a visit. It is where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were placed for public viewing before their immersion. The amazing part about this memorial is - it has been so designed that every year on 2nd of October, Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the first ray of the sunlight falls on the place where his ashes were kept. These memorials can be reached by ferries run by the Poompuhar Shipping Corporation conveniently.

The Lady of Ransom Church in Kanyakumari is another famous tourist spot. This church is a century old and here the mass is conducted in the regional language, Tamil. The church is dedicated to Mother Mary and the moment you step inside, you see a beautiful statue of Mother Mary draped in a sari. A cross of pure gold adorns the tower of the church which stands 153 meters tall.

Around Kanyakumari, in a fifty kilometer radius, the worth visiting places are- the Vattakottai fort, the Wax Museum, Baywatch(amusement park), the Padmanabhapuram Palace, the Panchappathi temple, the Chitharal Jain monuments, Olakaruvi waterfalls and the Thengapattinam beach.

Though Kanyakumari only offers impeccable views of the sunrise and the sunset, its subtlety is imposing. It is like a gateway to various tourist spots that are around it. The cultural and religious magnet of Kanyakumari attracts one and all while the lashing tides of the confluence of three water bodies are hard to forget. Just like the sun rises and sets beautifully in Kanyakumari, the place grants you unforgettable memories.

Quick Reference

Kanyakumari is the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu. It is situated on the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland. It is famous for the spectacular views of sunrise and sunset at the shore. On the shore is the confluence of three water bodies- the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Most of the tourist places that attract attention are situated around Kanyakumari.