Earlier known as Cape Comorin, Kanyakumari is a town in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. It is situated at the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent. It is surrounded by hills, plains and seashores. Coconut trees and paddy fields with red cliff patches and undulated valleys and plains between the seacoast and the mountains surround the city. The district covers an area of 1,672 sq km and is the most literate town in Tamil Nadu.

The geographical location of Kanyakumari is 8.08°N 77.57°E. It is the confluence of the Western and Eastern Coastal Plains and Laccadive Sea borders it to the southwest, south and southeast. It is considered as the southernmost point of the Indian subcontinent; however, Indira Point is the southernmost point of the country. Geographically, Kanyakumari is used to determine the southern end of the Coromandel Coast region.

Places to see

The most spectacular feature of the city is the tourism opportunities that it offers. There are many sunrise and sunset points in Kanyakumari. There are several places of interest in the city.

Goddess Kanyakumari Amman - Kanyakumari derives its name from Goddess Kanyakumari Amman. The 3000-year-old Kanyakumari Bagavathiamman Temple is the most prominent temple here.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial - The memorial is a sacred monument dedicated to Swami Vivekananda. To commemorate the visit of Swami Vivekananda to "Shripada Parai" in December 1892 for deep meditation and enlightenment, this memorial was built by the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee. The memorial consists of two main structures - Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam.

Thiruvalluvar Statue - The statue is a major tourist attraction. The Thiruvalluvar statue is dedicated to the immortal poet of South India who gave 'words that never fail' to the Tamil literature. The Thiruvalluvar statue symbolically and artistically signifies that the theme of Porul and Inbam based on Aram.

Mahatma Gandhi Memorial - The memorial is dedicated to the 'Father of the Nation' Mahatma Gandhi and was built in 1956. His ashes were immersed in the sea waters of Kanyakumari in 1948 and to commemorate that, a beautiful monument was constructed there.

Kamarajar Manimandapam - It is a monument dedicated to the freedom fighter and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Sri Kamarajar, who was also known as Black Gandhi.

Guganathaswamy Temple - It is a 1000-year-old temple built by King Raja Raja Chola. The architectural style of the Cholas is quiet apparent. The inscription present in this temple dates back to 1038 AD, 1044 AD and 1045 AD.

Other places of interests in Kanyakumari are Suchindrum, a holy place; Mathoor Hanging Bridge, the longest trough bridge in Asia; St. Xavier Church; Padmanabhapuram Palace; Peer Mohammed Dargah; Tirparappu Water Falls; Vattakottai Fort; Sanguthurai Beach; and Udayagiri Fort to name a few.

Food

South Indian cuisine is prominent in Kanyakumari and is primarily vegetarian. Coconuts are found in abundance in Kanyakumari and hence, they are easily available in the city at a very low cost. Tourists are advised not to take alcohol near the beaches as some of them are considered to be pilgrim places.

How to Reach?

To reach Kanyakumari via different modes of transport, several options are available. By air, Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport to Kanyakumari, approximately 67 km away from the city. There is a railhead in the city that connects it to Bengaluru and Mumbai. The Trivandrum railway station is the nearest railway station and well-linked to other cities in the country. From the railway station, taxis or private cars can be easily hired. The Tamil Nadu Road Transport offers a great range of buses that connects the city to most of the major cities in South India.

 

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Kanyakumari Facts

Last Updated on: Feb 06, 2019