Kanyakumari certainly features among the list of explore-before-they-become-too-famous, thanks to its quiet beaches, lush green landscapes, ancient temples, and unique culture. While everyone knows about Kanyakumari being the last point of mainland India and the tri-sea confluence where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea meet, not many know about the rich history of this quaint coastal town. Read on to learn more about the city, including recommendations for the best hotels in Kanyakumari near the beach.
About Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari, or Cape Comorin, is a city in the Kanyakumari District. The district and town get their name from the eponymous temple dedicated to Devi Kanyakumari. She is believed to be a form of Goddess Parvathi and stood in penance, seeking Lord Shiva to be her groom.
Kanyakumari has existed for hundreds of years and was even mentioned in the travel accounts of Ptolemy and the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea.
Places To Visit in Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is an important religious destination, famous for the tri-sea or Triveni Sangam. It is believed that performing pitru karma and bathing in the Triveni Sangam clears a person of his karmic debts. But there are plenty of other attractions here besides the tri-sea confluence and the beautiful beach.
Bhagavathi Amman Temple
The Devi Kanyakumari Temple is dedicated to Kanya Kumari, a virgin goddess believed to be an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. The temple is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethams. The right shoulder and spine region of Sati’s corpse is said to have fallen here, making this a place with kundalini Shakti, namely, the Muladhara chakra.
The deity here is believed to have been installed and worshipped by Parasurama. While the temple is believed to be over 3000 years old, it was later renovated by various kings, including the Travancore kings. A very important speciality of the deity is the diamond nose ring, which can be seen from afar in the sea. In fact, the light emanating from the nose ring was so bright that it caused a shipwreck when the captain mistook it for a lighthouse. To avoid this, the eastern-facing door is opened for special occasions. Looking for the best hotels in Kanyakumari near the temple? Call 9442117474.
Swami Vivekananda Memorial
The Kanyakumari Temple faces two giant rocks believed to be remnants of the land that remained after Gondwanaland fragmented when Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Australia, and East Antarctica broke away over 160 million years ago. The charnockite rocks now host the Swami Vivekananda Memorial, built in 1970. Swami Vivekananda is believed to have sat meditating on this rock and attained enlightenment. Of the two rocks, the smaller one is called Sripada Parai or Holy Feet Rock, signifying the foot imprint on the rock, believed to be Goddess Kanyakumari standing on one foot in penance.
The primary memorial dedicated to Swami Vivekananda incorporated different traditional style elements. While the entrance is inspired by the ancient Ajanta and Ellora cave temples, the structure is similar to the Ramakrishna Temple in Belur. The hall has a meditation hall, an open courtyard, and an assembly hall.
The memorial is open from 8 am to 4 pm. Tourists can reach the place through ferry services run by Poompuhar Shipping Corporation, Kanyakumari.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
The Thiruvalluvar Statue is dedicated to Thiruvalluvar, an ancient Tamil saint who composed the Thirukural, a classic text consisting of 1330 couplets covering various topics, including life, education, marriage, etc. The statue was inaugurated in 2000 by then-chief minister Karunanidhi.
The statue is 133 feet tall, denoting the 133 chapters of the Thirukural. While the statue is 95 feet long, representing material wealth and love, it stands on a 38-foot pedestal, representing the 38 chapters on wisdom. Thus, symbolically, it conveys that glory and love should always be the foundation of knowledge.
Sunset View Point
The Sunset Point, as the name suggests, is an excellent vantage point to watch the sunrise and sunset. It also offers an excellent view of the Vivekananda Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue. The Sunset Point is about a 4-minute drive from Kanyakumari Beach we suggest you arrive early to avoid peak crowds.
Don’t miss other local attractions like the View Tower, Mahatma Gandhi Mandapam, and Our Lady of Ransom Shrine.
This is usually a one-day itinerary followed by tourists visiting from Thiruvananthapuram. But if you plan to stay longer, here’s a list of other attractions you must not miss.
Sthanumalayan Temple
The Sthanumalayan Temple in Suchindrum is dedicated to the Trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh. The deity gets its name from Sthanu, or Lord Shiva, Mal or Lord Vishnu, and Ayan or Lord Brahma. It is believed that Lord Indra was freed from the curse of Rishi Gauthama by praying to Sthanumalaya. In return, he built a temple around the lingam. Thus, the name Suchindrum, or the place where Indra was purified.
Some of the notable deities in the temple include the Hanuman statue, representing the vishwarupam shown to Sita in Ashoka Vana, the separate shrines of Lord Vishnu and Shiva, which have been in existence since the 10th century, the Ganeshini murthi, and an 800-year-old nandi statue made using lime and mortar.
The Nagaraja Temple
The Nagaraja Temple is dedicated to Nagaraja, the serpent king and Nagayakshi, his consort. While there are no exact dates of when the temple was built, it is believed that the King of Kallakad was cured of leprosy using the mud from the original sanctum sanctorum. Local folklores believe that when a young girl’s sickle hit a rock stone slab, blood started oozing from the stone. A priest passing by understood the divine significance of the place and promptly installed the deity. Even today, the original sanctum sanctorum is thatched with palmyra leaves that change every year. And when the roof is replaced, a serpent visits the sanctum without fail.
Devotees visit the place, offering milk and turmeric to the snake deities to cure sarpa dosha. It is believed that the wet sand, which forms an integral part of the prasadam, can cure people of skin ailments.
The Padmanabhapuram Palace
The Padmanabhapuram Palace is Asia’s largest wooden palace. It was built in 1601 CE by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal, a Venad ruler. The founder of the Travancore dynasty, Raja Marthanda Varma, rebuilt the palace after quashing a series of mutinies by local feudal chieftains called Ettu Veetil Pillamaar. It was the seat of power for the Travancore kings until 1795, when it was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram.
The Palace is spread over 6.5 acres and built in the Kerala architectural style. The palace is famous for its woodwork and stone artwork and the unique flooring made using herbal materials like lime, hibiscus leaves, coconut oil, egg whites, eggshells, etc. It’s hard to imagine how artisans could achieve such a mirror-like finish for flooring using traditional methods and materials.
Some of the other places you must visit in the district include the Mathoor Aqueduct, Thiruparappu Falls, Adi Keshavaperumal Temple, Chitharal Caves, and St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral. Not to mention some of the most beautiful beaches in the city.
Food To Try
Kanyakumari has a unique cuisine thanks to its historical, cultural, and geographical proximity to Kerala. In that sense, the city blends Tamil Nadu and Kerala influences beautifully. The Oman sadhya, featuring a plethora of dishes, is a staple of every wedding menu. Not to mention the parotta and beef, plantain chips, and other snacks – all made from coconut oil.
But if you are looking for regional cuisine, there are plenty of tiny eateries on Sannathi Street in Kanyakumari that offer Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi food.
Visit Tri Sea for the best multi-cuisine restaurant in Kanyakumari.
Where To Stay
There are plenty of budget accommodations in Kanyakumari that promise a comfortable stay. But if you are looking for a hotel close to the top attractions in Kanyakumari, we suggest you stay at Hotel Trisea. We are conveniently located only a few minutes from the Kanyakumari Bus Terminal and are only walking distance from the beach and temple.
Besides luxurious rooms, we also have a conference hall in Kanyakumari and are one of the best spa hotels in the place, offering a range of spa treatments.
Call us to book rooms in Kanyakumari at the best price.