Kanyakumari Hotels

Kanyakumari is a well-developed tourist and pilgrimmage destination, and has several hotels to suit the requirements and budgets of the visiting tourists. Whether it be Budget hotels or Economy hotels, 5 Star hotels or 2 star hotels, Luxury resorts or Beach hotels with a magnificent sea view, its all available at Kanyakumari. Given below is a comprehensive list of some of the popular hotels and resorts at Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari Hotels List is as below:

Hotel Sunworld Kanyakumari
This Kanyakumari hotel is located about 2kms away from the Kanyakumari railway station, is equipped with all the modern facilities and has rooms facing the sea, from where you can watch the beautiful sunrise.

Hotel Maadhini Kanyakumari
This hotel is near to Kanyakumari beach, and it offers an excellent sea view. Some of the rooms offer a view of the Vivekananda memorial that is situated on the rock island 500m away in the sea. The Maadhini hotel is one of the bigger hotels that has 75 well equipped rooms, with all the modern amenities. The hotel has its own restaurents that serves various cuisines and is also equipped with a swimming pool. The hotel also offers facilties for business conferences.

Vivaldi Tourist Home Kanyakumari
This budget hotel at Kanyakumari is located on the main road and offers good amenities at affordable rates.

Indian Hermitage Resort
The Indian Hermitage Resort is a spacious resort in Kanyakumari that is spread over 12 acres of land, and it is one of the prime resorts at Kanyakumari. It offers beautiful cottages of Dravidian architecture, that are built from brick and stone.
The ultra-modern facilities coupled with the lush green natural surroundings attract tourists to this place. Recreational facilities include a 6400 sq. ft. spacious swimming pool, ayurvedic massage center, yoga and meditation center. The restaurent serves various different cuisines.
This Kanyakumari resort is located on the way from Kanyakumari to Suchindram.

Hotel Sangam Kanyakumari
This Kanyakumari hotel is at a very central location on the main road in Kanyakumari. It offers all the modern amenities required for a comfortable stay.

Hotel Cape Residency Kanyakumari
This Kanyakumari Hotel is located near the railway station and at a distance of only 5 minutes from the Kanyakumari beach. It offers all the modern facilities, and offers beautiful view of the sunset.

Hotel Samudra Kanyakumari
This hotel at Kanyakumari is located close to all the famous sightseeing attractions, such as the Vivekananda Rock memorial, and the Thiruvalluvar statue on the rock islands, and the Kanyakumari temple. The temple towers can be seen from the rooms in this hotel. The sea facing rooms at this hotel in Kanyakumari offer spectacular views of the beautiful sunrise and sunset for which Kanyakumari is so famous. The restaurent here serves local and international cuisines and specializes in seafood.

Parvathi International Hotel Kanyakumari
The Parvati Nivas Lodge is another good budget hotel at Kanyakumari that provides all the basic facilities for an enjoyable stay at reasonable rates. This lodge is located on the West Car street at Kanyakumari. The guest rooms at this hotel have an elegant traditional decor.

Hotel Sea View, Kanyakumari
This hotel at Kanyakumari beach is centrally located. It is well equipped with all the modern facilities and all the rooms in this hotel offer a view of the beautiful sunrise, and the cool and pleasant sea-breeze.

Gopi Nivas Lodge Kanyakumari
The Gopi Nivas Lodge at Kanyakumari is located at just 5 minutes walking distance from all the major tourist attractions at Kanyakumari. It has several standard and deluxe rooms and provide all the modern facilities.

Dagar Hotel Kanyakumari
This hotel is located at the East Car street at Kanyakumari and offers all the amenities, modern business facilities, and serves multiple cuisines.

Tri Sea Hotel, Kanyakumari
This hotel is near the Government guest house at a prime location. It offers all the amenities to the visiting tourists that are required for a pleasant and comfortable stay.

Hotel Raja Kanyakumari
This Hotel has 39 well furnished rooms, and is located on the main road at Kanyakumari. The hotel offers all the amenities, alongwith private balconies, as also self-cooking facilities.

Laxmi Tourist Home
This Kanyakumari hotel is located near all the prime tourist spots, and offers breathtaking views of the sunrise and sunset, alongwith modern amenities, as well as traditional ayurvedic massage facility.

Melody Park Hotel
Located on the East Car street at Kanyakumari, this Kanyakumari hotel offers luxurious facilities and all amenities. It also has a rooftop restaurent. Marvell, the multicuisine restaurent serves a variety of food such as Chinese, Indian and Continental.

Green Palace Hotel Kanyakumari
This budget hotel is located at the main road at Kanyakumari and offers good service at economical rates.


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Best time to visit Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari enjoys a reasonably pleasant climate throughout the year, since its located next to the sea. However the best time to visit Kanyakumari is considered to be between the months of October to March.

In April and May, the weather in Kanyakumari can get a bit too hot because of the summer, so this may not be the best time to visit the place. However if you dont mind the heat of the sun, or are used to it, then Apr-May months are not such a bad time to visit Kanyakumari.

The Jun-Jul-Aug months are better to avoid, especially the Jul and Aug when the rains in Kanyakumari are quite heavy. In these months the climate may not be very suitable for sight-seeing in and around Kanyakumari. Also if the waters are rough, you may not be able to ferry over to the rock islands having the Vivekananda Rock memorial, and the Thiruvalluvar statue.

Hence the best time to visit Kanyakumari the southernmost tip of India, is Oct to March.

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Kanyakumari beach

The Kanyakumari beach in Tamil Nadu, is one of the most famous beaches in India. It is well known for its multi-coloured sand, and for the beautiful views it offers of the sunrise and the sunsets.

The Kanyakumari beach is located at the southernmost tip of India, and from this beach you can see the waters if the 3 seas meeting each other. The three seas that meet near this beach are the Arabian sea on the east, the Indian ocean on the south, and Bay of bengal on the west.

The Kanyakumari beach is unique from most other beaches in India, because unlike other beaches such as those in Goa that have soft smooth white sand, the Kanyakumari beach has many coloured sand, and a rocky shoreline. There is a man-made wall that lines the beach shoreline. Also there is a lighthouse near the beach from where you can get spectacular views of the surrounding area and the sunrise and sunset.

Places of interest on or near the beach of Kanyakumari include, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar statue located on rocky islands in the sea, at a distance of 500m and 400m respectively from the Kanyakumari beach. Also of tourist interest are the Gandhi Mandapam, and the Tsunami memorial on the beach. Of major significance is the Kanyakumari temple located at this place (the temple of Goddess Kanyakumari who is also called Kumari Amman).

Beach hotels at Kanyakumari that have a sea view are always in good demand. There are several hotels in the vicinity of Kanyakumari beach that suit the budget and needs of all the tourists visiting the place.

While you are at the Kanyakumari beach, you can shop for the most beautiful sea-shells and sea-conches that are sold here to visiting tourists. This is also probably one of the most photogenic beaches in India, where you can get amazing photos of the sunrise and sunset. You can also snap nice photos from here of the Vivekananda Rock, and the 133 ft. tall Thiruvalluvar statue.

If your visit to Kanyakumari is during days that include a full moon night, you can come here to watch the classic view of the setting sun and the rising full moon facing each other on opposite ends of the horizon. Many people come here on Chaitra Pournima night (full moon night as per the Hindu calender month of Chaitra) to watch this amazing sight.

Though its very different from the typical fun-and-frolic beaches, a trip to the Kanyakumari beach in Tamil Nadu, India, is definitely one of the most enchanting and memorable experiences to have.

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Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram

Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram distance is: 320 kms.
You can choose to travel this distance from Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram by road, or by train.

Both Kanyakumari and Rameshwaram are important pilgrimmage destinations located on the southern coastline of India. Travellers who are touring South India generally prefer to pay a visit both these places located in Tamil Nadu, on their tour.

Kanyakumari is most famous for its ancient Kanyakumari temple, the confluence of the 3 seas, the scenic sunrise and sunsets, and for the tourist attractions added to the place in recent times, such as the Vivekanand Rock memorial and Thiruvalluvar statue.

Rameshwaram is one of the most important Hindu pilgrimmage centers. It is said to be the place, where Lord Ram rested before and after his war with Rakshasa-king Ravana of Lanka. The Ramayana epic says that the RamSetu (sea bridge) made out of floating rocks was built from here at Rameshwaram to Lanka, so that Rama's army could cross the sea and reach Lanka for the war. The Ramanath Swamy temple at Rameshwaram is one of the most visited temples in India.

How to travel from Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram:

Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram by road:
The time taken to cover the 320km Kanyakumari-Rameshwaram distance by road is approximately 6 and half hours. Regular bus services such as private luxury Volvo bus service or State transport buses are available from Kanyakumari to go to Rameshwaram, or you can also hire a private vehicle such as a car, or taxi/cab for the journey.

Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram by train:
There are several trains available to go from Kanyakumari to Rameshwaram. The nearest railway station to Rameshwaram is the Rameswaram RMM railway station. The Cape RMM express train, takes you directly from Kanyakumari railway station to the Rameswaram railway station.


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Kanyakumari Airport

The nearest airport to Kanyakumari, is the Trivandrum airport (Trivandrum is now officially known as Thiruvananthapuram). The airport is located at a distance of 93 km from Kanyakumari. From the airport you can further reach Kanyakumari easily by road.

The Trivandrum airport is located in Kerala state, while Kanyakumari is located in Tamil Nadu which is a neighbouring state. The airport is an international airport having several terminals, and is well connected by flights to all the major metro cities of India. The airport code is 'TRV'.

Other than flights, the other popular mode of travel for those travelling to Kanyakumari, is by train by which you can reach right upto Kanyakumari railway station. Travellers from nearby cities also prefer to travel to Kanyakumari by road.

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Kanyakumari Tourism, Places

Kanyakumari tourism is a well developed industry, since the place has been a tourist destination since quite a long time. Thousands of tourists flock to Kanyakumari every year to see the 'Sangam'-the confluence of the three seas, to pay homage to the Kanyakumari goddess, and to view the scenic sunrise and sunset at this place.

Over the years more additions have happened for the benefit of Kanyakumari tourism. The Gandhi Mandapam, the Vivekananda Rock memorial, the Thiruvalluvar statue, the Tsunami memorial, and the Baywatch amusement park and wax museum have added to the growing list of tourist attractions at Kanyakumari.

Reaching Kanyakumari from all parts of India is also quite simple, which has helped the tourism industry here. The place is well connected by road as well as train routes, also the nearest airport is not too far away from here.

Several tour operators offer exciting tour packages and good deals, for the tourists who are planning to visit Kanyakumari. The packages generally include travel, sightseeing, and stay.


Kanyakumari tourism places/ Kanyakumari tourist attractions:

There are several places of interest for the tourists who are visiting Kanyakumari. Some of the tourist attractions are mentioned below. You can click on the links to read more interesting details, that will help you to enjoy your Kanyakumari tour even more.

Kanyakumari temple:
A must see for visiting tourists, is the ancient Kanyakumari temple, of the diety Kanya Kumari devi (also called Kumari Amman), who slayed the demon 'Banasur' and after whom, the place has been named as Kanyakumari. The glittering diamond nose ring worn by the idol of the goddess is quite famous.

Suchindram temple:
An excellent example of beautiful architecture, touring visitors can worship Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh at this ancient temple. Of special mention at this temple are the musical pillars that produce musical notes.

Sangam-Confluence of the 3 seas
The major tourist attraction at Kanyakumari is the 'Sangam' which is the meeting of the 3 seas, the Arabian sea, the Indian ocean and the Bay of Bengal.

Sunrise and Sunset:
Amongst the most notable tourist attractions are the scenic sunrise and sunset that can be experienced at Kanyakumari. Viewing the sun rising from the sea on the east, and setting into the sea on the west is a truly memorable experience.

Also tourists who are visiting the place on full moon nights, can get to see the lovely view of the setting sun, and the rising moon, on opposite ends of the horizon at the same time.

Kanyakumari Beach
The Kanyakumari beach is not like other white sand beaches in Goa. However it has its own charm, having unique multi-colored sand, the rocky shoreline, and the confluence of the seas ahead, with different coloured water of the 3 seas merging with each other. This is probably the most frequented and to be place, for all the Kanyakumari tourists who are on a tour here. Tourists can also buy beautiful sea-shells and sea-conches at this place.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Another major milestone in Kanyakumari tourism was achieved when the Vivekananda Rock memorial was inaugurated. The memorial is located on a rock island around 500m from the shore. It is said that in 1892, Swami Vivekananda swam across to this rock and meditated for 3 days. This is another must see place for Kanyakumari tourists.

Thiruvalluvar Statue
One of the recent additions that has further boosted tourism in Kanyakumari, is the 133 ft tall statue of Tamil saint and poet Thiruvalluvar, built on another rock island 400m from the seashore. This statue is said to be second-tallest statue in Asia continent. Tourists cannot miss this statue, even if they want to. It stands out tall, and attracts the attention of the tourists at the Kanyakumari beach. Ferry boats are available to take you to this place and back again.

Gandhi Mandapam:
Of historic significance is the Gandhi Mandapam, which visiting tourists should not miss. Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were kept at this place in 1948, before they were immersed into the sea. The unique architecture is such that on 2nd Oct of every year, which is Gandhiji's birth anniversary, the rays of the sun fall on the exact place where the ashes were kept. A must see tourist place when you are on your Kanyakumari tour.

Baywatch Amusement Park and Wax Museum:
One of the most recent places that has got added to Kanyakumari tourism map, is Baywatch-the amusement park which is a water theme park that offers several joy rides and is of international standards. The park also houses the wax museum, which is akin to the Madame Tussauds wax museum at London. Tourists can enjoy taking photos of the wax sculptures at this place, and children and youngsters simply love to play in the water. There are also special photo locations in the park where you can take beautiful photos and pictures.

Some other Kanyakumari tourism places, include the Udayagiri fort, the Kanyakumari wildlife sanctuary, the Mathur Hanging trough bridge, the Tsunami Memorial that is located right on the Kanyakumari beach, as well as several other interesting places in close vicinity.

Kanyakumari Tourism Hotels

Kanyakumari Tourism is well supported by a large number of hotels and resorts that cater to the accomodation needs of the visiting tourists. Tourists can get hotels and resorts at this place, as per their budget and needs.

Also the Government run TTDC (Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation) hotels are also available for stay at Kanyakumari.

To make a long story short, a tourist visiting Kanyakumari can rest assured that this will be a unique and memorable experience which can be cherished for a lifetime.

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Kanyakumari Tsunami memorial

Kanyakumari the southern tip of India, was one of the many affected areas in the Tsunami that rocked the world in Dec-2004.

It was reported that around 10700 people from the state of Tamil Nadu, including around 800 people from Kanyakumari lost their lives in the mass devastation that occurred from the giant waves of the tsunami.

The Kanyakumari Tsunami Memorial was later erected on the seashore of Kanyakumari, in the memory of all those who died in the 2004 Tsunami.

 

The Kanyakumari Tsunami memorial monument was designed and constructed by Shri. B. Kanagaraj Cangan. It is a 16 feet high blue coloured statue made from steel. The monument shows a giant wave (tsunami wave) that is held in place by a hand, while the other hand holds on to a lamp (similar in shape to the earthen lamps that are lit in Diwali in India). This lamp probably denotes the lamp of hope kept alight.

 

The plaque below the statue reads 'In memory of those who lost their lives in Tsunami on 26-12-2004'. Thousands of people visiting Kanyakumari pay homage to the Tsunami victims at this monument when they visit the place.

 

 

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Kanyakumari Bridge

Located some distance away from Kanyakumari is the famous Mathur hanging bridge, that you can include in your sightseeing tour of nearby places.

This Kanyakumari bridge is a trough bridge that connects two hills to each other and passes over the Parazhiyar river. It is considered to Asia's longest and tallest trough bridge having a length of about 1 km, and is about 115 feet tall.

This bridge at Kanyakumari (called the Mathur hanging bridge) was built in the year 1970.

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Kanyakumari Sunrise and Sunset

Kanyakumari is most famous for its spectacular view of the sunrise and the sunset.

The geographic location of Kanyakumari is such that it is the southern-most tip of India, a cape, (land projecting into the sea), and is covered by water on 3 sides. This location makes it ideal for viewing the sunrise and sunset.

Kanyakumari is a place of the 'sangam'-the confluence of the three seas, the Arabian sea on the west, the Indian ocean on the south and the Bay of Bengal on the east. Due to its unique geography, it is a place from where you can watch the sun rising from the sea (on the east in the morning) and the sun setting into the sea (setting into the Arabian sea on the west in the evening).

Also the place is thronged with tourists and visitors on full moon nights (especially in the Hindu month of Chaitra) when the setting sun and the rising full moon face each other on the opposite ends of the west and east horizons. A magnificent site indeed.

Watching the Kanyakumari sunrise and the Kanyakumari sunset is a not to be missed experience on your holiday to Kanyakumari. While choosing a hotel room, it would be wise to select a room with a sea view, so that you can watch the sunrise/sunsets from your hotel room also.

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Kanyakumari Wax Museum

The Kanyakumari Wax museum is located at Baywatch Amusement Park in Kanyakumari.

The museum houses wax sculptures of several famous celebrities from diverse fields from both India as well as the world, such as Swami Vivekananda, Amitabh Bachchan, Mahatma Gandhi, Jackie Chan, Rajnikanth, Shahrukh Khanm Indira Gandhi, Mother Teresa etc. These wax sculptures have been made by eminent local wax sculptors.

The idea behind this Kanyakumari wax museum is similar to the idea behind the creation of the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum of London.

The Baywatch at Kanyakumari is an amusement and entertainment park is a water theme park, that offers several joy rides, that are both dry rides, and water rides, as well as beautiful spots for photography.


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Kanyakumari Baywatch Amusement Park

The Kanyakumari Baywatch Amusement Park has been an addition done in recent years, that attracts tourists who have come for a visit to Kanyakumari.

The Kanyakumari Baywatch amusement park is a theme water park that offers several joy rides for the visiting tourists. Locals as well as tourists, of all ages come here to enjoy and have fun. Kids and youngsters especially seem to enjoy this place.

The Baywatch park at Kanyakumari, located at Sunset point, that started operations in 2003, is the first seaside amusement park in India, and is considered as one of the best amusement parks in India, that is of international standards.

The Kanyakumari Baywatch offers several dry rides, and water rides for enjoyment as beautiful spots for taking photos.

The dry rides offered at Baywatch Kanyakumari are: Swing Chair, Flying elephants, Tea Cups, Bumping Cars, Family Train, Frizbee, Bowling Net, Bull, and Mystery World.

The water rides offered at Baywatch are: Wave Pool, Milky way, Aqua Shuttle, Multiple Splash, Crazy Cruise, Triveni waterfalls, Rain Ramba, Side Winder, and Kids Pool.

And the beautiful photo points (spots) for taking photos at Baywatch are: Country woman holding fishing basket on her head, the Dolphin fountain, the Octopus, the Arabian giant and the Fisherman.

The Park also has a wax museum that houses real-size wax sculptures of several celebrities. These sculptures have been built by several eminent sculptors and the basic idea of the wax museum is similar to that of the famous Madame Tussauds wax museum in London.

A visit to Baywatch amusement park can be a nice way to enjoy your Kanyakumari trip, especially if you are travelling with children and youngsters.

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Gandhi Mandapam, Kanyakumari

The Gandhi Mandapam at Kanyakumari, is one of the important tourist attractions at Kanyakumari. It is a place of historic significance as it is at this place that the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were kept before they were immersed into the seas.

The Gandhi Mandapam is located close to the Kanyakumari temple, and situated next to the famous Anna university at Kanyakumari.

Mahatma Gandhi, (M.K. Gandhi) was a world reknowned leader from India, who propagated his teachings of non-violence and truth. The Gandhi Mandapam at Kanyakumari is a monument or memorial or temple, that has been built in his memory.

There is a urn kept in the Gandhi Mandapam which once contained the ashes of Mahtma Gandhi. The plaque on the urn mentions the date when the ashes were kept there as '12th Feb 1948'.

The unique architecture of the Gandhi Mandapam is such that, on the 2nd-Oct of every year, which is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the sun-rays fall on the exact spot where Mahatma Gandhi's ashes were kept before immersion into the sea. A statue of Mahatma Gandhi has been erected in the Gandhi Mandapam at Kanyakumari, at the place where his ashes were once kept.

The Gandhi Mandapam is a must visit place on your trip to Kanyakumari.


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Cape Comorin - Kanyakumari - India

Kanyakumari was earlier known by the name of 'Cape Comorin' during the British rule in India.

As per geographical definitions a cape is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea or water. Kanyakumari, the southernmost tip of India, is geographically such a land that is surrounded on 3 sides by the waters of the 3 seas, the Bay of Bengal on the east, the Indian ocean on the south, and the Arbian sea on the west.

The name Cape Comorin for this place seems to have been derived from the local name of the diety of this place, Kumari Amman (goddess Kanyakumari devi).

The Cape Comorin (Kanyakumari) is a famous tourist destination. The major attractions of Cape Comorin are the 'Sangam'-the confluence of the seas, Kanyakumari temple, the spectacular sunrise and sunsets that can be seen from here.

The place is well developed as a tourist destination, and several hotels in Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) are available, meet the accomodation needs of the visiting tourists.


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Kanyakumari Vivekananda Kendra

The Vivekananda Kendra at Kanyakumari (located at Vivekanandapuram/Vivekananda Ashram) was established at Kanyakumari in the year 1972, by noted freedom fighter Shri. Eknathji Ranade, who was also a RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) stalwart.

The Vivekananda Kendra is a spiritual Hindu organisation, that operates on the principles that were laid down by one of India's greatest spiritual leader, Swami Vivekananda.

Since 1976, the Vivekananda Kendra has been organizing regular Yoga camps (Yoga Shiksha Shibirs) at Kanyakumari, and all its other branches, to spread and teach the 'Yoga' way of balanced life to people from all over the world. The Kendra also conducts several seminars, and rural development programs, and comes out with various magazines and books for the betterment of society and people.

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Kanyakumari Wildlife Sanctuary

Apart from the town of Kanyakumari which is a popular tourist spot, the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, also has a wildlife sanctuary that some of the tourists like to visit on their tour to the place.

This wildlife sanctuary near Kanyakumari town, is spread over a 402.4 sq.km.area of land. The sanctuary is well known as a tiger habitat, and has a rich variety of flora and fauna.

Some of the reptiles and animals that you can see in this wildlife sanctuary are tigers, elephants, rock pythons, Indian bison, mouse deer, sambar & nilgiri deers, and the lion-tailed macaque monkeys.


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Suchindram temple Kanyakumari

The Suchindram temple at Kanyakumari is another major tourist attraction. This famous temple has been erected at a place that was considered to be the abode of Hindu God Shiva in the ancient times.

The Suchindram temple is located at a distance of about 11 km from Kanyakumari, and about 7 km away from Nagercoil, and about 85 km away from Trivandrum. Regular bus services are available from these places to reach the Suchindram temple.

According to one of the several legends prevalent here, it is believed that, in the ancient times Lord Indra, the King of Gods was relieved from a curse at this place. Hence the place got its name of Suchindram (Suchi meaning purification, and Indram=Indra)

Suchindram temple is one of the few temples in India, where the three main Hindu Gods, Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh (the trinity) are worshipped together. Brahma, is said to be the creater of the universe, Vishnu the protector, and Mahesh (Shiva) the destroyer.

The architecture of the 134 feet high Suchindram temple is spectacular, and full of sculptures from Hindu mythology. The front of the temple is full of such marvellous sculptures. Inside the temple is a 22 feet high statue of Anjaneya (Lord Hanuman) that is carved out of a single stone, as well as sculptures of other Hindu Gods.

Also a famous attraction of the ancient Suchindram temple are its musical pillars. These musical pillars are built in such a way that when they are tapped, you can hear different musical notes. These curious pillars that produce music are carved out of single blocks of granite stone and are 18 feet tall.

Temples in India are full of such brilliant architectural novelties.

The major festivals held at Suchindram are the Markazhi festival in Dec-Jan, and the Chitthirai in Apr-May. The temple dieties are taken out for viewing (darshan) in the entire city, during the festival.
The Suchindram temple is located at Suchindram town, in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu in India. It is a must see temple on a visit to Kanyakumari, and is a good example of the brilliant temple architectures of ancient times, as well as significant from a viewpoint of mythological stories and legends.


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Kanyakumari temple

The Kanyakumari temple, of goddess Kanyakumari devi, is one of the major highlights and tourist attractions for the people visiting Kanyakumari. This age-old temple also known as the Kanya kumari Amman temple, or the Goddess Bhagavati Amman temple, is one of the most famous temples of Tamil Nadu in South India.

This famous temple is located right on the seashore of Kanyakumari and is said to have been built in very ancient times. It has a beautiful architecture like most ancient temples. The statue of the goddess kanyakumari devi is carved in black stone and shown wearing a garland. Of special note is the diamond nose-ring worn by the goddess. It is said that the sparkling brilliance of this nose-ring of Devi Kanyakumari Amman can be seen from the far away sea waters also.

There is mythological legend and story about Kanyakumari that dates back to the times of Gods and Demons, that surrounds the place.

The legendary Story of Kanyakumari goes like this:

Banasur Demon - the immortal
Once upon a time, very long ago there lived a demon by the name of 'Banasur'. Through strict penance and austerities he had achieved the boon of immortality, except that he could only be killed at the hands of a virgin girl. The demon after achieving this boon, became arrogant, and started troubling all the Gods (Devas).

Kanya Kumari emerges from the Yagna fire
The Gods did not know what to do. So they approached Lord Vishnu, for a solution. Lord Vishnu suggested that they worship the goddess Parashakti (Parvati) and do a Yagna. When the Gods did the Yagna, then from the fire emerged a young virgin girl. This girl was 'Kanya Kumari' (Kanya=girl, and Kumari=virgin/unmarried)

Kanyakumari does penance
The little girl grew up doing penance and worshipping Lord Shiva with the desire to marry him. It is said that the place where goddess Kanyakumari stayed, was the Kanyakumari seashore where the Kanyakumari temple is now situated, and that she used to do penance on the rock island located in the sea (where the Vivekanand rock memorial now stands).
When she was marraigeble age, she had several suitors and Lord Shiva also expressed desire to marry her. However sage Narada understood that this would mean that she could not kill the demon. So Narada decided to do something to stall the marraige.

The 3 tough conditions for marraige
The story further says, that sage Narada suggested the Goddess that she should confirm whether the person who had approached her as Lord Shiva was really him, and hence put down some conditions for marraige.

On Narada's suggestion, Kanyakumari devi expressed that all those who wished to marry her, should try and get her 3 things before dawn, 1) A betel leaf without veins, 2) A coconut without eyes and 3) A sugarcane without stump-joints. She was confident that only Lord Shiva could do this, however Narada was not so sure.

Narada's roosting crow trick
Lord Shiva however got all these 3 things before dawn and was about to reach back to Kanyakumari, when Narada played another trick in the form of a crow roosting. Lord Shiva heard the crow's roosting and thought that it was dawn and that he had failed to reach back to Kanyakumari in time. Hence he returned back to his abode Suchindram (where the Suchindram temple) now stands (located about 11km away from kanyakumari)

Kanyakumari Devi kills Demon Banasur
Hearing of Kanyakumari's beauty, the Banasur Demon also wanted to marry her, and when she refused he attacked her to take her by force. It was at this time, that the virgin girl goddess Kanyakumari killed the demon with her Chakra. The place where she killed the demon is known as 'Mahadana Puram' and it is located 4 km to the north of Kanyakumari.

This is the legend and story of Kanyakumari Devi, who is worshipped at the Kanyakumari temple. The Suchindram temple of Lord Shiva located just 11 km away, is also visited by tourists.

It is said that in recent history, Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari in 1892, he prayed in the temple, and then spent 3 days meditating on the rock in the sea (where the Vivekananda memorial now stands)

This ancient temple is a must visit place on any trip to Kanyakumari. The beautiful temple architecture, the black stone carved image of Kanyakumari, the glittering nose ring that she wears, the shrines of her friends and playmates Balasundari and Vijayasundari are all a must see.

The temple is situated right on the Kanyakumari beach, the place of the 'Sangam' where the 3 seas meet each other. It is only a short walk away from the several hotels that are located in the vicinity of the temple.


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Kanyakumari Vivekananda Rock Memorial

The Swami Vivekananda Rock memorial at Kanyakumari was built in the year 1970, in remembrance of Vivekananda and his visit to this place in the year 1892. The memorial is built on a rock island in the sea, located at a distance of about 500m from the Kanyakumari seashore.

It is said that Vivekananda travelled to Kanyakumari in the year 1892, and sought blessings from the Goddess Kanyakumari Devi. He then swam across the sea to the rock where the memorial now stands. It was at this place that he is said to have meditated for 3 days about the past, present and future of India. It is said that Vivekananda achieved enlightenment here, and then went on to become a great social reformer and spiritual leader of India and the world.

Ferry boat services are available on regular basis, that take tourists from the seashore of Kanyakumari to the Vivekanand Rock memorial in the sea, and back again to the shore.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari has a statue of Swami Vivekananda in the meditation hall (Dhyan Mandapa). Tourists visiting the rock memorial can spend some time in meditation at this hall.

This rock was also known as Sripada Parai (sacred feet) because as per mythological stories its believed that Kumari Amman (goddess Kanyakumari) used to do meditation and penance on this rock to please the Lord Shiva. There is a projection on this rock islet that resembles a foot, and it is believed to be the foot of the Kanyakumari goddess.

Taking photos and videos of the Vivekananda Rock memorial is allowed.

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Kanyakumari Thiruvalluvar statue

The Thiruvalluvar statue at Kanyakumari is located on a rock island (rocky islet) in the sea, at a distance of about 400m from the Kanyakumari seashore.

This statue which is 133 feet high, has been erected in remembrance of Tamil saint and poet Thiruvalluvar. It is said to be second largest statue in Asia.

It was built by noted sculptor Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, and the work of installing the Thiruvalluvar statue was completed in the year 2000.

Ferry services are available from the Kanyakumari seashore to the statue located in the sea. Usually ferry services cover visits to both the Thiruvalluvar statue and the Vivekananda rock memorial in a single trip, as they are located close to each other.


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Kanyakumari demographics

This article provides general information on Kanyakumari such as the area covered, the population, literacy rate, area code, STD code, etc.

Kanyakumari - Area covered:
The Kanyakumari town has an area of 25.89 sq.km. The Kanyakumari town (also called Kanniya Kumari) that consists of the beach and surrounding areas, is a popular tourist destination that is a part of the Kanyakumari district in the state of Tamil Nadu in India. (The Kanyakumari district is much bigger and includes a total area of 1684 square-kilometers)

Kanyakumari population:
As per the last census conducted in 2001, the Kanyakumari population was 19678 (of Kanyakumari town, not district). The literacy rate amongst the citizens here was very high, standing at 98.6%

Kanyakumari ZIP code/ STD code:
If you are making a call to a landline phone in Kanyakumari, then you need to precede the number to be called with the STD code of the area. The Kanyakumari ZIP code/Kanyakumari STD code is 04652

Kanyakumari Pincode:
The postal pincode of Kanyakumari town is 629702

Kanyakumari location on the Geographical Map:
The latitude and longitude of Kanyakumari are: 8.08 degrees North, and 77.57 degrees East.


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Information about Kanyakumari

A few words about Kanykumari

Kanyakumari is a town located in the Tamil Nadu state of India. It is the southernmost tip of India and the Indian subcontinent, and is surrounded by the seas of 3 sides, the Arabian sea on the east, the Indian ocean ahead and the Bay of Bengal on the west.

(A small note: People sometimes ask 'kanyakumari is in which state? as they get confused whether its in Kerala or Tamil Nadu, which are both southern-most states of India. Kanyakumari district was earlier a part of Kerala, but was later merged into Tamil Nadu and now belongs to Tamil Nadu state)

Kanyakumari is a famous tourist destination most noted for its beautiful sunrise and sunset and the 'Sangam' that is the confluence of the 3 seas.

The major attractions for tourists visiting Kanyakumari are the Swami Vivekananda rock memorial, the 133 ft. statue of Tamil saint and poet, Thiruvalluvar, and the Kanyakumari and Suchindram temples located in the vicinity.

Other places of interest in Kanyakumari are the Vivekananda Kendra, Baywatch Amusement Park and Wax museum, Gandhi Mandapam, the wildlife sanctuary that is located in Kanyakumari district some distance away and the Udaygiri fort nearby.

Most of all tourists flock to Kanyakumari to view the scenic sunrise and sunset. The amazing location of Kanyakumari is such that from this location you can see the sun rise from the sea (from the Bay of Bengal on the east) and set into the sea (the Arabian sea on the west).

Also of special mention are the full moon nights when people can view the setting sun and the rising moon at the same time on opposite ends of the horizon.

Kanyakumari also is place of mythological interest.

About Kanyakumari, the goddess:

As per Hindu mythology, the goddess Kanyakumari (also called Kumari Amman) was a reincarnation of goddess Parvati, and taking this form of a virgin girl (kanya=girl, kumari=virgin) she slayed the demon 'Banasur' who was immortal except that he could only be killed by a virgin girl.

The Kanyakumari temple located right on the Kanyakumari beach is a must see place when you are visiting Kanyakumari.

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