A popular centre for art, culture and religion, the city holds many names, like Cape Comorin, Kumari Munai and Kumari. Located 705 km from the state capital of Chennai, Kanyakumari was ruled by the Cholas, the Nayaks, the Pandyas and the Cheras.

Built in 1970, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a combination of conventional and modern Indian architectural styles, especially from West Bengal and Tamil Nadu. From this iconic monument, one can get spectacular views of the celestial happenstance of sunrise, sunset and moonrise. On full moon days, enjoy the special spectacle of the moon rising and the sun setting simultaneously. On Chitra Purnima in April, both moon and sun face each other on the same horizon.

The entrance to the memorial features the architectural styles of Ajanta and Ellora Cave Temples, while the memorial mandapam resembles Belur’s Sri Ramakrishna Temple. A life-size bronze statue of Swami Vivekananda in his famous parivarjak posture is housed here. Shripada Mandapam, one of the two main structures of Vivekananda Rock Memorial, is its sanctum sanctorum that is enclosed within an outer platform. The square-shaped hall comprises a garbha griham, an inner prakram and an outer prakram.

It has sections including Dhyana Mandapam, Mukha Mandapam, Namasthubhyam and Sabha Mandapam. Of these, the Dhyana Mandapam, also called the Meditation Hall, has been created by integrating various styles of Indian temple architecture. Visitors are allowed to sit, relax and meditate in six rooms here. The Assembly Hall or the Sabha Mandapam comprises a statue section, Pralima Mandapam, an outer courtyard and a corridor that encompasses the main hall. Swamiji’s statue is so positioned here that his vision falls directly on the Shripadam. In the memorial mandapam stands the statue of Vivekananda and visitors can see the footprints of the virgin goddess, Sri Pada Parai, on the same rock.

To the southeast of Kanyakumari Temple are two rocks projecting out of the waters of Lakshadweep sea – the Shripada Mandapam and the Vivekananda Mandapam. It is said that on one of these, Swami Vivekananda sat in meditation for two days and turned into a powerful crusader with the blessings of Kanyakumari, the virgin goddess.

The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 40.6 m tall statue of him that was inaugurated in the year 2000.

The statue is representative of the three chronological books namely, Virtue, Wealth and Love in the same order. While the platform of 12 m on which the statue rests is representative of the 38 chapters of the first book, the statue in itself represents the second and the third book.

This is constructed in such a manner to denote that one can get wealth and love only on the strong foundation of virtue. One can also easily notice that the three fingers of Valluvar’s right hand are pointed towards the sky which is also representative of Virtue, Wealth & Love.

The Valluvar’s statue is also located on an island which can be visited via a ferry while visiting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.

Located on the southern tip of mainland India, at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal, the Bhagavathy Temple is dedicated to the virgin Goddess Kanyakumari. The temple is considered symbolic of sanctity and unity and is one of the 51 shaktipeethams (one of the places where the severed body parts of Goddess Shakti fell).

According to legend, in one of her incarnations as Devi Kanya or Shree Bhagavathy, Goddess Parvati did penance in this temple to marry Lord Shiva.

The nose ring of the idol, studded with rubies, glitters so much that it resembles a beacon. Devi is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra and Shree Baala. It is widely believed that sage Parashurama performed the consecration of the temple and the goddess in the temple removes rigidity from the mind. Devi Kanyakumari also finds mention in epics Mahabharata and Ramayana.

How to reach Kanyakumari

By Air

There are no direct flight services to kanyakumari. The nearest airport to reach Kanyakumari is the Trivandrum international airport and the domestic Tuticorin airport. Both of these airports are located at a distance of around 82 km and 89 km from Kanyakumari correspondingly. You can get taxi or bus easily from outside the airport.

By Bus

You can travel directly to Kanyakumari from states of Kerala and other parts of Tamil Nadu. Kanyakumari is connected to other cities like Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, Madurai, Nagercoil and Chennai.  

By Train

Kanyakumari Junction is the biggest station in the Kanyakumari district and is connected to many Indian cities like Nagercoil, Chennai, Rameshwaram, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Jammu Tawi. Taxis and buses are available from the railway station to reach Kanyakumari town which is only 4kms away.