Kanyakumari is the southern-most town in mainland India, also referred to as the ‘Land’s End’. Sitting pretty at the tip of peninsular India, Kanyakumari lies at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal & the Indian Ocean! Kanyakumari is a popular tourist destination for ever traveling Indians and made famous for its splendid sunrises & sunsets! Deriving its name from the goddess ‘Devi Kanya Kumari’, Kanyakumari was renamed ‘Comorin’ by the Dutch East India Company, which later got translated to ‘Cape Comorin’ during the British era.
Itinerary of our South India trip:
The entire Tamil Nadu road trip can be completed in 5 days. Stretch over an extended weekend holiday and you’re good to go. Below is the itinerary chosen:
Day 1: Bangalore to Thanjavur Day 2: Rameshwaram sightseeing Day 3: Kanyakumari sightseeing Day 4: Madurai sightseeing Day 5: Return to Bangalore
Places to stay in Kanyakumari :
Being the southern-most point of India, Kanyakumari is witness to heavy traffic influx all through the year. There is heavy mushrooming of accommodation options all along the coast. While sprawling resorts might be few, a lot of budget to premium options are available. Expect to spend anything between INR 2.5K – 5K per room. It is always advisable to pre-book since on spot availability might be sparse. We recommend going in for budget stay options. Majority of time is spent in roaming around the tourist spots!
Top places to see in Kanyakumari:
1. Vivekananda Rock Memorial: Built-in 1970 in honor of Swami Vivekananda, who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock. Surrounded by the Laccadive Sea and having the vast stretches of the Indian Ocean beyond, the memorial is certainly worth the penny! A short ferry ride takes you to the hallowed memorial and the journey is certainly mesmerizing. Pro Tip: The ferry shuts at 4:00 PM so the best time to visit the memorial is early morning. Be prepared to battle out serpentine queues to the ferry if you choose to visit during the holiday season.
2. Towering statue of Thiruvalluvar: The 133 feet tall stone sculpture of the Tamil poet and philosopher is indeed a sight to behold! The statue is based on an ancient Tamil work on secular ethics and morality, ‘Tirukkural’. The 133 feet statue denotes the 133 chapters of the Tirukkural. The design of the statue signifies that wealth and love can be earned and enjoyed on the foundation of solid virtue. Infact, the right hand of the statue with three fingers pointing skywards signifies ‘Virtue’, ‘Wealth’ & ‘Love’ respectively. It is built on a separate island from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and can be visited using the same ferry services. The statue is lit at night and presents a much better view, with the cool sea breeze calming our senses.
3. The grandeur of Vattakottai Fort: A seaside fort near Kanyakumari built in the 18th century as a coastal defense-fortification, is a must-visit. Made out of granite blocks and extending out to the sea, the Vattakottai fort commands a picturesque view of both the sea on one side and the western ghats on the other. Another interesting feature near the fort is the prominence of black sand beaches stretching far and beyond. Be amazed at the sudden gust of wind and sights of the waves crashing on the walls of the fort below!
4. The sun setting over the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean: Kanyakumari is famous for the most scenic sunrises and sunsets. Head over to sunset point to experience one of the surreal sunsets over the Indian Ocean. However, most of the hotels and guesthouses lining the ocean add rooftops to their private sunset point. With the sun slowly setting in the vastness of the ocean to the skies showcasing a hue of vibrant colors, Kanyakumari has it all. Witness the sunset while also stretching out your legs along with thousands of visitors!
5. The evening walk from Sunset point to Kumari Amman temple: Who knew an evening stroll would be in our most highly recommended list! But yes, if you like strolling along the shoreline with the cool sea breeze whistling in your ears – this is for you! If you love the cool moisture in the sea breeze softly kiss your face in the humid weather – this is for you! The entire walk is dotted with shops that spring to life in the evening. Tourists are everywhere – shopping anything from trinkets to souvenirs to postcards! Be sure to drop into the local eateries for some goodies and contribute to the local economy!
Food Options:
Restaurants are attached to almost all the hotels and budget homestays which line up the coast. One can have multiple cuisines but always advisable to stick to the local food. We had sumptuous meals at the Hotel Tamil Nadu and would recommend the same without a second thought! The simple yet sumptuous thali comes at a meager INR 150 per head and fills you to the core!
Next Up: Up, up and away towards Madurai. Stay tuned!
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