Situated at the confluence of Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu is famous for the unique and spectacular sunrise and sunset. Yet it is more amazing to see the spectacle of sunset and moonrise at the same time. This unique sight occurs in Kanyakumari only on full-moon evenings. Kanyakumari is also known for some other tourist destinations. They include Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanyakumari Temple, Gandhi Memorial, Padmanabhapuram Palace and some forts. Travellers can reach Vivekananda Rock by ferry service. The ride takes only a few minutes. This memorial was built in 1970. It is situated on two rocky islets just a few kilometres away from mainland. It is on record that Swami Vivekananda swam to the rock and meditated there for three days. A 133-feet tall statue of Tamil saint-poet Tiruvalluvar, which is considered to be one of the biggest statues in Asia, is situated on this rock memorial.
Kanyakumari, also called ‘Cape Comorin’, got its name from Kanya Devi Temple. According to legends, Kanya Devi was to marry Lord Siva here. But the bridegroom did not turn up on wedding day. Thus Kanya Devi remained a virgin. Rice and grains meant for the wedding feast remained unused and they, it is believed, later turned into pebbles and stones. Many consider that stones and pebbles seen on the shores resemble rice and grains. The main deity at this temple (situated on the sea shore) is virgin Goddess Kanya Devi, incarnation of Goddess Parvati. Another attraction in Kanyakumari, which is situated at the southern-most tip of the Indian Peninsula, is Mahatma Gandhi Memorial. The Memorial is situated on the very spot where the urn containing his ashes was kept for public viewing before its immersion. Kanyakumari has several historic monuments. Padmanabhapuram Palace, situated some distance away from the coastal city, is a major attraction. It is considered to be one of the top ten palaces in the world. Vattakottai Fort and Udayagiri Fort of Travancore kings are historic monuments. The 400-year-old St Xavier Church was built by St. Francis Xavier. Among the ancient temples include Alwarthirunagari Temple, Lord Subramania Temple of Tiruchendur and Nagarajar Temple of Nagercoil. Guganathaswamy Temple is considered to be over 1000 years old. For the Jains, Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple and Rock-Cut Cave Temple of Chitharal are of religious significance.
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, which is situated at a distance of 85 km from Kanyakumari, is the nearest airport. The coastal city has a major railway station. Kanyakumari enjoys a moderate climate all round the year. However, the best time to visit the town is from October to February. Accommodation options in Kanyakumari range from luxury hotels to medium range and budget hotels, dormitories, Devaswom lodges and homestays.
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