Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari is a small town in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. Addressing the southern tip of the Peninsular India, Kanyakumari was formerly known as Cape Comorin. Are you planning a majestic holiday with some wonderful views and an enjoyable stay? Then surely Kanyakumari is the place for you. Known for its majestic hills, pristine rivers, virgin beaches and meandering rivulets, Kanyakumari is the best place to unwind, away from the daily tensions of life. The region puts up a spectacular view during the sunrise and the sunset that would definitely enthrall you and give you a feeling of divine ecstasy. So why don’t you come and explore yourself, Kanyakumari- An Enchanting Natural Wonderland!
Situated at the feet of Mother India, Kanyakumari, boasts of 3 oceans. This wonderful place is the meeting place of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a real feast to the eyes. Pristine beaches, paddy fields and green coconut grooves adorn Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari also bears a religious significance. The finest temples in India can be found here. Attractions such as Sripada Parai, Gandhi Memorial, Government Museum etc adds to the beauty of the region.
History of Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari derives its name from the famous Kanyakumari Temple or Kumari Amman Temple, located on the shores within the town. Ptolemy in one of his works on the ancient India identified Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) with Gulf of Mannar as one of the centers for pearl fishery. He also identified Korkai in the east of Kanyakumari as one of the emporiums of pearl trade.
Kanyakumari has served as an excellent centre for religion and art for over centuries. It has also been a great center for trade and commerce. Kanyakumari was once ruled by the Cheras, Cholas, Pandyas and the Nayaks. The place is characterized by architectural splendor and beauty, which is reflected in the many temples built by the ancient rulers. In the later stage, Kanyakumari belonged to the Venad kingdom with Padmanabhapuram as its capital. The king of Venad built Travancore during his reign in between 1729 to 1758. Following this the current district of Kanyakumari came to be referred as the Southern Travancore. In the year 1741, the Dutch East India Company was defeated by Maharaja Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel.
The Paravar Kings ruled in Kanyakumari till the demise of the Pandyas, and later on it was ruled by the kings of Travancore under the general domain of the British till the year 1947, after which India got independence. Travancore then joined the Indian Union in the year 1947. The supremacy of the Travancore kings thus ended.
Under the reign of the Travancore royals, the Kanyakumari District developed both economically and socially. Till date a considerable population of the region study and learns Malayalam as the mother-tongue. The culture that is followed by the people in Kanyakumari people has a Travancore influence.
In the year 1949, Kanyakumari came to be a part of Travancore-Cochin State that was reconstituted. This was the time when Tamil speaking people went for an agitation with the demand for the amalgamation of Kanyakumari into the state of Tamil Nadu. The agitation started under the leadership and control of Marshal Nesamony. In the year 1956, Kanyakumari was amalgamated with the state of Tamil Nadu.
Christianity entered South India in about AD 52 via St. Thomas, which is one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ. Nevertheless, the European missionaries, who came in the sixteenth century, spread Christianity in the region. St. Francis Xavier pioneered the preaching of Christianity in Kanyakumari district. It is believed that Islam entered South India through the district of Kanyakumari in the early half of the 8th century AD. The missionaries and traders played a major role in this. Christianity, Islam and Jainism have immensely contributed to the growth and development of literary and cultural heritage and also the architectural wealth in Kanyakumari.
Places of Attraction in Kanyakumari
The Kanyakumari Temple or Kumari Amman is a major place of attraction in Kanyakumari. The temple is devoted to the Virgin Goddess, the manifestation of Parvati. Overlooking the shores, the temple and its ghat is located in a picturesque location. It attracts large number of tourist from across the globe. The diamond nose-ring of the Goddess is very famous and known for its sparkling splendor, which is believed to be seen from even the sea.
There are two rocks in the southeast of the Kumari Amman temple that reach out to the ocean. Among theses rocks one is Sri Padaparai, in which it is believed that the footprints of the Virgin Goddess is imprinted. Swami Vivekananda is believed to have sat here in deep meditation. The well-known Vivekananda Rock Memorial established in the year 1970 is also located here. One can reach the memorial by availing ferry services. A place called dhyana mandapam is here where one can meditate amidst the serene atmosphere.
The remarkable Gandhi Memorial can also be found right here at Kanyakumari. The memorial has been set up on the area where the urn that contains Mahatma’s ashes was kept for the public to have a look before it was immersed. Resembling the Hindu Temples in India, the memorial was established in such a way that on 2nd October, Gandhi’s Birthday, the 1st sun rays would fall on that particular place where Gandhi’s ashes were kept.
Literally meaning circular fort, Vattakottai is a fort from the eighteenth century that overlooks the sea. It is situated at a distance of about 6km from the beautiful land of Kanyakumari.
The Udayagiri Fort is yet another interesting place near Kanyakumari that was built by King Marthanda Varma in between 1729-1758 A.D. The fort is located about 34 km from Kanyakumari and has a foundry for the casting guns. The grave of De Lennoy, the European General of the King, is within this Udayagiri Fort.
Suchindram is the place nearby Kanyakumari that carries the impressions of various ancient kingdoms. It is located only at a distance of 13km from Kanyakumari. The place is known for the Thanumalayan temple, which is a repository of artistic treasures of the old kingdoms. The musical columns and the 6m high figure of Hanuman, the monkey god are the interesting features of the temple. The main idol is a “shivling” that represents Lord Vishnu, Shiva and Brahma, the holy trinity of the Hindus. Ancient inscriptions that date back to 9th century can also be traced here.
Among the many places around Kanyakumari, one that is worth visiting is the Nagaraja Temple at Nagarkoil. It is 20km from Kanyakumari and is devoted to Lord Nagaraja. The other attractions of the temple are the two shrines located here, devoted to Lord Vishnu and Shiva. The entrance of the temple reminisce Buddhist Vihara in a Chinese style.
Padmanabhapuram Palace is a huge mansion belonging to the Travancore Kings. Famous for its magnificent natural splendor, the palace is at a distance of about 45 km from Kanyakumari.
Tiruchendur, located at an approximate distance of 85km from Kanyakumari is famous for having a wonderful temple devoted to Lord Subramanya. Situated on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, the temple is among the 6 abodes of Lord Subramanya. The temple serves as a major crowd puller to this region. Many devotees come to pray at the temple on one hand and experience the inspiring view of the temple that overlooks the sea.
Perked up at a height of about 167m, the Courtallam Falls is located at a distance of around 137 km from Kanyakumari. The water of this beautiful falls is supposed to have some great medicinal values.
Trivandrum is the closest airport that serves Kanyakumari. It is located at a distance of about 80km. Regular flights from this airport connects Kanyakumari to Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, Goa, Delhi, and Chennai.
Various rail heads connect Kanyakumari to other parts of India, wonderfully well. Broad-gauge rail network connects Kanyakumari to Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram and Mumbai. The nearest railway station to Kanyakumari is Tirunelvelli, which is located at a distance of 80 km. One can reach here by road, through Nagarkoil.
Roadways connect Kanyakumari to Nagarkoil, Tirunelvelli, Trivandrum, Tiruchendur, Rameshwaram, Courtallam, Tuticorin, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Palani, Thekkady, Ootacamund, Cochin and Coimbatore. The road distances of these places from Kanyakumari can be listed as below:
- Trivandrum: 86 km
- Tiruchendur: 89 km
- Tuticorin: 129 km
- Nagarkoil: 19 km
- Tirunelvelli: 91 km
- Madurai: 242 km
- Thekkady: 358 km
- Rameshwaram: 300 km
- Palani: 370 km
- Ootacamund: 576 km
- Courtallam: 130 km
- Kodaikanal: 362 km
- Cochin: 309 km
- Coimbatore: 478 km
Intercity trains and various tourist vehicles operate within Kanyakumari to make local transportation for the people easy.
Best Time to Visit Kanyakumari
Since Kanyakumari is located in close proximity to the sea, so the region experiences a pleasant and comfortable climate, in most parts of the year. In the summer months, the temperature might go up to 34.8°C while in case of winter, it can go down to 20.4°C. Hence Kanyakumari can be toured in any time of the year. The ideal time however is during the months of October to March.
