“छेड़ कर जैसे गुज़र जाती है दोशीज़ा हवा,
देर से ख़ामोश है गहरा समुंदर और मैं।“
There is not so much to see in Kanyakumari. This is how I enjoyed my two days here.
“Visit Kanyakumari during the monsoon season. Relax on the balcony of state hotel Hotel Tamil Nadu, gaze at the ocean for hours in silence, observe the boats drifting in the distance like butterflies, and admire the shimmering lights of Vivekananda Rock. Enjoy the calls and dance dances of peacocks in hotel. This is the essence of Kanyakumari, and I found it truly delightful.”
To be honest, I have no idea why thousands of visitors and devotees travel to Kanyakumari.
I found a nice place to stay for two or three days at the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation hotel (booking link), which is just next to the Arabian Sea. There are just three or four notable sites to visit in Kanyakumari.
If we explore the areas surrounding Kanyakumari mentioned below in board you can plan as : Round fort (5 KM), Udaigiri fort (25 KM), Padmanaba Puram palace (35 KM). Padmanaba Puram temple and Jain temple Chitharal (60 KM) These fall on straight route.
To truly appreciate the sea, it is preferable to spend two to three days at the seaside TTDC hotel.
Kanyakumari has an extra draw because it is the end gateway to India to enter from South. It is an honor for us to walk into this place.
How to reach Kanyakumari
Thiruvananthapuram (97 KM) is nearest airport. Nearest railway station is Kanyakumari (CAPE). If your connectivity is up to Nagarcoil then you need to take taxi or bus to Kanyakumari. Bus station is at walking distance from Nagarcoil railway station. Taxi from Nagarcoil to Kanyakumari charges Rs.500-650. Ola and Fast track are taxi options but they charge more than usual.
Our itinerary
Bengaluru – Rameswaram – Madurai-Kanyakumari-Bengaluru – Leisurely 6 N and 7 D
If we do not have time, we can cover these places in 4N, 5 D also.
Spending leisurely 2 nights in Madurai we caught Vandematram train to reach Nagarcoil in just 2 hours. From Nagarcoil we took a taxi (Rs. 600) to reach Kanyakumari. after spending 2 nights in Kanyakumari we took direct train from Kanyakumari to Bengaluru (14 hours journey).
Where to stay in Kanyakumari
I suggest to book Tamil Nadu state government owned Hotel Tamil Nadu which is low to mid range and can be easily booked online on TTDC hotel booking link. This hotel is adjacent to light house. This hotel is mid range, spread in acres and is like a resort touching the Arabian sea. The Vivekanand Rock and Gandhi Ashram are just 10 minutes walk. You can enjoy their restaurant and great hospitality, see the peacocks running here and there and show you dance sometimes.
Beautiful TTDC hotel surroundings.
What to see in Kanyakumari and time needed
Frankly speaking there is not so much to see in Kanyakumari. The main attractions are K. Kamraj memorial, Gandhi Mandapam, Vivekananda memorial, State museum and light house. These are in vicinity of 1 KM. One night stay is enough for this place. One additional days needed to visit from Kanyakumari : Round fort (5 KM), Udaigiri fort (25 KM), Padmanaba Puram palace (35 KM). Padmanaba Puram temple, Jain temple Chitharal (60 KM)Udaigiri fort (25 KM) and 2 KM from there Padthmantha Puram palace (35 KM). You can book red Taxi or Fast Track taxi.
Some enthusiasts can visit these nearby places also.
Day 1 – We Straight away walk from the hotel back gate after breakfast and reach K. Kamraj memorial. This is museum about the life of K. Kamraj (also called Black Gandhi) who was CM of Tamil Nadu from 1954 to 1963. He is also known as ‘kingmaker’ as was responsible for the elevation of Lal Bahadur Shastri and later Indira Gandhi to the position of Prime Minister of India.
After seeing this we moved about 200 meters to see Gandhi Mandapam. There is entry fee of Rs.15. This mandapam displays the life and achievements of Gandhiji. There are lot of photos inside and some portion of Gandhi’s ashes is kept here.
Next we moved to Vivekananda memorial. It was not Saturday or Sunday so we managed to get boat ticket Rs.50 each. We just reached the rock in 3 minutes. We should spend at least 2-3 hours at this memorial.
The state government is also constructing a 133 feet high statue of Thiruvalluvar who was a poet, philosopher, the author of the Thirukkural, an ancient Tamil work on Dharma and morality during Sangam period in 3rd century BC. This is not yet open to public. We came back by 3 PM and enjoyed the hotel garden, peacock dance and just roaming around in hotel, taking tea and snacks. Evening dinner was savvy and we enjoyed it. In dark evening we could enjoy the view of ocean and far the Kamraj, Gandhi Mandapam and grand Vivekanand memorial with glittering light and floating boats far in Arabian sea.
Day 2 – Enjoyed the morning tea and complimentary buffet breakfast of hotel – Poori, Idly, Sambhar, chuttney, Dosa, Upam etc. Then we visited Light house, a 100 feet tall with entry fee of Rs. 15. This one must visit to see the views of Kanyakumari from sky. This is a good place to satisfy your photography hunger. We spent 3 hours in Lighthouse, lying sometime in shadow and sometime in Sun, gossiping. At 3 PM we visited State musem which is walking distance from hotel and light house. At 4 PM we caught taxi for Nagarcoil to reach my home in Bengaluru.
Just near Vivekananda rock on sea shore is an ancient Kanya Kumari temple. Devi Kanyakumari is form of virgin Goddess Lakshmi or Parvati. In Sangam literature, it is mentioned as Goddess Bhadrakali (protector of good). Devi Kanyakumari is mentioned in Upanishads, Vedas and Ramayana and Mahabharata also. The author of ‘Periplus of the Erythraean Sea’ (60-80 AD), a log of sea voyage itinerary also mentions about Devi Kanya Kumari at tip of India.
Epilogue
Kanyakumari offers limited tourist attractions, making a single day sufficient for exploration. However, a truly fulfilling visit to Kanyakumari would entail dedicating an additional day to marvel at the vastness of the ocean. It is an exciting and esteemed experience to make contact with the final point of India. Two times I have visited this place but unfortunately missed sunset and sun rise due to clouds.
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