There are several places to visit in Kanyakumari and many things to do. It’s worth a visit just to say you’ve been here.
Located at the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kanyakumari is worth a visit just to say you’ve been here. Like all edges, there’s a sense of surreal here. There are several places to visit in Kanyakumari and many things to do. You can see three seas mingle, the sunset over the moonrise and the Kanyakumari Temple of the Virgin Sea Goddess within minutes of each other. But beyond the Kanyakumari attractions, it’s a genuinely friendly village and a nice respite from the dust of the Indian road.
Standing like a beacon over the seaside town, Thiruvalluvar Statue is the symbol of Kanyakumari and, along with Vivekananda Rock Memorial located on a nearby rock, are by far two of the top Kanyakumari tourist places to visit. Both attractions can be reached via a ferry ride from the Vivekananda Rock Ferry Terminal.
One of the top things to do in Kanyakumari and the main reason why tourists flock here is for the sunrise and sunset views over the three seas. Kanyakumari beach is the place where tourists throng to catch the spectacular views over the ocean’s horizon.
Depending on how long your stay is, other worthwhile places to visit in Kanyakumari include Gandhi Memorial, the place where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were kept for public homage before they were immersed in the ocean. If you want to learn more about the famous Indian social reformer Vivekananda, head to Vivekananda Kendra for an in depth exhibition on the swami’s life.
Below is a list of popular places to visit in Kanyakumari.
1. Vivekananda Rock Memorial Kanyakumari
[singlepic id=869 w=720 h=560 float=center]The Vivekananda Rock Memorial stands on one of two rocks about 500 metres from the mainland of Kanyakumari. This memorial marks the spot where the great Indian religious leader and philosopher Swami Vivekananda swam out here when a simple monk and devotee of the Devi, to sit in long meditation on this rock in December 1892 before attending the World Religious Conference in Chicago in 1893.
2. Thiruvalluvar Statue Kanyakumari
[singlepic id=860 w=720 h=560 float=center]Just off the coast of Kanyakumari, on a small island rock near Vivekananda Memorial, is the imposing 40.5-m (133-ft) high Thiruvalluvar Statue which looks like an Indian Statue of Liberty. This stone statue is not of Vivekananda but of the celebrated 1st century BC Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar.
3. Kanyakumari Beach
[singlepic id=877 w=720 h=560 float=center]Kanyakumari Beach is crowded at most times by pilgrims dipping themselves in the holy waters of the three seas. Surrounded by the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal on three sides, the beach is popular for its majestic views especially at sunrise and sunset.
4. Kanyakumari Temple
[singlepic id=857 w=720 h=560 float=center]One of the most popular attractions in town is the Kanyakumari Temple which overlooks the shoreline. Dedicated to Kanya (Virgin) Goddess Kumari after which the town is named, this temple is visited by throngs of pilgrims daily.
5. Gandhi Memorial Kanyakumari
[singlepic id=884 w=720 h=560 float=center]Gandhi Memorial was erected to honour the world famous Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and was built at the exact place where his ashes were kept for public homage before immersion in the sea on February 12, 1948.
6. Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari
[singlepic id=856 w=720 h=560 float=center]Also known as the Wandering Monk Museum, Vivekananda Kendra Kanyakumari has an informative exhibition on the life and work of Swami Vivekananda. This newly refurbished exhibition details Swami Vivekananda’s wisdom, sayings and encounters with the mighty and the lowly during his five years as a wandering monk around India from 1888 to 1893.
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