Located at the confluence of Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of the Indian mainland. The only place in the country where you can see the sunrise/sunset and moonset/moonrise simultaneously from its shores. Let me take you on a joy ride to this touristy beautiful city!
1. Vivekananda Rock Memorial
A memorial built on a rock in the honor of a famous Hindu monk Swami Vivekananda, this monument is a popular tourist place built 100 meters (328 feet) away from the sea shore. Relive the history and architecture of the 18th century yogic traditions. The memorial consists of two main structures Vivekananda Mandapam and Sripada Mandapam. The statue of Swamiji is facing the Shripada Mandapam.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Address: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Price: Entry Ticket - Rs 20 (0.31 USD) per person. Ferry To Memorial - Rs 34 (0.52 USD) for adult and Rs 17 (0.26 USD) for students.
Opening Hours: 7am - 11am and 2pm - 5pm on all days. Closed on Tuesday. Can be closed on few public holidays.
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Contact: +91 4652247012
2. Thiruvalluvar Statue
Another famous tourist attraction is the 40.5 meters (133 feet) tall magnificent Thiruvalluvar Statue built in the memory of the greatest poet of Tamil literature. The statue stands 400 meter (~1312 feet) from the coastline of Kanyakumari on a small island rock. Relatively closer to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, the ferry service takes tourists to both these tourist attraction on the same trip.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
Address: Near Vivekananda Puram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, 629702, India
Price: Ferry Service (if not combined with Vivekananda Rock Memorial) - Rs. 20 (0.31 USD) per person. Entrance is free.
Opening Hours: 8am - 4pm.
Duration: around 1 hour required.
Access: Take a ferry from the sea shore
3. Padmanabhapuram Palace
The Padmanabhapuram Palace was constructed in 1601 AD and was the residence of the Travancore Rulers. Now, this palace has been converted into a small museum to showcase the legends, grandeur and artifacts of the 16th, 17th & 18th century. It is a magnificent wooden palace located in western ghats with detailed rosewood and teak wood carvings.
The entry times of Padmanabhapuram Palace are 9 am to 4:30 pm. It is open on all days of the week except on Mondays. It is also closed on national holidays. To enter the palace, visitors are required to leave their footwear outside. It is located at a distance of 37 km (22 miles) from Kanyakumari.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Address: Padmanabhapuram Village, Near Thuckalay, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, 629702, India
Price: Rs. 10 (0.15 USD) per person for adults and Rs. 2 (0.03 USD) per child.
Opening Hours: 9am - 4:30pm with Lunch Break from 1pm - 2pm. Closed on Mondays and public holidays.
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Access: Hire a private taxi from Kanyakumari or travel by public transport.
Contact: +91 4651250255
4. Triveni Sangam
The literal translation of the words Triveni Sangam is Confluence of three seas. A dip in the Triveni Sangam at Kanyakumari is not permitted. It is also the point where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. On full moon days here sunrise and moonset can be seen simultaneously.
Triveni Sangam
Address: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702
Opening Hours: Open 24hrs. Best time to visit is during sunrise or sunset.
Duration: around 1 hour required
5. Thirparappu Falls
Thirparappu Falls is located about 60 km (37 mi.) from the City Center of Kanyakumari and is a famous get away amongst the locals. The waterfall is 300 ft (91.4 m) long with a height of nearly 50ft (15.24 m) and consists of a rocky river bed. Although the waterfall is small, it is a calm getaway with no crowd.
Thirparappu Falls
Address: Thirparappu, Tamil Nadu 629161
Price: Free entry
Opening Hours: 9am - 6pm. Closed on public holidays.
Duration: around 30 minutes to 1 hour required.
6. Vattakottai Fort
Around 7 km (4.3 mi.) from the city, the Vattakottai Fort was built in the 18th century by the Travancore kingdom, but what remains today are only ruins of the fort which once had strategic historical importance. You must visit this place as it is surrounded by sea on three sides and offers breathtaking view of the shore line, coconut trees and the sea. You can hire a cab or travel by bus to reach here.
Vattakottai Fort
Address: Vattakottai, Tamil Nadu, 629401
Price: Free entry
Opening Hours: 8am - 5pm. Closed on public holidays.
Duration: around 2 hours required.
Near by Food: Tender Coconut Available. No food available, advised to take packed meals and drinks.
7. Sothavilai Beach
In the proximity of 10 km (6.2 mi.) from the city center, Sothavilai Beach is the ideal destination away from the crowd. It is a calm and peaceful beach with heavy waves, adding to the serenity of the place. Hidden Twin beach is also an attractive spot nearby, if you are a water baby you must explore it too!
Sothavilai Beach or Chothavilai Beach
Address: Chothavilai Beach, near Nagercoil, Kanyakumari
Duration: around 1 hour required.
Near by Food: No good restaurants nearby. It is advised to carry food & drinks.
8. Thanumalayan temple - Sthanumalayam Kovil
Also known as the Suchindram Temple, it is an important Hindu temple. This seven floored temple was built in the 17th century and has intricate carvings showcasing the excellent workmanship on stone from that era. It is famous for its Sthanumalayam statue which is said to be the union of the Holy Hindu Trinity - Lord Vishnu, Lord Bramha and Lord Shiva.
Thanumalayan Temple
Address: Suchindram, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Price: Free entry
Opening Hours: The temple is always open. There are 6 times during the day when Live Aarti (Hindu Prayers) are offered.
Duration: around 1 hour required.
Near by Food: Good restaurants available in near vicinity.
Website: Suchindrum Temple
Tip from Content Creator
The temple in Suchindram is noted for its 18-ft (5.4-m) statue of Lord Hanuman, musical pillars, and intricate architecture. The tower of the temple majestically stands at an altitude of 134 ft (40.8 m) and the facade is beautifully carved with sculptures and statues from Hindu mythology.
How to reach
By air: There is no airport in Kanyakumari. The nearest airport is the Trivandrum International Airport. It is well connected with major Indian cities and also operates international flights to some gulf countries. From the airport you need to book a cab to drive to Kanyakumari which is about 67 km (41mi.) only.
By bus: To and from major south Indian cities you will find good connectivity of volvo, deluxe, regular and air conditioned public buses for reaching Kanyakumari.
By train: The Kanyakumari railway station is located close to the city center and well connected with trains to and from major Indian cities.
Best time to visit Kanyakumari
The summer and rainy season should be avoided owing to high humidity and hot weather. The best time to visit is in winter from October to March. You can also plan to visit on the auspicious full moon day of Chitra Poornima in April to visit the spectacular sunset and moonrise together from Kanyakumari.
Go bask in the beauty of glorious Kanyakumari
Don’t go by my words, travel to unearth the mystique of this historical city, capture the breathtaking views of the sunset over the horizon and stare into the infinity of the endless sea. Don’t forget to share your travel experiences and photos with us.
Happy travelling!
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
-
-
7 Indian Tourist Activities That Would Change You ForeverTrip101 Editorial -
Top 2 Glamping Spots In Kodaikanal, IndiaKim Raya C. -
-
-
-
-
Create an account to