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Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular
India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the
 Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is
famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The
multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here.
Kanyakumari was once
referred to as the Alexandria of the east. This
place has been a great center for art, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for
years. It was also a famous center for commerce and trade. During the early part
of the eighth century AD Islam entered the southern part of India through the
sea route with traders and missionaries. Through St. Thomas, one of the twelve
Apostles of Christ, Christianity arrived in this area in AD 52. Islam,
Christianity and Jainism have greatly contributed to the architectural wealth
and literary heritage of this place.
 Kanyakumari was also under the control of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas
and the Nayaks who were great rulers of south India. The architectural beauty of
the temples is the work of these rulers. During the British Raj, Kanyakumari was
bestowed the dry title of Cape Comorin, necessitated perhaps by the Englishmen's
inability to pronounce local names.
Legend has it that Kanya Devi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord
Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. But he did not turn up at the
auspicious time and the wedding never took place. The rice and cereals meant for
the marriage remained uncooked. Even today, one can buy stones there that look
exactly like rice and cereals. Local folks believe that they are the leftovers
of the legendary marriage that could not be solemnized. As for the princess
Kanya Devi, she became a virgin goddess blessing pilgrims and tourists alike.
GENERAL INFORMATION
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Area: 25.89-sq-km
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Population: 18,900 (1991 Census)
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Latitude: N 8o 3' to 8o 35'
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Longitude: E 77o 05' to 77o 36'
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Clothing: Light Cottons
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Languages Spoken: Tamil, Malayalam, English
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STD Code: 04652
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Climate: Tropical
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Temperature Range (deg C):
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Summer- Max 34.8șC, Min 22.4șC
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Winter- Max 33.8șC, Min 21.6șC
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Rainfall: (Average) 102 cms
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PLACES TO VISIT
- Kanyakumari Temple
- Gandhi Memorial
- Vivekananda Memorial
- Sunrise-Sunset-Moonrise
EXCURSIONS
- Nagercoil 19 kms
- Padmanabhapuram Palace 45 kms
- Sunchindrum 13 kms
- Tiruchendur 85 kms
- Udyagiri 34 kms
- Vattakottai 6 kms
HOW TO GET THERE?
Air: Nearest airport
Trivandrum (80 kms) is directly connected with Bangalore, Bombay, Cochin, Delhi,
Goa and Chennai.
Rail: Kanyakumari is
connected to Trivandrum, Delhi and Bombay by broad guage. Tirunelveli (80 kms)
is the other nearest railway junction which can be reached by road via
Nagaarcoil (19 kms).
Road: Kanyakumari is
connected by road to Trivandrum- 86 kms, Nagercoil- 19 kms, Tirunelveli- 91 kms,
Tiruchendur via Ovari- 89 kms, Tuticorin (via Ovari- Tiruchendur)- 129 kms,
Rameshwaram via Tuticorin- 300 kms, Courtallam (via Tiruncleveli-Tenkasi)- 130
kms, Madurai via Tirunelveli- 242 kms, Thekkady 358 kms, Kodaikanal via Madurai-
362 kms, Palani via Madurai- 370 kms, Ootacamund (via Madurai-Palanai-Coimbatore)-
576 kms, Cochin (via Quilon-Trivandrum)- 309 kms, Coimbatore (via
Madurai-Dindugal)- 478 kms.
Bus: Kanyakumari is
connected by regular bus services with Chennai, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Trichy,
Madurai, Mandapam ( Rameswaram ), Nagercoil, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Tiruvelveli,
Trivandrum etc.
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