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Kanyakumari is a small coastal town in Tamil Nadu that is famous because of its location, at the very end of the Indian sub-continent. This town is known for its beaches, waterfalls as well as religious monuments such as churches and temples. In fact, there are some really famous temples here and the Our Lady of Ransom church draws devotees from all over the country too.
Nevertheless, there are numerous places to visit in Kanyakumari if you’re planning to head over here for your next vacation. It’s a good idea to know the sort of places that you can see and the must visit places in Kanyakumari so that you do not miss out on any important location. Travelling here is not that difficult if you plan to take a train or even take a flight up to Trivandrum, which is the closest airport here. Here are some of the famous places to go in Kanyakumari.
One of the most famous places to visit in Kanyakumari is the Vivekananda Rock Memorial which is built on a small island near the town. The location of this memorial is rather picturesque with the Indian Ocean forming its backdrop. The memorial was built in 1970 to honour Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on this rock. The memorial is divided into two parts – Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam which are said to have different functions.
The statue of Thiruvalluvar, an accomplished and acclaimed poet, was set up on a small island off Kanyakumari, in the year 1999. The work took 9 years to complete and now, twenty years later, this is one of the most renowned places to visit in Kanyakumari. Visitors can reach the statue via a ferry ride and it’s indeed an exciting journey as you approach the statue. The tall statue which reaches up to 133 feet (statue and pedestal) is indeed awe-inspiring and even more so when you learn that the statue remained unaffected during the Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004.
One of the top places to visit in Kanyakumari is the Padamanabhpuram Palace which is believed to have been built in the 16th century. There are numerous artefacts and antiques here and an interesting aspect about this palace is that it has been made entirely from wood. It is not a grandiose palace but a simple and charming one that speaks of a different era when life was simpler. The palace is located inside a fortress and has several sections. Some of the interesting things you can expect to find here are old weapons, brass lamps, furniture, paintings, Chinese jars and a polished stone cot. With thousands of visitors coming every day, it’s said to be among the ten most interesting palaces in the world.
If you are looking for interesting places to visit in Kanyakumari, don’t miss the superb wax museum which is open throughout the week except on Sundays. Numerous important historical figures have been rendered in wax here and they look extremely realistic. You can find the museum inside the Baywatch Water Amusement Park and you can expect to find wax figures of Mother Teresa, Rajnikanth, Mahatma Gandhi and Arnold Schwarzenegger to name a few.
As Kanyakumari is a coastal town, there will be several beaches which are of interest to visitors based on what activities they like to do there. The Sangutharai Beach is one of the cleanest beaches you can find in India and it’s also relatively free of crowds. Since it’s located in the southernmost part of the country, the beach resounds with the power of the Indian Ocean, although it’s quite a tranquil place too. From here, you can see the Vivekananda Rock Memorial out in the sea. The water here is lukewarm and at a perfect temperature for swimming.
As the confluence of three large water bodies – the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean, the sunset point is unique and breath takingly beautiful. On full moon nights, you will be able to see the stunning sight of the sun setting and the moon rising simultaneously. The lighthouse offers the chance to see some beautiful views and take amazing photographs. Also, you might even be able to see the tides moving parallel to the shoreline and the ocean waters mingling in different shades of blue, which is a fantastic sight. The view tower is the best place to see sunsets as there isn’t much of a crowd here.
When the Indian Ocean tsunami struck the Indian shores in 2004, it left behind horrible destruction in its wake. This 16-foot memorial serves to honour the memory of those who lost their lives to the killer waves and reminds us about the frailty and temporary nature of life. The structure has two hands – one is holding back a giant wave while the other holds a lamp. The design is said to inspire hope and optimism and there is a plaque below which records the date of this monument. There’s also a beautiful garden around the structure where visitors can stroll around. While it tends to make some people immensely sad, the monument also serves to remind people about nature’s might.
If you have plans to visit Kanyakumari, then do remember to check the SOTC website for offers and deals on holiday packages.
