Kanyakumari

  The land's end of India, where the three seas -- the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean --- merge to form the quiet idyllic spot of Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari. Legend gives it the name of Kanyakumari, meaning the Virgin Goddess, and dedicated to her is a temple washed by the restless seas.
The idol wears a diamond nosepin, as according to legend she waits for her divine groom. Kanyakumari, consort of Shiva, vowed to remain a virgin until Shiva came to deliver her from her penance. Since the temple is a living one, non-Hindus are not allowed within its precincts.

The village of Kanya- kumari stands on a rocky height presenting a wide spectacle of the triangular land's tip, the rising and the setting sun and the far-off fishermen's dhows. And, a little offshore is the beautiful Rock Memorial to Swami Vivekananda, the philosopher-missionary. The seas are rather choppy but down the Gandhi Memorial (on the shore), is a rock-bound pool where visitors can indulge in risk-free sea-bathing. Shopping enthusiasts can buy Kanyakumari's famous vari-coloured sea sands, small curios made of sea-shells of all sorts, and palm leaf utility articles.

ACCESS

While its nearest airport is Trivandrum (86 km), Kanyakumari is a railway terminus on the Trivandrum-Kanyakumari section of the Southern Railway. Good road connections are also available to all important places in South India.

PLACES OF INTEREST

Kanyakumari Amman Temple, Gandhi Memorial, Vivekananda Memorial.

EXCURSIONS

Suchindram (13 km) - a 9th century temple, Padmanabhapuram (45 km) -- a fascinating old palace, Tiruchendur (99 km) -- one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya.

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