Sightseeing and Temples at Kanyakumari

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. Kanyakumari was 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 in Kanyakumari is the work of these rulers. Apart from its architectural beauty, it is also the 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.  During the British Raj, Kanyakumari was bestowed the title of Cape Comorin, necessitated perhaps by the Englishmen’s inability to pronounce local names.

Below are few Must-Visit places in Kanyakumari:

SRI BHAGAVATHI AMMAN KUMARI TEMPLE

Significance:

• Kanyakumari Temple is regarded as a Shakti Peetha.
• Shree Bhagavathy is in the form of an adolescent girl child.

History:

• Sage Parashurama is said to have performed the consecration of the temple.
• Swami Vivekananda came here to seek Devi’s blessing in December 1892, as Devi is the goddess of Sanyasa. It is in this location that he decided to embark on the Missionary Work to a higher level of action rather than being passive like the usual Sanyasis’.

• Swami Brahmananda (1863–1922) and Swami Nirmalananda (1863–1938), another two disciples of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa also worshiped Devi Kanyakumari.

Legend:

• As an adolescent girl she had immense devotion towards Lord Shiva. The Lord decided to marry her. All arrangements were made for the marriage. Lord Shiva started the journey from Suchindram for the marriage.
• At that time, the Sage Narada realized that the demon, Bana could only be killed by a virgin girl and so he decided to interrupt Shiva’s marriage with Bhagavathy.
• The marriage muhurat (muhurtam or auspicious time) was in the Bhahma Muhurtam (i.e) early in the morning.
• Narada made the sound of a cock and sent wrong information that the Sun has already risen and the auspicious time passed. So the marriage procession returned.
• The poor Devi waited for the Lord and finally she thought that she has been snubbed.
• With unbearable insult, pain, grief and anger she destroyed everything she saw. She threw away all the food and broke her bangles.
• When she finally gained her composure, she chooses to be a Sanyasin forever and took penance.
• Ages later Bana, tried to lure and approached the goddess without realizing who she was.
• The infuriated Bhagavathy, who was the Bhadrakali herself, slaughtered Bana at once.
• Moments before his death Bana realized that the one before him is the Bhagavathy, the Almighty herself. He prayed her to absolve him of his sins. Bhagavathy maintained her divine presence in the place, in the Devi Kanyakumari Temple.

Temple opening: (Opening and Closing timings)

All days of the week.

4.30 A.M to 12.30 P.M

4.00 P.M to 8.00 P.M

Temple Pooja timings:

Abhishekam                           5:00 AM

Deeparathanai                       6:00 AM

Abhishekam                           10:00 AM

Deeparathanai                       11:30 AM

Sayaratcha Deeparathanai     6:30 PM

Sribali                                     8:15 PM

Yeghanda Deeparathanai      8:25 PM

Temple contact number:

Ph:  04652 246 223

VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL

• It was built in 1970 in honour of Swami Vivekananda who is said to have attained enlightenment on the rock.
• According to local legends, it was on this rock that Goddess Kumari performed austerity.
• A meditation hall (Dhyana Mandapam) is also attached to the memorial for visitors to meditate.
• The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India.
• The Mandapams are so designed that the vision of Vivekananda in the statue would be seen direct towards the Shripadam.
• There is also Sri Padaparai Mandapam which is a shrine erected at the spot where the footprint of the Virgin Goddess is seen on the rock.

Memorial timings:

All days of the week.

8.00 A.M. to 4.00 P.M

THIRUVALLUVAR STATUE

• Thiruvalluvar was a noted poet and philosopher, known for his contribution to Tamil literature. He is globally renowned for his work Thirukkural, which is a collection of 1330 Tamil couplets. The Thiruvalluvar Statue was built in the memory of this great man and stands atop a small island rock, about 400 metres away from the coastline of Kanyakumari.
• The creator of this marvellous statue was Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati, who also made the Iraivan Temple. This spot was opened to public on 1st January 2000, and since then, it has been attracting people from near and far.
• The overall height of this structure is 133 feet (symbolic of 133 chapters in his book), including 38 feet high pedestal and 95 feet tall sculpture. Interestingly, the statue of Thiruvalluvar represents wealth and pleasure while the pedestal on which it stands depicts 38 chapters from the Thirukkural based on ‘Virtue’.
• Another interesting fact about this statue is that its 19 feet high face (including nose, ear, forehead, eyes and mouth) is made using single stone, carved by hand.
• Surrounding the three-tier pedestal (also called Atharapeedam) is an artistically constructed mandapa, known as Alankara Mandapam. Inside the mandapa, 140 steps lead visitors to the feet of Thiruvalluvar.

SUCHINDRAM THANUMALAYAN TEMPLE

Significance: 

• Famed for its architectural splendour, Thanumalayan Temple is a 17th century Hindu shrine in the Suchindrum town of Kanyakumari.
• It is also referred to as the Suchindrum Temple and Sthanumalayan Temple.
• Thanumalayan is a combination of three words, where Thanustands for Shiva, Mal for Vishnu and Ayan is a name of Brahma.
• As the name suggests, the Trinity of these Hindu deities is worshiped in the temple. The temple enshrines one feet tall lingam of Sri Sthanumalaya, which symbolises these three Gods and is housed in the sanctum sanctorum.
• Architecturally, the temple is an epitome of excellent craftsmanship. There are around 30 shrines within the Thanumalayan Temple, each boasting of impressive architecture.
• Moreover, the temple has several beautiful mandapas like Alangara Mandapam, Chempakaraman Mandapam and Garuda Mandapam.
• The major highlights of the Alangara Mandapam are its musical pillars. Melodious musical tunes can be heard from these pillars when tapped.
• The Chempakaraman Mandapam, on the other hand, is a pavilion serving as a display of art and architecture.

Legend

• As per the temple legend, the establishment of this shrine and the appearance of the Trinity is the result of the chastity test of Anasuya – Sage Atri’s wife.
• It states that once the Trinity visited the couple’s house as brahmans and requested for food, upon the condition that she would have to serve it nude.
• Using the power of her chastity, she turned them into babies and served the food as per their wish.
• Dismayed by the absence of their husbands, consorts of the Trinity visited Anasuya to find them, but failed to identify them. It was only after many requests that she brought them back to their original form.
• After this incident, a holy lingam emerged at the site, which is installed in the shrine.

Temple opening: (Opening and Closing timings)

All days of the week.

4.30 A.M. to 12.30 P.M

4.00 P.M. to 8.00 P.M.

Temple Pooja Timings:

Abhiseka for Moola lingam              4.15 AM

Abiseka for Thanumalayan deity     4.45 AM

Daily Festival Pooja                           5.30 AM

Tharai Abhisheka Pooja                    6:30 AM

Mistanga Pooja                                  7:00 AM

Uchikkala Pooja                                 11:00 AM

Arthajama Pooja                                 6:30 PM

Temple contact number:

Ph: 04652 241 421

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE

• Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in a place called Thuckalay in Kanyakumari.
• It is a sight to behold. Located on the foothills of the Velli Hills, the palace is spread across 4 kilometres.
• The palace is built of granite and offers the most stunning view against the backdrop of towering hills and lush foliage. Perhaps, the most enticing part of the palace is the mica coloured, dark and ornately decorated King’s Council Hall.

Palace opening:

All days of the week except Monday and National holidays.

9.00 A.M. to 12.30 P.M

2.00 P.M TO 4.30 P.M

How to reach Kanyakumari by Air

• The nearest airport is at Trivandrum (80 km). It is directly connected with Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa, and Chennai by regular flights.

How to reach Kanyakumari by Road

• Kanyakumari is connected to Thiruvananthapuram, Delhi, and Mumbai by broad-gauge railway network.
• Tirunelvelli (80 km) is the other nearest railway junction and can be reached by road via Nagarkoil (19 km).
• Kanyakumari is connected by road to Trivandrum (86 km), Nagarkoil (19 km), Tirunelvelli (91 km), Tiruchendur (89 km), Tuticorin (129 km), Rameshwaram (300 km), Courtallam (130 km), Madurai (242 km), Thekkady (358 km), Kodaikanal (362 km), Palani (370 km), Ootacamund (576 km), Cochin (309 km), and Coimbatore (478 km).