The place gets its name from the virgin goddess ‘Kanyakumari Amman’. Myths say that goddess ‘Parvati’ disguised as Devi Kanniya did a penance in one of the rocks in this place to reach the hand of Lord Shiva. Hence, this area is a popular pilgrimage destination also. Located in the southernmost point of India, this place hosts wonderful scenes of sunsets and sunrises. It becomes very beautiful at night, especially on full moon nights. The multi-colored sand here is its unique feature and loved by the tourists coming here.
Few good hotels in Kanyakumari accept international credit cards. There are few ATMs in the city. It is best to carry cash to this place. There may not be many moneychangers here so it is best to carry Indian currency.
No permits are required to travel to Kanyakumari. Just a visa to India is all that is needed.
By Air:Trivandrum which is 80 km away is the nearest airport to Kanyakumari.
International Flight:
The nearest airport to Kanyakumari is at Trivandrum, 80 km away. It connects Kanyakumari to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Cochin, and Goa by regular flights, apart from being served by numerous Middle-Eastern airlines offering onward connections to Europe and the Americas.
By Road: Kanyakumari also has a good network of roads which connect the city to Trivandrum (85 km), Nagarkoil (19km), Tuticorin (129 km), Ooty (576 km), and Cochin which is 309 km away
By Rail: It is well connected by train with Trivandrum, Mumbai and Delhi by vast railway network.
The main attraction is Kumari Amman Temple also popularly known as Kanyakumari Temple. It is located at the shore and its ghat is a great attraction to the religious and nature-lovers alike.
The Gandhi memorial was built at the place where Mahatma’s ashes were displayed for public viewing before immersion. The first rays of the sun fall exactly on the same spot where the ashes of the father of the nation were kept.
Vattakottai, a fort located 6 km away from Kanyakumari is an 18th century fort overlooking the beautiful view of the sea.
The Udayagiri Fort is a popular tourist attraction. It was built by the King Marthanda Varma in the year AD 1728. The fort sports a foundry inside for the casting of the guns
The Temple of Nagaraja is 20km away. Located at Nagarkoil, it is a giant temple dedicated to Lord Nagaraj. Here are also some shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The architecture used here resembles the Chinese and Buddhist Architecture.
45 km away from Kanyakumari, you would also find the Padmanabhapuram palace which is a huge mansion built by the Travancore Kings. This palace is famous for its natural splendor.
Perched at a height of 167m in Kanyakumari, you would find the Courtallam Fall which is believed to possess medicinal properties.
The food served here is regular Tamil cuisine and largely comprises rice and pulses. Besides rice, idlis and uttapam, a variety of curries and condiments are popular with rice. You can also enjoy the rasam, payasam, kuttu, avial, and sambhar. The cuisine is also influenced by Kerela and you would find its various delicacies here. Apart from local food, you may also find some continental food on the menu for you to savour.
There are several good restaurants and eating joints or you can also enjoy the snacks at small joints located on the road sides scatted all around Kanyakumari.
Where To Stay:
There are all kinds of accommodation options available in Kanyakumari and you could choose the one which best suited to your taste and budget. Most of the hotels and lodges are strategically located near tourist attractions.
