Kanyakumari travel guide

Best time

October to March

Nearest railway station

Kanyakumari

Nearest airport

Thiruvananthapuram (about 90 km)

Ideal time needed

1 to 2 days

Known for

Sunrise and sunset, Vivekananda Rock Memorial

What to see

The main sights are all within a short distance of the shore:

• Vivekananda Rock Memorial: built on a rock just offshore where Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated; it has a meditation hall and a bookshop on his teachings.
• Thiruvalluvar Statue: a 133-foot stone statue of the Tamil poet on the neighbouring rock, its height matching the 133 chapters of the Thirukkural.
• Kumari Amman (Bhagavathi Amman) Temple: an ancient shore temple to the virgin goddess Kanyakumari, from whom the town takes its name.
• Gandhi Mandapam: a memorial where Gandhiji's ashes were kept before immersion, designed so that sunlight falls on that spot on 2 October.
• Tsunami Memorial: remembers those who died in the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
• Mayapuri Wax Museum: wax figures of well-known Indian and international personalities.
• Vattakottai Fort: a small seaside fort a short drive up the coast.

Suchindram

About 11 km away, the Thanumalayan Temple at Suchindram honours the trinity of Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma in a single linga. It is known for its musical stone pillars and a tall image of Hanuman, and it is usually combined with a Kanyakumari visit.

Weather and best time

Kanyakumari is warm all year, with temperatures generally between the low 20s and low 30s °C. October to March is the most comfortable period and gives the best chance of clear sunrises. The monsoon brings heavy rain and high humidity, and choppy seas can stop the ferry to the rock memorial.

How to reach

Kanyakumari railway station has direct trains from many Indian cities, and the beach is only a short walk from it. Buses run daily from across Tamil Nadu and Kerala, and taxis and private vans are easy to find. There is no airport in town; the nearest are Thiruvananthapuram (about 90 km) and Madurai (about 240 km).

Tips for your visit

Reach the shore well before dawn for a good sunrise spot, and join the ferry queue early, as it gets long by mid-morning. The ferry does not run in rough weather. We can include Kanyakumari in a southern Tamil Nadu tour with Madurai, Rameswaram or Thiruvananthapuram.

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