Kanyakumari | Kanyakumari Tour from Chennai

Memories of Mahatma...

This memorial is to Gandhi, the Father of Indian Nation, who had visited Kanyakumari in 1925 and 1937. It is raised at the spot where his ashes were kept for public darshan before immersion. The architecture of the memorial is such that the Sun's rays fall at the spot where the ashes were kept, on 2nd October, Gandhi's birthday. The Mandapam is built in Odissi style of architecture and designed in such a way that on his birthday, 2 October, the rays of the sun, through a hole on the roof, falls exactly on the place where the urn was kept. Its central shape is 79 feet high representing the age of the Mahatma.

Quick Glimpses:

Timings - 07:00 am to 07:00 pm, Entrance ticket - Free

The Virgin Goddess Kanyakumari...

The 3000 year old Kumari Amman temple at this place is dedicated to Virgin Goddess Kanyakumari, who stands in eternal vigil protecting the country, is surrounded by a stone wall and stands on the edge of the ocean. The Devi Kumari, an incarnation of Parvati, vowed to remain a virgin to her dying day after her meddling gods prevented her marriage to Shiva. Legend says that the exceptionally brilliant diamond in the deity's nose is visible even from the sea, and the sea-facing temple door is kept closed to prevent ships being misguided by the gem's shimmer.

Quick Glimpses:

Timings - Morning: 4:30am to 12:30pm and Evening 4:00pm to 8:00pm, Entry - Free

The Place of Enlightenment..

This Grand Memorial to the great Indian Philosopher Swami Vivekananda is on one of the twin rocks cutting out from the sea about 400 meters offshore. There is a Dhyana mandapam where one can sit in a serene atmosphere and meditate. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India and houses a statue the great philosopher Swami Vivekananda. People also came to see Sri Pada Parai, where the ''footprint'' of the Devi has enshrined on the rock. Swami Vivekananda came down to Kanyakumari on 24.12.1892 before his departure for Chicago to participate in the World Religious Conference in 1893. He sat on meditation on this rock for two days and became powerful spiritual leader and philosopher. The Memorial inaugurated in 1970 and is a blend of various architectural styles of India. It is an architectural masterpiece. The Memorial consists of two main structures- Swami Vivekananada Rock Memorial and Sri Pada Mandapam.

Quick Glimpses:

Timings - 08:00 am to 04:00 pm, Entrance ticket - Rs.10/-,

Ferry Service - 08:00 am to 04:00 pm, Ferry Service Fare - Rs.34/- for adult and Rs.17/- for students

Golden Tamil Poetic Legend...

The massive statue immortalizes the writer of the Tamil classic, Thirukkural. The statue is exactly 133 ft tall, to correspond with the 133 chapters of his most famous work. Stairs allow visitors to stand at his giant feet. The 3 tier pedestal known as Athara Peedam is surrounded by an artistic Mandapa known as Alankara Mandapam with 38 feet height. The pedestal with a height of 38 feet represents the 38 chapters in the Book of Aram in Thirukural and the statue of 95 feet on the pedestal represents the total chapters in Porul (70 chapters) and Inbam (25 Chapters). Thus the statue symbolically, and artistically signifies that the theme of Porul and Inbam are based on Aram.

Quick Glimpses:

Timings - 08:00 am to 04:00 pm, Ferry Service - 08:00 am to 04:00 pm,

Ferry Service - Rs.20/-