Kanyakumari, located on the southern most tip of India, is also known as Cape Comorin. Here is the meeting point of three seas – the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
Kanyakumari is known not only of its magnificent sunrise and sunset; it is also the only place in India where one can have the unique experience of watching sunset and moonrise simultaneously on a full moon evening.
Although it is another coastal town, of which we have seen many for the past few days, somehow, this place is different, distinct and special in its own way. The twin islands few hundred meters offshore stand out prominently. And from above where I was standing outside a hotel, I could see hundreds of people lining up waiting for the ferry to take them to the little islands. Atop these twin islands are Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the statue of poet Thiruvalluvar.
Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial
The memorial was built in 1970 in memory of Swami Vivekananda who meditated on the rock before he brought his moral message abroad.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
Dubbed the ‘Statue of Liberty’ of India, the statue was erected in 2000 in honour of the poet Thiruvalluvar. The statue stands at 133 ft in height which reflects the no. of chapter of the poet’s book Thirukural.
Our visit to the town also coincided with the Pongal Tourist Festival 2010 celebration (see ‘story’ below).
Street of Kanyakumari
Colourful decoration pieces made from seashells (above and below)
Sunrise in Kanyakumari (above and below)
St Xavier Church (above and below)
Kanyakumari shore
St Xavier Church in the background
Main thoroughfare near the seafront
Pilgrims from other parts of the state / country
Long queue to the ferry
Place where the three seas – the Bay of Bengal,the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea – meet
Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial (left)and the statue of poet Thiruvalluvar (right)
Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Sunrise calendar
Statue of poet Thiruvalluvar
The ferry
View from the twin islands (above and below 2)
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