Scrolling the pictures of Kanyakumari, I didnt even realise when did i zone out, enjoy a vacation there and land back in the same old chair again. I tried to think what just happened and how Kanyakumari consumed me so much. To which my overexcited heart replied ‘bro it must be the verdant beauty and culturally rich tourist attractions of Kanyakumari’. Thank you my little red blood pumping hood! I know you who are reading this and I are somewhere on the same page as you were also thinking of a holiday getaway in Kanyakumari.
Why don’t you join me as I take you for a blissful virtual experience to the top places and also talk about the best things to do in Kanyakumari via this blog. So let this travel guide be your best companion for your journey to the most loved city of Tamilnadu, Kanyakumari.
* Kanyakumari Devi TempleSo now that we have virtually travelled all the way to Kanyakumari, let’s first take a spiritual tour to the most revered temple of the city, Kanyakumari Devi Temple. This temple that has its foundation dating back to over 3000 years and it is dedicated to Shakti or Devi Kanya Kumari who is worshipped in the form of a girl child performing penance. The shrine is also revered as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas which are the abode of the divinity Shakti and are the places where the body parts of the Goddess fell when Lord Shiva was carrying her corpse. The goddess’s back is said to have fallen in Kanyakumari. The idol that is worshipped in the temple which is carved out from a blue stone facing the east and is adorned with a nose jewel and a rosary in hand is believed to be made by the Sage Parasurama.
* Thiruvalluvar StatueHow about a ferry ride to capture the statue built in the memory of the famous Tamil poet and philosopher, Thiruvalluvar on your camera? I think it’s going to be super fun. Well this statue which is located some 400 metres away and is set up on a small island was a tribute to Thiruvalluvar who bestowed Tamil literature with his famous work on Secular ethics and morality. Are the thoughts about the architecture of the statue circling around your mind? Don’t worry I have got your back. Apparently, everything about this statue denotes something, like the height of the statue which is 133 feet throws spot on the 133 chapters of the Tirukkural out of which the sculpture is 90 feet high and the pedestal is 38 foot which denotes the 38 chapters of virtue, the first book. Followed by the sculpture denoting the second and third book of the Kural text love and wealth. The statue as a whole gives out the meaning that love and wealth shall be earned and relished on the foundation of solid virtue. Apart from this the three fingers of the artist point upwards which denotes Aram(Virtue), Porul (Wealth), Inbam (Love), the three cantos of Kural text. Besides, the slight bend touch on the waist signifies Lord Nataraja and was another amazing addition to the statue by its sculptor Dr. V. Ganapati Sthapati.
* Vivekananda Rock MemorialLet’s continue the joy filled ferry ride and make our way to the next panoramically set sightseeing place, Vivekananda Rock Memorial. This popular tourist attraction built in the year 1970 is a tribute to Swami Vivekananda who according to sayings attained enlightenment on this same rock. Besides, according to a myth it is believed that this was the rock where Goddess Kumari performed austerity. Talking about the architecture of the memorial, it is intricately designed keeping the beautifully carved temples across India in mind. Apart from housing the Shripada Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam, the memorial shelters a Dhyana Mandapam which is specially built for the travellers from across the globe to meditate and relax.
* Padmanabhapuram PalaceThere are chances that you must have heard about this abode of the Travancore rulers, Padmanabhapuram Palace. It was the Venad ruler, Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal who gave Thucklay this palace dipped in Kerala style of architecture around 1601 AD. Later around 1750 not only did Padmanabhapuram Palace got a face lift but also its name which was given by King Marthanda Varma who ruled the kingdom by the name Padmanabha dasa(Servant of Lord Padmanabha) and devoted the whole kingdom to the family deity Sree Padmanabha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. What might attract you on your sightseeing tour to this wooden palace are the floral carvings, murals from 17th and 18th centuries, black granite floor, pictures of Krishna, mahogany musical bow, windows of coloured mica to name a few.
* Vattakottai FortLets now jump to the next tourist place which is a seaside fort on the southern tip of India, Vattakottai Fort. It was somewhere around the 18th century that Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, the commander of the Travancore army and an ex-Dutch naval officer who belonged to Dutch East India Company constructed this fort which is set amid the panoramic view of the Western Ghats on one side and the sea on the other. The reason for building this fort was to strengthen the coastal defence of the Travancore Kingdom. Vattakottai Fort is a protected site under the Indian archaeological department which was recently revamped which made it one of the top places to visit in Kanyakumari.
* Thanumalayan TempleBringing forth a calming and spiritually rejuvenating experience for all the Hindu worshippers is the Thanumalayan temple situated some 13 km away from the city of Kanyakumari. What usually pull in travellers to this famous temple of Kanyakumari is its exceptional architecture, like its finely carved sculptures and seven-storey white Gopuram which are stellar. Moreover, the temple that stands now in Suchindram was built in the 17th century and sees worshippers bowing down to laud Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma who are also a part of the temple’s name where “Stanu” refers to Siva; “Mal” to Vishnu; and the “Ayan” means Lord Brahma.
* Mathur AqueductCarved over the Pahruli river with a strong foundation of 28 pillars is the next pick on this blog, Mathur Aqueduct which is also known as Mathoor Hanging Trough. The purpose behind this aqueduct was to carry water for irrigation from one hill to the other. The aqueduct owns its name from a village named Mathoor and is one of the most important parts of Kanyakumari. Mathur aqueduct is settled some 60 kms away from the city and is known as the highest and longest aqueducts in the whole of South Asia.
* Our Lady of Ransom ChurchIf you are probably enjoying at the beach and turn a little bit then you might just be pulled in by the exquisite architecture of church draped in white, Our Lady of Ransom Church. This place of worship is one of the top sites to visit in Kanyakumari and one of my favourites as well. What grabbed my attention was doubtlessly the architectural style which is portrayed by the simple stained glasswork on the doors and the windows, gold altar adorned with a statue of Mother Mary, idols of Christ, disciples and soldiers carved out intricately. It is believed that St.Thomas, a disciple of Jesus came for a visit to the area and to preach about Christianity. And since then, 50% of the state is filled with Christians.
* Gandhi MandapamAfter the demise of the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, portion of his ashes were sent to different destinations in India and Kanyakumari was one of them. The ashes were kept here before they were dissolved in the sea. And what stands now in the city of Kanyakumari named Gandhi Mandapam, is the exact place where the ashes were once kept. At a close proximity to Kumari Amman temple and the sea shore, this place exhibits Odisha style of architecture where the central shape of the memorial is 79 feet high which depicts the age of Mahatma Gandhi. Furthermore, one thing that might interest you is a hole in the roof which is styled in such a way that on his birthday i.e., 2nd October the sunlight falls on the exact same place where his ashes were kept.
* Chitharal Jain monumentsThe last must visit place that we cover before we move on in the blog are the Chitharal Jain Monuments. The village that this popular attraction was known for being the shelter of the Jain monks of the Digambara sect and was named as Thirucharanathupalli. It is believed that these monuments in the Chitharal village are the ruins of a Jain training centre that belonged to the 9th century CE. Along with this, the place is popularly known for a cave that houses rock cut sculptures of Tirthankaras and other deities. It was the Jain Tamil King Mahendravarman-I who brought with him the air of Jain influence in the area. Later in 1250 AD, it was transformed into a Hindu temple and the image of the Goddess Bhagavathy was started being idolised here. Apart from the 9 stone inscriptions that belong to this place, there are statues of 23 Jain Tirthankaras that remain untouched till date.