Kanyakumari

Kanniyakumari has an average elevation of 0 meter. It lies at the meeting point of three bodies of water: the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Mannar and the Indian Ocean. It is the confluence of the Western Coastal Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains. On the north and the east, it is bounded by Tirunelveli District, while on the west and northwest it is bounded by Kerala state.

It is located at the southern-most tip of mainland India.

Since the early 1970s, tourism has been an important activity in the town. Because of this it is one of the few small towns in South India where one can see many of the different languages of India spoken in the street.

Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies – the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea – makes the sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings, (locally called ChitraPournami) one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time.

Daybreak at Kanyakumari

On two rocky islands just off the shore, southeast of the Kumari Amman temple, are the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, built in 1970, and the 133 feet (41 m) tall statue of Tamil saint–poet Thiruvalluvar, one of the biggest statues in Asia, completed in 2000 by sculptor V. GanapatiSthapati. One of the rocks, called Sri Padhaparai, is said to bear the footprints of the virgin goddess. Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated on this rock for three days. Also on this rock, there is a Dhyanamandapam, an area for meditation. Ferry services are available to reach the memorial.
Sunrise in Kanyakumari with Vivekananda rock and Thiruvalluvar Statue in the foreground ‘Baywatch’ (a water amusement-park), and wax museum (the only one of its kind in India) are the newest attractions, located within 2 km (1.2 mi) from Kanyakumari.

Mathur Aqueduct – one of the largest Aqueducts in Asia.

While Kanyakumari town has tourist attractions of its own, the district has many more, from centuries-old historic and religious sites to scenic places. The district is also rich in flora and fauna. A unique feature of Kanyakumari district is that it has all kinds of natural eco-systems. Thus, one can see beaches, mountain valleys, evergreen forests in the deep interior, rubber and clove plantations on the highlands, etc.

The tourist attractions around Kanyakumari include:

• Baywatch Amusement Park, Kanyakumari
• Baywatch Amusement Park, Kanyakumari
• Map showing near-by areas and Panchapathi
• View of the Western Ghats at Keeriparai
• Chothavilai Beach, near Nagercoil