Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu)

Hotels & Resorts in Kanyakumari

Hotel	Grade	Rate per couple	Plan
Hotel Cape Residency	*******	Tariff	Room only
Hotel Singaar International	*******	Tariff	Room only
Hotel Parvathi Residency	**	Tariff	Room only
New Cape Hotel	**	Tariff	Room only
Melody Park Hotel	**	Tariff	Room only

Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here.

Kanyakumari was once referred to as the Alexandria of the east. This place has been a great center for art, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for years. It was also a famous center for commerce and trade. During the early part of the eighth century AD Islam entered the southern part of India through the sea route with traders and missionaries. Through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, Christianity arrived in this area in AD 52. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have greatly contributed to the architectural wealth and literary heritage of this place.

Kanyakumari was also under the control of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks who were great rulers of south India. The architectural beauty of the temples is the work of these rulers. During the British Raj, Kanyakumari was bestowed the dry title of Cape Comorin, necessitated perhaps by the Englishmen's inability to pronounce local names.

Legend has it that Kanya Devi, an avatar of Goddess Parvati, was to wed Lord Shiva, the destroyer in the Hindu trinity. But he did not turn up at the auspicious time and the wedding never took place. The rice and cereals meant for the marriage remained uncooked. Even today, one can buy stones there that look exactly like rice and cereals. Local folks believe that they are the leftovers of the legendary marriage that could not be solemnized. As for the princess Kanya Devi, she became a virgin goddess blessing pilgrims and tourists alike.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Area: 25.89-sq-km
Population: 18,900 (1991 Census)
Latitude: N 8o 3' to 8o 35'
Longitude: E 77o 05' to 77o 36'
Clothing: Light Cottons
Languages Spoken: Tamil, Malayalam, English
STD Code: 04652
Climate: Tropical
Temperature Range (deg C):
Summer- Max 34.8ºC, Min 22.4ºC
Winter- Max 33.8ºC, Min 21.6ºC
Rainfall: (Average) 102 cms

PLACES TO VISIT

Kanyakumari Temple
Gandhi Memorial
Vivekananda Memorial
Sunrise-Sunset-Moonrise

EXCURSIONS

Nagercoil 19 kms
Padmanabhapuram Palace 45 kms
Sunchindrum 13 kms
Tiruchendur 85 kms
Udyagiri 34 kms
Vattakottai 6 kms

HOW TO GET THERE?

Air: Nearest airport Trivandrum (80 kms) is directly connected with Bangalore, Bombay, Cochin, Delhi, Goa and Chennai.

Rail: Kanyakumari is connected to Trivandrum, Delhi and Bombay by broad guage. Tirunelveli (80 kms) is the other nearest railway junction which can be reached by road via Nagaarcoil (19 kms).

Road: Kanyakumari is connected by road to Trivandrum- 86 kms, Nagercoil- 19 kms, Tirunelveli- 91 kms, Tiruchendur via Ovari- 89 kms, Tuticorin (via Ovari- Tiruchendur)- 129 kms, Rameshwaram via Tuticorin- 300 kms, Courtallam (via Tiruncleveli-Tenkasi)- 130 kms, Madurai via Tirunelveli- 242 kms, Thekkady 358 kms, Kodaikanal via Madurai- 362 kms, Palani via Madurai- 370 kms, Ootacamund (via Madurai-Palanai-Coimbatore)- 576 kms, Cochin (via Quilon-Trivandrum)- 309 kms, Coimbatore (via Madurai-Dindugal)- 478 kms.

Bus: Kanyakumari is connected by regular bus services with Chennai, Pondicherry, Bangalore, Trichy, Madurai, Mandapam ( Rameswaram ), Nagercoil, Tuticorin, Tiruchendur, Tiruvelveli, Trivandrum etc.