Kanyakumari

The Rock has two Mandaps (halls); one belonging to Swami Vivekananda and the other belonging to a Holy Foot. The Holy Foot is a foot shaped carving found on the rock and is believed to be the footprint of Goddess Kumari who stood on this rock on one leg and performed the Tapasya (penance). The Rock memorial has a tall statue of Swami Vivekananda whose photographs are not allowed to be taken from inside the hall. Below the statue is mentioned the year of death of the Swamiji and the "probable" dates when Swamiji attained Samadhi on the rock. Here you can see both sunrise and sunset and it is one of the main tourist attractions. Golden hues of the Horizon are very impressive with a silhouette of the Rock Memorial. You should enter the main gate to the jetty for ferry before 4 pm, after that entry is denied. Nobody is allowed there after sunset, so if you were planning an evening visit hurry up and leave well before sunset so as to watch it from the beach. The last ferry leaves the island around sunset time with all the remaining visitors as well as the staff. The first stop of the ferry is the Vivekand Rock. People get off here for the Rock and those done with their visit get on to the ferry for its next stop at Thiruvalluvar Statue. From the Thiruvalluvar statue, the ferry returns to the boarding jetty. The ferry operator asks that you don a life saving jacket.
Update 2024:
A bridge has been installed between the two rocks on day 30 December 2024, so only one ride (and return) is enough to visit both.

Thiruvalluvar Statue is dedicated to arguably the greatest Tamil poet, philosopher and saint, Thiruvalluvar. The rock supports a huge statue of the saint carved out of many rocks that were then joined together. It was inaugurated in 2000. The statue is about 133 feet tall which corresponds to 133 chapters in the greatest epic written by the saint – Thirukkural. Tourists can climb up to the feet of the statue. The view from this point is quite breathtaking! It is a very entertaining and enlightening piece of work and inspires one to lead a very principled and moral life. It is a must read for anyone who visits this place and it is advisable to spend at least half an hour specially dedicated for this exercise.

Vivekanandapuram is the headquarters of the Vivekananda Kendra and the centre spreads over an area of 100 acres. There is a well stocked library within the premises. It is well connected. Buses are also regularly available from Vivekanandapuram to Kanyakumari. You can enjoy absolutely breathtaking views of sunrise from the beaches of Vivekanandapuram. It has its own boarding & lodging facilities, a post office and a bank on its premises.

Kanyakumari Devi Temple is the main reason for naming the place as Kannyakumari or the "Land of the unmarried girl". This temple is close to the beach. As per legend, the demon king, Banasura, had become powerful, and could be killed only by an unmarried lady. Devi Kanyakumari, a devotee of Shiva, wanted to marry the Lord. Lord Shiva promises to marry at an auspicious Brahma Muhurtham. Sage Narada, on request of the other Gods, takes the form of a rooster, and crows before dawn on a particular day, indicating the daybreak. Lord Shiva, who was on the way to marry Devi, returns stating that the auspicious moment is complete. Devi Kanyakumari fumes in anger and walks down into the garden to pacify herself. Devil Banasura is attracted by the Devi and tries to capture her. Already frustrated over the cancellation of marriage, Devi Kanyakumari slays the demon and brings back peace to the world. The speciality of the temple is the diamond nose stud worn on the statue of the Goddess, which was said to be highly dazzling, and confusing to sailors at high seas. Hence, the wall has been raised to block the view of the stud from the sea. Like any other temple of Kerala style, women have to be in a saree or chudidhar.

On the shoreline of the Bay of Bengal, the 100-year-old Church of Our Lady of Ransom is dedicated to Mother Mary. The Church, which is one of the most beautiful churches in India, looks beautiful against the backdrop of the beautiful blue sky. The Church of Our Lady of Ransom was built in the Gothic style of architecture with a strong Portuguese influence. The church is slightly off-white in appearance and has three massive towering spires and stained glass windowpanes contributing to its overall grandeur. Another attraction of the church is the Central Tower. It's 153 feet high and is crowned with a cross of pure gold. (Interestingly, the dimensions of the church structures are based on the count of beads in the rosary). There are a few things about the church that make the visitors gasp with awe as they enter. The church boasts a beautiful statue of Mother Mary clad in a saree. Surprisingly, as compared with the grand and ornate exteriors, the visitors are quite taken aback by the simplicity of its interiors. There is just a tiny cross that adorns the altar. There are no church benches and the masses are held inside the church in normal days and outside on the clean sands during carnivals and occasions. The prayers are held in Tamil considering the parish here mainly comprises the local fishing folks. However, English masses are being conducted lately. Be on the lookout for the 10-day carnival festival during the second week of December every year. It is vibrant and colourful with the fishing hamlets of other nearby places and people of other religions celebrate together.

Tsunami Memorial is a monument recognizing the tragic events of the 2004 tsunami that claimed the lives of many Kanyakumari denizens. It is near the south shore. The monument is made of uniquely coloured items such as a wave, a flame, and human hands, together.

Gandhi Mandapam Such is the beauty of Kanyakumari that a lot of people find themselves attracted to it. Mahatma Gandhi too could not resist its charm, and there is a place here dedicated to him called Gandhi Mandapam. This is the place, as told by locals, where one could witness the 'Sangam' (confluence) of the three oceans. Gandhi arrived here and succumbed to the beauty of the place as described in his beautiful words inscribed below his portrait in the Mandapam. After he died, his ashes were brought to this place. The Gandhi Mandapa is engineered in such a way that at the place where the ashes were kept stands a small stone which is said to receive the Sun's rays only on the 2nd of October, Gandhi's birthday, every year through a small hole on the roof.

Kamarajar Mani Mantapa Monument was raised and dedicated to a freedom fighter and Former Chief minister of Tamil Nadu, President of the Indian National Congress, Mr Kamarajar. He's also popularly known as Black Gandhi among the masses. Like the Gandhi Mantapa, this place is where Kamarajar's ashes were kept for the public to pay homage to before immersion into the sea.