Kanyakumari is also known as Cape Comorin. The Cape festival is celebrated on a large scale for three days at Kanyakumari. The festival is marked by a series of cultural programs. At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean, and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is also famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days.

The city of Kanyakumari is surrounded by beautiful beaches and is one of the known pilgrimages of India. A dip in the ocean here is considered holy, but the sea is rough here and not fit for bathing. This is the only place in India, where the sunset and moonrise can be viewed simultaneously on a full moon day.

The sea is fairly rough, so it is entertaining to watch it beat itself against the rocks and then subside, before it gathers itself up for another attack. The one of the main attractions of the city is the temple of Goddess Bhagavathi.In its early form the temple seems to have been built by the first Pandyas.

There are three Prakaras in the temple. The image of the Goddess in the sanctum is marvelous in its serenity and beneficence. Other famous tourist spots of Kankyakumari are the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the temple at Suchindram.This temple is a fine, large fane, with a beautiful tank. It is one of the few temples in the country where the Trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Isvara, are worshipped.

Palace to visit

Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Built in 1970, this memorial is dedicated to Swami Vivekananda, the greatest social reformer and saint that India has produced. Swami Vivekananda had meditated on the rock where the memorial stands today at the end of 1892 before his departure for Chicago to participate in the World Religious Conference in 1893. A meditation hall is also attached with the memorial. Timings : 8 am to 4 pm

Gandhi Memorial
On Gandhiji's birthday ( October-2nd ) the Sun rays fall on the spot where his ashes were placed before immersion.

Guganathaswamy Temple
This 1000 year old temple is said to have been built by Raja Raja Chola. It is near the railway station.

Excursions

Padmanabhapuram (45 Kms )
The capital of Travancore until 1333, Padmanabhapuram is known for its fort which encloses, among other buildings, a palace and a temple. The palace has some important art relics while the Ramaswamy temple has exquisitely carved panels depicting scenes from the Ramayana.

Kalakkadu and Mundanthurai
Both these two Wild Life Sanctuaries are situated in an extensive preserve; later declared as a " Project Tiger Reserve ". Kalakkadu is situated in an area of 223 sq. km. in Tirunelveli District. The flora ranges from tropical wet evergreen to tropical dry decidious and thorn forest at down hills. Lion tailed macaque, Nigiri langur, Bonnet macaque and common langur, Nilgiri Tahr, sambar, Sloth bear, gour, elephant, tiger, flying squirrel and panther wild dog are some of the wildlife seen in this sanctuary. there is nothing to differentiate Mundanthurai sanctuary from that of Kalakkadu except the presence of the elephant and gaur.

Nagercoil (19kms)
The Nagaraja temple is situated here. Though Nagaraja ( Serpent God ) is the presiding deity, the images of Lord Siva and Ananthakrishna are also enshrined here. The images of the Jain Theerthangaras and Mahavira are found on the pillars of the temple. The Nagaraja is installed on the ground where it was originally found and the sand scooped out is given as prasadam to the devotees. The entrance to the temple is reminiscent of the Chinese architecture of a Buddhist Vihar.

Udhayagiri Fort ( 34 kms.)
Built during the regime of King Marthanda Varma ( 1729-1758 ) this fort also had foundry for casting guns. De Lennoy's Tomb is in this fort. He was one of the 24 European prisoners taken by King Marthanda Varma in 1741 when when he defeated the Dutch at Colachel. He joined King Marthanda Varma and became a trusted General. He trained soldiers in the European method of fighting.