Most tourist destinations,
temples,
churches
and other places of interest feature just one or two major things, which
become the main cause for people to visit that particular location. Some
other places, however, go far beyond being a mere vacation spot - a place to
enjoy and sightsee.
Such is
Kanyakumari,
a beautiful, quaint district in South India. Presenting several tourist
destinations, places of worship, national monuments and much more; this
locale is far more than just a vacationer's destination. This is indeed a
place to remember; a veritable spiritual experience, to appreciate and
cherish for a long time to come.
Kanyakumari at Dusk - Photo Print
This month on Dolls Of India, we bring you a detailed feature on this
beautiful locale called Kanyakumari, also throwing light on every aspect
that makes this region more than worthy of its exalted place in the map of
the world.
Kanyakumari - The District
Kanyakumari district is located in the southernmost tip of Tamil Nadu. Also
popularly known as Cape Comorin; the district borders with Tirunelveli, the
Gulf of Mannar, the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Thiruvananthapuram
district in Kerala.
Densely populated and urbanized, this city comes a close second to the
metropolis of Chennai. This is also the richest district in terms of income,
literacy and education.
Kanyakumari features a varied topography, with seas on three sides and
mountains bordering the north. Including a multi-religious population
comprising
Hindus,
Christians,
Muslims,
Buddhists,
Sikhs and
Jains, this
region features a variety of art, cultures, traditions and schools of
philosophical thought.
It also has a colorful history, with many great rulers and dynasties taking
over its rule, such as the Pandyans, the Cheras, the Cholas, the Ays and the
Nayaks. Besides, this district also proudly associates itself with great
sages and seers such as Agastya, Vyasa, Tolkaappiyar, Avvaiyyaar and, most
importantly, Thiruvalluvar.
History
The present-day Kanyakumari was part of the old Ay kingdom during the
ancient Sangam period. After the decline of this kingdom, the region became
Venad, with its capital, Padmanabhapuram, located in Nagercoil. Invaded
several times for its wealth, the region was in anarchy before Marthanda
Varma's rule from 1729 AD. He then brought order to it, by annexing nearby
kingdoms and putting an end to the feudal lords. He also established the
state of Travancore, which brought the much-needed stability to the region.
Kanyakumari flourished under Marthanda Varma's able rule. Later, the
Maharajas of Travancore built forts at Aramboly, in order to prevent
invasion. Then, during the time of the British Rule, this area became part
of the reestablished Travancore Cochin state.
Festivals
- The home to peoples coming from many religious beliefs and cultures,
this district celebrates a variety of festivals. The Mandaikadu
festival, celebrated in March over a ten-day period, used to be one of
the major fetes.
- Today, the 9-day Navaratri Pooja is celebrated in a big way in and
around Nagerkoil. Devotees leave the Sushintharam temple in Nagercoil
and undertake a yatra (spiritual journey) all the way to
Thiruvananthapuram. The Lord Muruga
from the Kumarakoil temple also accompanies his mother, Devi Parvati,
throughout this yatra. This ancient tradition has been maintained since
the year 1840.
- Kootalmoodu is yet another major 10-day festival. Here, devotees run
to 12 Shiva
temples situated around the district. The ceremony, called
Shivalaya Ottam, starts one day before Shivaratri. It ends in grand
fireworks, starting in the night and going on till early morning the
next day.
- Besides these, festivals including the Ayya Vaikunda Avataram,
Deepavali and Christmas are also celebrated with great enthusiasm by
people of all communities.
Rivers and Forests
The major and minor rivers in Kanyakumari include Thamirabarani (also known
as Kuzhithuriar), Valliar, the Pazhayar and the Pahrali River.
The lush forests in the district are about 75 million years old. There are
14 types of forests, ranging from tropical wet evergreen to tropical thorn
forests. They are presently maintained through the Kanyakumari Forest
Division. The most important timbers include teak, rosewood, vengai and
aini. Besides, this is the only district in Tamil Nadu where medicinal
herbs, rubber and clove plantations are maintained within the forest reserve
area.
Presumably, the region has a vast and diverse fauna as well. Here, one can
find at least 25 types of mammals and about 60 species of birds, several
species of fishes, amphibians and reptiles.
Places of Interest
Kanyakumari boasts of several tourist destinations; the most important of
which are as follows:
- The Padmanabhapuram Palace
- Chothavilai Beach
- Vattakottai Fort
- St. Xavier's Church
- Bawa Kassim Valiyullah Masjid, Elankadai
- Suchindram Temple
- The Panchappathi, five primary sacred places of Ayyavazhi
- Thiruvithamcode Arappally or Thomaiyar Kovil
- Udayagiri Fort
- Mathoor Hanging Trough, near Thiruvattar
- The Chitharal Jain Monuments
- Thiruparrapu Falls
We will bring you more details about each of these places in a later section
of this article.
Tsunami
This district was one of the worst affected during the tsunami that ravaged
several countries in South and South East Asia on 26 December, 2004. A
tsunami memorial has been erected in order to commemorate the loss of
several hundreds of lives during this unfortunate tragedy.
Kanyakumari - The Goddess
Devi Kanyakumari is the Goddess Shree Bhagavathi, in the form of an
adolescent girl. She is also known as Shree Baala Bhadra, Shree Baala, Kanya
Devi and Devi Kumari. Her temple is located in Cape Kanyakumari. It is
believed that Sage Parashurama consecrated her temple. Considered to be very
powerful, this temple pulls in scores of devotees seeking the Devi's grace.
Kanyakumari Temple - Laminated Picture
History
The worship of Devi Kanyakumari dates back to the Ramayana, Mahabharata and
the Puranas. She has been mentioned in all of the above, plus the Sangam
works and the Upanishads as well.
On the advice of his Guru Sri
Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa, Swami
Vivekananda
came here to seek her blessings in December 1892. Incidentally, she is the
Goddess of Sanyasa or celibacy. Swami Brahmananda and Swami Nirmalananda,
two other disciples of Paramahamsa, also worshipped the Goddess. In fact,
the latter even brought young girls from many parts of Kerala to worship the
Bhagavathi. These seven girls later became the members of the first batch of
Nuns of the Sarada Ashram.
Legend of Kanyakumari
According to mythology, there was once an asura (demon) called Bana, who
ruled this land. He undertook penance to please Lord
Brahma.
When the latter appeared before him, he sought the boon that he would be
killed only at the hands of an adolescent virgin girl.
Having gotten the boon, he was sure that he would not die. He became
arrogant and wreaked havoc on the world. He even went to Indraloka to
dethrone Indra, the King of the Gods and then banished all the rest of the
Devas too. The Devas then went to Goddess Parvati, requesting her to destroy
the
asura,
and thus restore balance to the world. The Bhagavathi manifested herself in
the southern tip of Aryavartha, in order to kill Bana.
Parvati - Temple Mural Poster
The adolescent Bhagavathi was immensely devoted towards Lord Shiva. The
latter, pleased with her bhakti, decided that he would marry her. All the
arrangements were underway for their marriage. Lord Shiva then started a
journey from Suchindram for the marriage.
At that time, Sage
Narada
recalled that Bana could be killed only by a virgin girl. He decided that he
would have to stop the Devi from getting married. The marriage muhurtham
(auspicious time) was set at Brahma Muhurtham, that is, in the wee hours of
the morning. Narada made the sound of a cock, thus sending the wrong
information that the sun had already risen and that the Brahma Muhurtham had
passed. Disappointed that the set muhurtham had passed, Shiva and his
entourage returned back to Suchindram.
In the meantime, the poor young girl waited for her Lord to come and wed
her. When he did not come, she assumed that he had rejected her.
Grief-stricken and seething in pain, she destroyed everything she set her
eyes on. When she finally regained her composure, she decided that she would
remain a celibate for life. She then became a Sanyasin and devoted her life
for penance.
Ages later, Banasura, not realizing who she actually was, tried to approach
the Devi. Infuriated to be disturbed during penance, Bhagavathi took the
form of the terrible Bhadrakali and effortlessly killed Bana. Moments before
breathing his last, Bana realized his folly and sought forgiveness from the
Devi. Bhagavathi calmed down, blessed him and maintained her presence in
this place, Kanyakumari.
The Goddess, who is believed to be
Lord
Krishna's sister, is worshipped by women to get a good husband.
Krishna's mother's brother, the evil Kamsa, killed all his sister's children
immediately after their birth. The child just before Krishna's birth was a
girl.
Kamsa
lifted the child and threw her against the wall. The aura of Devi Katyayani
arose from this infant and warned Kamsa, that he would most definitely die
at the hands of Krishna. Sure enough, Kamsa met his end at the hands of his
own nephew, Krishna.
Iconography
The Devi is shown as a charming young girl, standing on a pedestal, holding
a rosary in her right hand. There is an image of a lion in her pedestal,
thus establishing her as a form of Durga. She is adorned with a sparkling
nose ring, which sheds lustrous radiance. It is believed that this nose ring
is so bright that it can be seen from afar in the night. According to
legend, an ancient mariner once mistook the brilliance of the glinting nose
ring to be a light house. He followed the light, only to be wrecked upon the
rocks of Kanyakumari. In order to prevent further tragedy, the eastern door
of the temple remains shut and is opened only on five special occasions
throughout the year.
Kanyakumari - Laminated Board Picture
Attractions inside the Temple
- A four-pillar hall in the temple is famous because each of those
pillars gives the sound of the Veena (stringed instrument), a Mridanga
(percussion instrument), Venu (flute) and Jalataranga (porcelain
instrument).
- Other attractions within the temple include the Pathala Ganga Teertham
and the Kalabhairava Shrine. Kalabhairava is the ferocious form of
Shiva, who destroyed everything after the death of his beloved Sati. The
name of Kalabhairava in this temple is "Nimish" and Shakti is addressed
as "Sarvani" here. There are additional shrines dedicated to
Vijayasundari and Balasundari, who are friends and playmates of Devi
Kanyakumari.
- The Navaratri Mandapam is yet another specialty of this temple. Here,
devotees converge on a stage to display their musical and artistic
abilities in order to please the Goddess.
- One can find a Sri Pada Paara, a rock in the shape of the footprint of
the Devi. This is now famous as the Vivekananda Rock, where Swami
Vivekananda got enlightenment.
Worship
Devi Kanyakumari is worshipped in the Keralite way. For the purpose of
rituals, the Goddess is imagined as Balambika (Child Goddess). She is also
considered as Devi Katyayani, one of the
Nava
Durgas.
Incidentally, this temple is one of the Shakti Peethas. It is believed that
the spine area of Goddess Sati (or Dakshayani) had fallen here. Devi Sati
had jumped into the sacrificial fire when her arrogant father refused to
acknowledge or respect her husband, Lord Shiva.
A furious Shiva picked up her lifeless body and took it back to his abode.
Here, Vishnu cut up the body of
Sati
into several pieces, using his Sudarshana Chakra (Discus). While being
severed thus, each piece of the Devi's body fell in a different place on
Earth, thus forming the 51 powerful Shakti Peethas.
Shiva with Sati's Corpse on His Shoulders
- Poster
New red sarees and ghee wick lamps are offered by devotees to the Goddess.
Many recite the Lalita Sahasranamam while circumambulating the temple.
This place is considered extremely sacred, as it is the confluence of the
three seas. It is therefore believed to be the ideal place to perform a
Pitru Tarpanam (ritual to appease ancestors) and take a holy dip.
Festivals
Important festivals include the Chaitry Poornima Festival (on the full moon
day in May); the 9-day Navaratri Festival; the 10-day Vaisakha Festival in
May-June; and the Kalabham Festival, where the Devi is smeared in sandal
paste on the last Friday of the Karkidaka Month in July-August.
The temple is open for darshan from 6.00 a.m. to 11.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. to
8.00 p.m every day.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial, which was built in 1970, in honor of Swami
Vivekananda, is yet another popular tourist destination in Vavathurai,
Kanyakumari. It is believed that the Swami attained enlightenment on this
very rock, where the Goddess Kumari too had performed severe austerities. A
vast meditation hall known as Dhyana Mandapam has been built here, for
visitors to sit and meditate in its quiet environs.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari -
Photo Print
How the Memorial Came to Be
In January 1962, on the occasion of the Swami's birth centenary, some people
got together to form the Kanyakumari Committee. Their aim was to build a
memorial on the rock and also a pedestrian bridge leading to it. At almost
the same time, the Ramakrishna Mission also planned on building the
memorial.
Sadly, this was not acceptable to the Catholic fisherman community living
there. They put up a huge Cross on the rock - this was big enough to be
visible from the shore. This led to communal tension, with the Hindus
claiming that the rock was a place of worship for them. A judicial probe
followed and the Government eventually declared unequivocally that the rock
was the Vivekananda Rock and that the Cross had to be removed from there.
The Cross was secretly removed that night - this created further trouble and
the Rock was declared a prohibited area.
Finally, the Government intervened again. This time, it declared that only a
tablet could be placed on the Rock, stating that it was the Vivekananda Rock
and that no memorial could be built on it.
The Role of Eknath Ranade
Eknath Ranade was then made the Organizing Secretary of the Vivekananda Rock
Memorial Committee. At that time, people were still against constructing the
memorial, as they averred that it would mar the natural beauty of the Rock.
Ranade then decided to camp in Delhi
and collect signatures to support the construction of the memorial. He
collected 323 signatures of the Members of Parliament and presented it
before Jawaharlal Nehru, the then Prime Minister of India. This cleared the
way for the construction of the
Rock
Memorial.
The political hurdles finally gone; Ranade started planning the construction
of the Memorial. The next obstacle was to find the necessary finance for the
huge project. Ranade was sure that this would go on to become a National
Monument and so, he invited every Indian to contribute to its construction.
He travelled through the length and breadth of India and requested State
Governments to pitch in their mite for the project. Finally, the bulk of the
contributions came from the general public. Ranade launched one-rupee
folders throughout India. This money was used to go ahead with the work on
the Memorial.
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial was constructed in 1970, just six years after
the work had commenced on building it.
The Living Memorial
The establishment of the Living Memorial or the Vivekananda Kendra,
alongside the stone structure of the Rock Memorial, was suggested in 1964.
It was officially founded in early January 1972 and coincided with the 108th
Birth Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
Swami Vivekananda - Framed Picture
A saffron flag with
"Om"
inscribed on it was unfurled on the Rock Memorial, to mark the start of a
spiritually oriented mission. This tradition was continued by young men and
women, whose goal was to spread the message of the Swami across India and
the world.
Vivekananda Mandapam
The large Vivekananda Mandapam comprises the following sections:
- Dhyana Mandapam - the Meditation Hall with six adjacent rooms
- Sabha Mandapam - the Assembly Hall including the Pralima Mandapam
(which has the statue), two rooms, a corridor and an open prakaram or
outer courtyard
- Mukha Mandapam
- Front Entrance Steps with two rooms and a corridor below the stairs
Sripada Mandapam
This square hall comprises the following sections:
- Garbha Graham
- Inner Prakaram
- Outer Prakaram
- Outer Platform
Both of the above-mentioned Mandapams are designed in a way that the vision
of Vivekananda in the statue would be seen directed towards the Shripadam.
The Sri Padaparai Mandapam is a shrine erected at the spot where the
footprint of the Virgin Goddess Kumari is seen on the Rock.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
The
Thiruvalluvar
Statue, also referred to as the Valluvar Statue, is a stone sculpture
of the Tamil poet and philosopher; also the author of the Thirukkural.
Sculpted by Dr. V.Ganapathi Sthapati, it stands 133 feet tall, including the
height of the pedestal. The sculpture itself is 95 feet high and weighs 7000
tons.
Thiruvalluvar Statue, Kanyakumari -
Laminated Picture
The 38-foot pedestal represents the 38 chapters of Virtue, the first of the
three books of the Thirukkural text. The statue represents the second and
third books, namely, Wealth and Love. Thus, the entire design indicates that
one can earn wealth and love based on just pure virtue.
The right hand of the statue has three fingers pointing up. This signifies
thee cantos of the text, namely, Aram, Porul and Inbam (again, Virtue,
Wealth and Love). The statue's head stands 200 feet above sea level.
Juxtaposed beside the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, this statue is built in
conformation with traditional Indian architecture.
Construction
The statue project was initially conceived by M.Karunanidhi in December
1975. In April 1979, Morarji Desai, the then Prime Minister, laid the
foundation stone for the construction of the structure, in the presence of
the then Chief Minister, M.G.Ramachandran.
However, the actual sculpting work began a decade later, in 1990. The tiny
island adjacent to the Rock Memorial was decided to be the ideal location
for the statue. Sthapati was chosen to oversee the project. Stone, being far
more durable than metal, was deemed to be the ideal material for building
the statue. The project stalled again, but then got back on track in 1997.
Finally, at the cost of US$1 million, the project employed 150 workers, who
toiled for almost 16 hours each day to complete the structure.
The statue has a slight bend around the waist in keeping with traditional
architecture of the time. However, the issue was tackled in time, thanks to
advance planning and clever implementation of ideas. A full-length wooden
prototype was created before construction. This led to the identification of
an energy line, known as Vastu. There is currently an empty cavity, which
runs through the center of the statue, from top to bottom.
Thiruvalluvar Papier Mache Statue
The work was divided amongst three workshops, in Kanyakumari, Ambasamudram
and Sholinganallur. Interestingly, the 19-foot-high face, with the nose,
eyes, ears, mouth, forehead and so on, were hand-carved using individual
stones.
Installation
Finally, the statue was installed on its pedestal on October 19, 1999 and
was unveiled on the millennium day of January 01, 2000. More than 50,000
people gathered to witness the mega event and people took to the streets to
rally for what the Chief Minister called the "beacon of light to guide human
life for all time to come".
Though this impressive structure was severely lashed by the tsunami in
December 2004, it stood unaffected and triumphant above all of nature's
fury. Incidentally, it is also designed to withstand earthquakes of great
magnitude, occurring within 100 kilometers.
In order to prevent the statue from erosion, it is regularly treated with
chemicals once in every four years. the salty deposits in every joint are
removed and replaced with new cement. Paper pulp is then applied to the
statue in order for it to completely absorb the salty deposits.
Access
The Thiruvalluvar Statue can be accessed by ferry - these services are
available from the mainland. The ferry service to the Vivekananda Rock
Memorial stops for a while at this statue as well. There is the possibility
of a connecting bridge to be built in the near future, connecting the Rock
Memorial and the statue.
Gandhi Mandapam
The Gandhi Mandapam is a memorial to
Mahatma
Gandhiji, who had visited Kanyakumari in 1925 and 1937. It is located
near the Kumari Amman Temple, where a portion of his ashes were kept for
public darshan, just before they were immersed in the sea on February 12,
1948. Completed in 1956, it is 79 feet high, to mark the age of the Mahatma.
Built in Orissa-style architecture, it is designed in such a way that, on
his birthday (October 2nd) every year, the rays of the sun fall exactly in
the place that the urn was kept. The structure has a hole in the roof - the
sun's rays enter the mandapam through this hole and fall on the exact
location.
While there are a great many memorial structures all over the country, to
honor the life and times of various leaders, the Gandhi Mandapam is unique,
as it harnesses the energy of the Sun to honor the Father of the Nation.
Triveni Sangamam
The Trisagara Sangamam or the Triveni Sangamam as it is commonly referred
to, is one more thing that makes Kanyakumari a unique location. Beaches are
always a wonderful sight to behold. However, the Kanyakumari beach deserves
special mention, because this offers you a one-of-its-kind view of the three
seas meeting together.
Assuming that you are standing looking at the beach, the Arabian Sea is at
your right, the Bay of Bengal comes from your left and the Indian Ocean is
right in front. This is why this location is named Triveni Sangam (the
confluence of the Three Seas).
At this location, the waves of all the three mighty oceans mix with each
other and fall apart. One can actually distinguish the three seas by their
difference in color, with the naked eye. This characteristic makes the
Triveni Sangam a sacred place - several people take a dip in these waters,
seeking to wash off their sins in the sacred waters.
Other Major Attractions of Kanyakumari
1. Kanyakumari Beach
Major attractions in the Kanyakumari beach are the sunrise and the sunset.
You can view these standing anywhere at all on the
beach.
However, the sunrise point, the sunset point and the view from the tower
gives you the best experience of these phenomena.
Sunrise at Kanyakumari - Photo Print
2. Vattakottai Fort
The Vattakottai Fort is a circular fort, located about 6km to the northeast
of Kanyakumari town, in Agateeswaram Taluk. Built in the 18th century, this
was the last one constructed by the Travancore rulers. A clear view of the
sea is available from the raised parade ground atop the fort.
3. Padmanabhapuram Palace
This is located in the Padmanabhapuram village in Kanyakumari. Rated among
the top ten palaces in the world, this was once the capital of the
Travancore rulers. Spread over 6 acres of land and situated at the foot of
Veli Hills, this is mostly a wooden structure, built in Kerala style. Today,
this beautiful palace is being maintained by the Archeological Department of
Kerala.
4. Mathoor Hanging Bridge
The Mathoor Hanging Bridge, also called the Hanging Trough or Aqueduct, is
situated in Aruvikkarai village in Kanyakumari district. Considered to be
the longest and tallest aqueduct in Asia, this 1km bridge was constructed in
1966 and spans across the River Parazhiyar (Pahrali). This structure also
comprises a children's park, view tower and other facilities.
5. Sri Sthanumalayan Temple
The Sri Sthanumalayan Temple, also known as Arulmigu Thanumaliya Perumal
Temple, is the only one of its kind where the Trinity is worshipped in the
same sanctum sanctorum. The singular lingam here represents the Trinity.
This ancient temple is located in Suchindram, which is about 11km away from
Kanyakumari.
6. St. Xavier Church
Built by St. Francis Xavier in the 1600s, this is yet another major tourist
destination in Kanyakumari. Renovated several times in all these years,
there is now also a grotto for St. Mary and a minor shrine for St. Ignatius
at the same premises.
7. Thiruparrapu Falls
Another popular tourist destination in Kanyakumari, these falls merge into
the River Kothai from a height of about 15 meters. The rocky riverbed of the
Thiruparrapu Waterfalls is about 300 meters long. These waterfalls continue
to delight visitors for almost seven months in a year. This place also
includes a shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, plus various entertainment
activities for visitors and children.
8. Kamarajar Manimandapam
This is a tribute to honor Sri Kamarajar, a freedom fighter and veteran
political leader of Tamil Nadu. The President of the Indian National
Congress before Independence, he played a pivotal role in shaping the
politics of India; particularly of Tamil Nadu. This structure is located
close to Gandhi Mandapam; on the same site where his ashes were kept for
public display before they were immersed in the sea.
9. Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple
Situated in Thiruparrapu Panchayat of the Kanyakumari district, this is a
popular pilgrim destination. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is considered as
the fourth temple of Shivalyam. It is built in Kerala style and there is
also a shrine of Vishnu, facing Shiva. This cave temple is believed to be
built between the 7th and 8th centuries, by Jains.
10. Pechiparai Reservoir
One of the major tourist attractions of Kanyakumari, this reservoir was
built during the rule of Maharaja Sri Moolam Thirunal, across the River
Kodayar. It is about 425 meters long and has a catchment area of over 200 sq
km. The dense forests surrounding this reservoir are a natural habitat for
diverse wildlife. There is a camp shed on one side of the Reservoir.
11. Government Museum
Located on Beach Road, this Museum was established in 1991. It includes a
vast collection of exhibits, related to archaeology, numismatics,
anthropology, botany, zoology, artifacts, crafts and much more.
12. Wax Museum
The Wax Museum in Kanyakumari is located in the city of Baywatch. Boasting
of a good collection of life-like figures of many famous figures related to
Indian history as well as the world's history, it bears close resemblance to
the Madame Tussauds Museum in London.
13. Chitharal Jain Monuments
The Chitharal Jain Monuments, also known as Chitharal Malai Kovil
(literally, "Temple on the Hill") and Chitharal Cave Temple, can be found
near Chitharal village in Kanyakumari district. The Chitharal Hills are
locally called the Chokkanthoongi Hills. Here, one can find two monuments.
The earlier one features rock-cut structures of beads with inscriptions and
drip-ledges. A natural cavern formed by overhanging rock features bas-relief
sculptures of Jain Tirthankaras - these were carved later on. The central
sanctum has a carving of Mahavira, with a Chhatratrayi Chaitya, a
three-tiered parasol. All major niches have flying figures of the Vidydharas
and each of these figures has an inscription of the name and place of the
donor in Vatteluthu Tamil script. Today, these monuments are protected and
maintained by the Thrissur Circle of Archeological Survey of India.
Kanyakumari features much more in terms of sightseeing, shopping and
spirituality. In case you intend to visit this region, do plan a long enough
stay to experience all that this unique destination has to offer.