Kanyakumari, the southernmost part of India witnesses the confluence of the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal. Blessed by Swami Vivekananda, Kanyakumari has a distinct spiritual appeal that cannot be described in words but experienced in person. Moreover, the grace and beauty Goddess Kanyakumari, make this place a divine destination visited by Lakhs of devotees year after year.
The Vivekananda Kendra, Vivekananda Rock Mermorial and the temple dedicated to Goddess Kanyakumari are a must watch. And if you ever plan a trip to Kanyakumari, do not miss visiting these five amazing destinations besides the above mentioned, that are just about a few kilometres away within the district.
It wouldn’t take more than about 12 hours for you to cover each of these places by road. All you need to do is to enjoy the road trip and look around the feel the presence of nature and its beautiful amalgamation with manmade structures can catch the imagination of visitors from across the country:
Suchindram: Situated at about 14 kilometers from Kanyakumari, Suchindram is home to the famous Sthanumalayan Temple. This is probably the only temple which has the Hindu trinity – Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh – in the same sanctum sanctorum and that too in a Linga form. The temple complex has a number of sculptures and intricately carved pillars. You will also find a giant statue of Lord Hanuman here.
Besides these, you will also be amazed to find musical pillars here.
Padmanabhapuram Palace: Located at a distance of about 30 kilometers, the Padmanabhapuram Palace that once used to be the capital of the Kingdom of Travancore is a delight to watch.
The palace was constructed around by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal in 1601 AD. From the outside, you can’t really gauge the size of the palace that has several chambers meant for specific purposes.
Within the complex, you will find Mantrasala or the King's Council Chamber, the Thai Kottaram or the Queen Mother's Palace, the Nataksala or Hall meant for performances, a tall four-storeyed building at the centre and the Thekke Kottaram or the Palace in the southern direction.
The sheer grandeur of the typical Kerala style architecture, the use of wood, the wooden carvings on the roofs, the royal furniture, kitchen and bathing area will leave you spellbound.
Mathur Aqueduct: The Mathur Aqueduct is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Kanyakumari district. Built across the Pharali river, the Aqueduct was constructed in 1966 for irrigation purposes. However, it also serves as a major tourist hub as one can see the scenic beauty of the lush green Mahendragiri hills of the western ghats endowed with a bounty of coconut trees. The bridge that connects two hills is believed to be longest and tallest trough Aqueduct in Asia.
Thirparappu Waterfalls: Situated at distance of about 54 kilometres from Kanyakumari city, the Thirparappu Waterfalls is a beautiful tourist attraction. The water falls from a heights of about 50 feet from the Kodayar River and spreads over 90feet in length and flows down onto a rocky bed.
An artificial pool has also been built so that tourists can enjoy a swim in the water flowing down from the top. You can even enjoy a shower by standing right under the spot where the water falls gorgeously thereby making the most of your trip to Thirparappu.
Vattakottai Fort: Vattakottai or the circular fort built in the 18th century gives an incredible view of the sea and the beach. The view of the horizon from the fort is simply mesmerising and so is the vast expanse of the greenish blue sea. The wind mills at quite a distance add magic to the whole view.
