India Tamil Nadu The Top 13 Things to Do in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu By Sharell Cook Sharell Cook Facebook Instagram Twitter Sharell Cook lives in Mumbai full-time and has been writing about India travel for TripSavvy since 2008. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 02/13/22 Share Pin Email saiko3p / Getty Images Kanyakumari, which was called Cape Comorin during the British rule of India, is a small coastal town in Tamil Nadu near the Kerala border. It's renowned for being the southernmost point of India and the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea, and the Bay of Bengal. The town has spiritual significance as the abode of the virgin Goddess Kanya Kumari, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvati, the divine Mother Goddess. Kanyakumari is the place where the goddess is believed to have done penance in order to get Lord Shiva to marry her, which means the town is a popular destination for pilgrims and devotees. People come from all over to bathe in the holy saltwater and make an offering at the temple, but there are many more things to do when visiting Kanyakumari like memorials, palaces, and natural wonders worth a side trip. 01 of 13 Feel the Rush of Water at Courtallam Falls yeSMK Photography / Getty Images If you want to get out of the city, a trip to the roaring waters of Courtallam Falls is a great way to do just that. It takes about three hours to drive the 76 miles (123 kilometers) to the natural park, but once you get there you'll find nine beautiful waterfalls that have been featured as a backdrop in many classic and contemporary Bollywood films. It was also a subject that the poet Thirukudarasappa Kavirayar sang about in his work In the summer, you may be able to witness Saral Vizha, an eight-day festival where people come to bathe in the falls. The nearest town is Tenkasi, which also has a train station if you prefer to travel by rail. View Map Address Tenkasi, W6JQ+84H, District, Courtallam, Tamil Nadu 627802, India Get directions Web Visit website 02 of 13 Savor the Local Cuisine SUSANSAM / Getty Images Every region of India can proudly present its most treasured dishes and Tamil Nadu and the town of Kanyakumari are no different. From savory elements like appam pancakes, which are made from fermented rice batter and coconut milk to dishes like maravazhi kilangu, which is a boiled tapioca root with fish curry. You can also expect to find a lot of jackfruit and banana used in the local cuisine and must try pazha bajji, ripe bananas dipped in batter and fried in hot oil. To wash it all down, try some of the tropical drinks like Nungu Sarbath, which is made from palm fruit juice. 03 of 13 Visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial AAGGraphics / Getty Images Revered Indian poet and Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda visited Kanyakumari in 1892, towards the end of an extensive trip across India as a wandering monk. His transformation into an influential leader and reformer is attributed to the three days he spent meditating on a large offshore rock, where Goddess Kanya Kumari is said to have carried out part of her penance by standing on one foot. According to ancient Hindu texts, the Puranas, the rock was blessed by the touch of her foot. A memorial was built on the rock in 1970 to honor Swami Vivekananda. It consists of a pavilion with a life-size bronze statue of the Swami, a hall with information about his life, and a meditation area. There's also a carving of the Goddess's foot on the rock. View Map Address Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, India Get directions Phone +91 4652 247 012 Web Visit website 04 of 13 Visit the Thiruvalluvar Statue Erick Tseng / Getty Images A towering statue of the great Tamil poet and philosopher Thiruvalluvar stands on a smaller neighboring rock, just off the coast of Kanyakumari. The foundation stone was laid in 1979 and the work was completed 20 years later, in 1999. Ferries to Vivekananda Rock Memorial stop at the Thiruvalluvar statue afterward if the tide permits. It's possible to go inside the base of the statue and climb the stairs up to its feet for a superb view, as long as it's not closed for periodic maintenance. View Map Address Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India Get directions Phone +91 44 2538 3333 Web Visit website Continue to 5 of 13 below. 05 of 13 Bathe at Triveni Sangam nonimatge / Getty Images The remarkable confluence where the oceans merge, known as Triveni Sangam, is considered to be powerful and sacred. A dip in the water is said to wash away all sins and provide liberation from the cycle of rebirth. Even if you don't want to participate in the ritual, it's still worth spending some time at this unique place and contemplating its essence. Depending on the tide and weather, you may even be able to distinguish the oceans from each other, based on variations in their shades of blue. View Map Address 3HH2+68G, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, India Get directions 06 of 13 Watch the Sunrise and Sunset ajijchan / Getty Images Priceless sunrises and sunsets, on Kanyakumari's watery horizon, are among the finest in India. Sunrise, alongside the Thiruvalluvar statue, is arguably the most majestic of the two. However, sunsets are particularly special on full moon nights, when the moon rises from the sea opposite the setting sun at about the same time. The following morning, it's possible to see the sun rising and the full moon setting together. Sunsets into the sea are best viewed from the beach during December to February (and are only really visible from between mid-October and mid-March). 07 of 13 Pay Your Respects to Goddess Kanya Kumari Eddie Gerald / Getty Images The town's 3,000-year-old Kumari Amman Temple (also known as Arulmigu Bhagavathy Amman Temple) is dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari, who is worshiped as a great protector after destroying mighty demon king Banasura. This important temple sits by the sea near Triveni Sangam and has a beautiful black stone idol of the goddess. The standout feature is her sparkling bejeweled nose ring. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter the temple, but photography is prohibited. If visiting in October, try to visit during the Navratri Festival. View Map Address Temple Road, 3HH2+P9H, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, India Get directions Phone +91 4652 246 223 08 of 13 See Where Gandhi's Ashes Were Kept Saurabh / Getty Images Mahatma Gandhi visited Kanyakumari a couple of times too, and some of his ashes were scattered into the sea there on February 12, 1948. A memorial was later constructed at the location where the ashes were kept for public viewing, near Kumari Amman Temple. Its architecture resembles that of temples in Odisha and the design is quite exceptional. Every year at noon on October 2, Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, the sun's rays fall through a hole in the temple's roof and onto the place where the ashes sat in an urn. View Map Address Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702, India Get directions Continue to 9 of 13 below. 09 of 13 Browse the Shops and Stalls Louis Jawitz / Getty Images Shells, painted shells, handicrafts made from shells, and products decorated with shells dominate the souvenir selection at Kanyakumari. They're sold everywhere and collectors will love them! You can even get a customized shell with your name engraved on it. Vendors line the seafront walkway with an array of colossal shells. You'll find more in the shops on atmospheric Sannathi Street, which is the main market area that leads to Kumari Amman Temple. This market has shops selling lovely woven handloom saris as well. View Map Address Sannathi St, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, India Get directions 10 of 13 Explore Vattakottai Fort and Beach sundrawalex / Getty Images About 15 minutes north of Kanyakumari, Vattakottai Fort dates back to the rule of the Venad kings of Travancore who developed the area as a coastal military base. It was the last seaside fort they built and it is now being maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India and entry tickets are required. The fort provides great ocean views and is a good spot for photography. View Map Address 1|60 vattakottai, Vattakkottai, Tamil Nadu 629401, India Get directions 11 of 13 Go on a Day Trip to Padmanabhapuram Palace Tuul / robertharding / Getty Images About an hour northwest of Kanyakumari, the town of Padmanabhapuram is a popular day trip with regal heritage. It was once the capital of the princely state of Travancore before the king relocated the capital to Trivandrum (now the capital of Kerala) in 1795. The main attraction is Padmanabhapuram Palace, which dates back to 1600. The largest wooden palace in Asia, it boasts admirable craftsmanship and architecture—particularly with the detailed woodwork on the walls and ceilings. The palace complex includes a museum and is spread out over more than six acres within a fort. View Map Address Chakala, Thuckalay, Tamil Nadu 629175, India Get directions Phone +91 4651 250 255 12 of 13 Be Dazzled at Thovalai Flower Market Jim Simmen / Getty Images You probably wouldn't expect one of Asia's largest wholesale flower markets to be in a village 30 minutes north of Kanyakumari. The area around Thovalai specializes in growing flowers, particularly an unusual variety of jasmine, and the market there brims with piles of scented buds. Vibrant roses and marigolds add to the colorful spectacle. The market opens before sunrise so plan to get there early before all the best flowers are gone. View Map Address 6GH3+XQ9, Thovalai, Tamil Nadu 629302, India Get directions Phone +91 73392 66231 Continue to 13 of 13 below. 13 of 13 Drive Through One of the World's Largest Wind Farms Manish / Getty Images If you're interested in renewable energy, you can combine a trip to the Thovalai flower market with a drive through Muppandal Wind Farm by continuing about 15 minutes further along National Highway 944. Notably, it's one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world and India's biggest source of wind energy. Its motley assembly of over 3,000 turbines stretches for miles, curiously intermingled with palm trees and banana plants and the farm produces 1,500 megawatts of power total. To put that into perspective, a single 2-megawatt wind turbine can power 400 houses. The fact that the turbines are sponsored and commissioned by private companies accounts for the lack of uniformity in their design. View Map Address Aralvaimozhi, 7H78+XP6, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629301, India Get directions Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit