Cape Comorin or Kanyakumari is known for its pristine virginity. No doubt the land is known as ‘The Virgin Princess,’ its literal meaning in Hindi. There is something surreal about this place. It is the southernmost tip of India, but beyond this, it is the unison of the three mighty water bodies – the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and the Arabian Sea – that creates magic. The never-ending stretch of blue salty marine water with the frail tailing end of land jutting into the womb of the ocean leaves you in no doubt of the divine power that has created this universe. It is mystical! Only the gushing seawater and the red cliffs all around are enchanting. Kanyakumari is a land worth one visit in your lifetime. The beauty of the terrain is unequaled, and the kick one experiences are nothing less than once-in-a-lifetime.

Scenic beaches, surrounded bountifully by tall coconut trees, bound the sapphire-colored water! The sunset, the full moon night, man-made churches and temples, monuments, waterfalls, and to top it, the gorgeous lip-smacking coastal food – it is a holistic journey for every tourist. Your planned itinerary is incomplete without a visit to the Kanyakumari Beach, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Thanumalayan Temple, Sanguthurai and Sothavilai Beach, Bhagvathy Amman Temple, Our Lady of Ransom Church, Lord Subramanya Temple, Sunset Point, and more. If you visit Kanyakumari during Navratri or the Cape Comorin Festival in October, the enthusiasm of the locals can add to the fanfare. In July and August, the Kalabham Festival gives you a sneak peek into the typical Tamil celebrations in July and August.

Visiting Kanyakumari is the chance to record and capture memories of a lifetime. Here is the perfect guide to get to the best places at Kanyakumari. Explore and look forward to a memorable trip.

Time stands still at the Vivekananda Rock MemorialYou need to take the ferry to cover the distance of 500 meters from the mainland. The island is about fifteen minutes from Kanyakumari, and the Rock Memorial stands tall amidst the thundering and roaring sea waves of the Indian Ocean. The majestic rock structure is man-made, and it is a sixty-year-old statute built-in Vavathurai.

This is exactly where Swami Vivekananda is believed to have been enlightened. However, the statute has been built on a natural rock, Shripada Mandapam, located on the Lakshadweep Sea Laccadia Sea. It is not just Vivekananda’s statue but also the presence of the museum, study hall, Dhyana Mandapam, or the meditation hall and the overall architectural essence that makes this place truly out of this world. From the island, you can get a look at the tapering end of Mainland India – an indefinable feeling – truly hypnotizing!

At the Triveni Sangam on the Kanyakumari Beach, be ready to witness the confluence of the three of the mightiest saltwater bodies on Earth. If you give Triveni Sangam a miss, you need to re-visit Kanyakumari. This is a natural miracle at its best! What is most engrossing is the three differently-colored water coming together – the turquoise water of the Bay of Bengal, the deep blue of the Indian Ocean, and the sea-green water of the Arabian Sea.

The Kanyakumari beach is a place to engage your visual senses only! It is not ideal for changing into your swimsuit and going for a swim or undertaking surfing on the meeting point water. The entire beach periphery is covered with boulders and huge rocks as the current is otherwise too strong. You must visit this place to create memories! The view from the famed lighthouse is breathlessly stunning. You can shop to your heart’s fill. From souvenirs made of coconut shells to riding on an elephant back during the sunset, there’s plenty to spend a day from your life here. You could also climb the stairs to reach the feet of the Thiruvallavur Statute, which is another iconic landmark of the beach.

Pious or not, this Temple located on the beach of Kanyakumari is popular amongst people of all beliefs. However, a word of caution; only Hindus are allowed to enter the Temple premises. Others can but of course, capture the legendary story of a fiery goddess. As per local tales, the nose-ring of the deity is known for its shine as ships at the ocean mistake its radiance for the beam from the lighthouse. You need to rise early, though, to pay your reverence to the goddess and take her blessings.

The Cape Festival is a much-celebrated festival spread across three days in October. The celebrations are religious in essence but have cultural and spiritual aspects. The city is jam-packed during this time, though, so you would need to book your hotels beforehand. The Festival’s highlight is the festivities at the beach on the full moon day. People take a dip in the pious water, but what is essentially beholding is the sight where the sunsets and the moon rise simultaneously in the evening sky.

The Festival also features classical dance and music recitals, some gorgeous South Indian Food right on the beachfront.

If you admire seashells, this is the place. You get to buy stunning pieces of handcrafted items made from shells by the locals. You will find sellers at the beach, at marketplaces, at Sannathi Street – almost everywhere you go. True to being a coastal city, you will find connoisseurs who are more than happy to handcraft one with your name on it.

Besides souvenirs made from seashells, this is the best place to shop for handloom saris.

Kanyakumari has some beauties in the form of ancient forts and palaces from the bygone eras. To make your trip more historic, stopover at these two imperial landmarks:

Vattakotai Fort – lies to the north of Kanyakumari and is about fifteen minutes from the city center. The Venad Kings of Travancore built it. The Fort is under the aegis of the Archaeological Survey of India, and you need to buy an entry ticket to gain access to the fort premises. Besides the ocean, it is a good spot to capture some indelible clicks to post on your social media!

Padmanabhapuram Palace – is an hours’ journey from Kanyakumari but worth the time. The Palace was once the lifeline of Travancore during its regal days. The Palace is more than five hundred years old and has been built from wood. The handcrafted detail by the architects will leave you spellbound. You can appreciate the beauty of the artisans as the walls and ceilings of the entire place speak volumes about those days’ dedication

The Tsunami in the Indian Ocean in 2004 has left an unforgettable impression on this coastal town. Architect B. Kangaraj Cangan designed and built the Tsunami Monument dedicated to all the people who could not survive the wrath of this natural calamity. Tamil Nadu was the worst hit by the Tsunami that had its epicenter in the Java and Sumatra islands. The monument is a gigantic 16-feet tall built right on the Kanyakumari shore. A must-visit place to show solidarity with the people who lost a lot during that day. rise

The Thovalai Flower Market is Asia’s biggest wholesale flower market. It is about thirty minutes from Kanyakumari and is a tiny hamlet. Be prepared to breathe in fragrances of freshly plucked jasmine. You can also catch multi-colors of roses and marigolds here. If you plan to visit this market, make sure to start early as the place closes down by 10 am.

Planning a visit to Kanyakumari in winter sunsets is ideal between October and February. October and November still carry on some reminiscent of the Monsoon – therefore, one could expect an occasional downpour. But, December to February is an awesome time to land here as the temperature hovers between 17 and 30 °C.

June to September is not the right time to visit Kanyakumari as thundershowers are common, and the humidity levels are quite high. However, if you are daring and love the Monsoons, you may find the sight of the raindrops washing the beach or gathering over the sea amidst the darkened horizons quite rewarding. Summers in Kanyakumari can be difficult as the beach heats up fast and the humidity is quite high. The outdoors is just not comfortable for visitors from March till May.