BEST Tourist Spots of Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu | Time, Duration and How to Reach?

Kanyakumari situated at India southernmost tip which is surrounded by three major water bodies is among the most serene and beautiful places in Tamil Nadu. This beautiful coastal destination possesses a unique combination of history, culture, natural beauty, and modernisation; including forts and temples to beaches and museums there is something for everyone. Plan Your Trip to Kanyakumari and Read More about the Indian Peninsula and Exiciting Trip Packages here!! Would you like to spend your vacation here in this excellent seaside city?  We have narrowed down some of the best places to see in Kanyakumari which should definitely be included in your itinerary.

Bharat Mata Temple, Kanyakumari:

Bharat Mata Temple, dedicated to Mother India, is one of the must-visit places in Kanyakumari. The temple is ~ 12000 square feet and features a 12-foot tall statue of Swami Vivekananda in addition to many other statues and paintings representing the motherhood concept. The temple also incorporates a Ramayana Mandir, where the Valmiki Ramayana story is presented on 108 elaborately carved wooden panels in form of statues and paintings. The 27-foot-tall granite statue of Lord Hanuman at the entrance of Ramayana Mandir is a major pull.

• Best Time to Visit: October-March
• Ideal Duration: 1 hour
• How to Reach: Please take a taxi or auto rickshaw from bus stand (2 kms away), Kanyakumari centre (3 km away) or any other place in the town.

Thirparappu Falls:

Thirparappu waterfall, which cascades from a height of 50-feet, is one of the most spectacular places to visit in Kanyakumari. This man-made waterfall is actually a collection of streams that cascade into a pool below. Apart from soaking in the beauty of the falls, you can take a refreshing dip in the pool, enjoy a picnic in the natural environs, take a boat ride in the area, and click beautiful photos. Devotees visiting the falls can also seek blessings at the small Shiva Temple at the entrance. The best time to visit Kanyakumari Thirparappu Falls is during and after the monsoon season when the waterfall is in its full glory.

• Best Time to Visit: Monsoon and winter seasons
• Ideal Duration: 2-3 hours
• How to Reach: The waterfall is 54 km away from Kanyakumari, so you can book a cab or take the bus. The bus stand is 56 km away from the falls.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial:

The Rock Memorial which is situated on a small island is the topmost tourist place in Kanyakumari. Swami Vivekananda realized himself after three days of meditation in the year 1892 here. People also think that Devi Kanya Kumari performed severe asceticism on this rock. The noteworthy rock memorial attractions are Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam. A Swamiji statue that is so huge such that the Indian Ocean is in the background is a sight to see! The spiritual ambience and stillness of the place, added to the appealing vistas of the sceneries, make Vivekananda Rock Memorial one of the sites to visit in Kanyakumari.

• Best Time to Visit: October – March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The place is 2 km distant from the Kanyakumari center. You have to take a ferry from the coast to get there.

Tsunami Monument:

This monument was erected to honour those who died during the earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2004. The 16-foot memorial is in the town which its southern shore is situated and it has two hands. Left hand appears blocking a massive blue wave from falling over the lamp that’s being held by the right hand. This monument which is a symbol of optimism and courage even in the face of calamity is, definitely, no less than a must-see in Kanyakumari.

• Best Time to Visit: November – March
• Ideal Duration: 30-45 minutes
• How to Reach: The monument is 1 km away from the bus stand and 2 km away from Kanyakumari centre. Thus, you can either hire an auto-rickshaw or a taxi.

Bhagavathy Amman Temple:

This shrine which is 3000 years old is also known as Devi Kanyakumari Temple is one of the most religious and historically important places to visit in Kanyakumari. The temple is one among 51 Shakti Peethas which is dedicated to Devi Kanyakumari Amman. It is believed that this is one of the children where some of Goddess Satis dead body fell as Lord Shiva while carrying her at shoulder performed dance of destruction.nA gorgeous statue of Ma Kanya Kumari duppattai with a tulsi bead rosary in hand surrounded by gleaming gold jewel ornaments in her nose is seen in the temple. The temple is much more than its spiritual aura, the architecture is impressive and the scenic beauty is enthralling.

• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Ideal Duration: 1 hour
• How to Reach: Take a taxi or auto-rickshaw to the temple which is situated 2 km from Kanyakumari centre or any other part of the town.

Thiruvalluvar Statue:

This gigantic statue adjacent to Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a popular attraction among history lovers and architecture buffs. It is dedicated to Thiruvalluvar, a prominent Tamil poet and philosopher. The 133-foot-tall statue stands proudly on a 38-foot-tall pedestal and can be seen from afar. The pedestals height represents the 38 chapters of virtue in his literary masterpiece Tirukkual, while the statues height signifies the 133 chapters in the same book. The place holds great cultural significance and is a popular tourist destination in Kanyakumari.

• Best Time to Visit: October to March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The statue is only 2 km away from Kanyakumari centre. It is on an island, you must take a short ferry ride to get there.

Our Lady of Ransom Church:

This beautiful church dedicated to Mother Mary, located near the beach with lashing waves of the ocean behind it, is one of the best places to visit in Kanyakumari. The church has brilliant Gothic architecture, with eye-catching carvings on the walls and ceilings. The most intriguing aspect of the holy place is that it houses a saree-clad idol of Mother Mary, which is unusual in a church. If you go in the evening, you will be astounded by how beautiful the place looks when it is lit up.

• Best Time to Visit: November to March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The church is about 2 km away from the bus stand and 3 km away from Kanyakumari centre. Taxis and auto-rickshaws are easily available for convenient transportation.

Mayapuri Wax Musexum:

An interesting reconstruction of the London Wax Museum, this tourist place in a city, Kanyakumari, is a crowd-puller. The museum exhibits several statues of the well-known national and international personalities both from different parts of the globe including Sir Abdul Kalam, Mahatma Gandhi, Mother Teresa, Charlie Chaplin and Michael Jackson. The museum which has the showcase of Indian history and culture as well as those of other nations is a notable one in the town.

• Best Time to Visit: October – March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The museum is almost a kilometre from the bus station and so auto-rickshaw can be hired to it.

Mathoor Hanging Bridge:

Also called Mathur Aqueduct and Mathoor Hanging Trough, this 1-km long bridge is one of the continent longest and tallest bridges. The pillars of the bridge the 115-feet high, the trough is about 7-feet high and 7.5-feet wide. The bridge was constructed as a conduit for irrigation water but has since assisted in transforming it into a major tourist attraction. Another thing about the trough is that it is also a great place for you to view the beautiful sights and spending time at the kids park or swimming in any of the numerous swimming platforms.

• Best Time to Visit: November through to March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The bridge is 48 km away from the bus stand and Kanyakumari centre, so you can take a bus or taxi.

Kanyakumari Beach:

If you like beaches, Kanyakumari Beach captivate you. The beach is a junction of three great water bodies i.e., the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. The beach is brilliant as there is no mixing of waters from these three water bodies, hence you can see three different colors of water here. The beach is however not good for water activities but you can always spend some quiet moments here watching the sunrise, the sunset, and the waves touching the rocks.

• Best Time to Visit: November- March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The beach is 2 km from the bus stand and 3 km away from Kanyakumari center. Public taxies and auto-rickshaws are easily found.

Triveni Sangam:

Triveni Sangam, the confluence of three major water bodies – the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean – attracts pilgrims. The site visitors, both the pilgrims and the tourists, do a ablution in the holy waters. This region likewise provides spectacular sights of the beach and the famous landmarks like Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue. The Triveni Sangams serene, natural beauty makes it a must-go-to place for anyone seeking peace and tranquillity.

• Best Time to Visit: October-March
• Ideal Duration: 1 hour
• How to Reach: The place is just 1 km away from bus stand and 2 km away from Kanyakumari centre. You can either use an auto or a taxi to cover that distance.

Thanumalayan Temple:

Thanumalayan Temple Popularly known as Sthanumalayan Kovil, is a famous Hindu temple where the Gods Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are worshipped. About 30 shrines can be found in the temple; a 22-foot-tall Lord Anjaneya statue and a large idol of Nandi are amongst them. The temple boasts of magnificent architecture as well as four musical pillars, beautiful gopurams and wonderful carvings, everything is simply amazing. Whenever you hit the pillars with your thumb you a musical sound will come out. Inscriptions from the 9th century are on the (w)all.

• Best Time to Visit: October-March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The distance of the temple from Kanyakumari center is 13 km and 14 km from the bus stop. Hence you can either opt for bus or taxi.

Guganathaswamy Temple:

Guganathaswamy Temple, constructed in the 11th century by king Raja Raja Chola, is amongst the revered religious destinations for Lord Shivas devotees. The temple has a very interesting Dravidian style architecture and some 1000-year-old inscriptions which attract both the history and architecture lovers. The main god worshiped here is a Shivalinga in the temple. You can stay at one of the hotels in Kanyakumari nearby the temple so as to have easy access.

• Best Time to Visit: October–March
• Ideal Duration: Apriori showroom
• How to Reach: The temple is 3 km away from Kanyakumari centre and 2 km away from the bus stand. A taxi or auto-rickshaw can be taken for the crossing.

Padmanabhapuram Palace:

The well-known Asias largest Asian wooden palace is Padmanabhapuram, marveling in the ingenuity of its local carpenters. It was built in the 16th century by Iravi Varma Kulasekhara Perumal of the Travancore dynasty and it’s not less than an architectural marvel. From murals,furniture and floor carvings to antiques and unusual artifacts, everything is quite exceptional about the palace. The sections of the palace, Mantrasala, Thaikottaram, Nataksala, Middle Mansion and Thekeekottaram as well are worth to be explored.

• Best Time to Visit: October – March
• Ideal Duration: 1-2 hours
• How to Reach: The palace is 35 km and 34 km away from the bus stand and Kanyakumari centre respectively. Buses and taxis are quite affordable.

Sunset Point:

Sunset Point is certainly worth a visit if you are expecting some time off amidst magnificent views. In Kanyakumari one of the best things to enjoy is the surreal sight of the setting sun in the backdrop of sprawling evening sky and huge ocean. In the case of you leave close to or on the day when the moon is full, you may even find the setting sun´s rays merging with its rising moonlight! Importantly, it offers a breathtaking vantage point for the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and other neighboring sights, and is a favorite hangout for photographers.

• Best Time to Visit: October–March
• Ideal Duration: 1 hour
• How to Reach: Sunset Point is 2 km from Kanyakumari, you can take a taxi or auto-rickshaw.

Kanyakumari is well connected by air, road and rail. If you are coming by air then Trivandrum International Airport (89 km away) is the nearest option and you can take a bus or taxi from there. Kanyakumari has its own railhead. Trains from cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Hyderabad, among few others, routinely stop here. This town also has efficient road linkage with many buses linking to Coimbatore, Madurai, Pondicherry etc., and to other major cities in the south.