Kanniyakumari / Kanyakumari / Kanya Kumari / Cape Comorin

At the southern most land tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanniyakumari, an important pilgrim centre. Kanniyakumari is famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days. The beach itself is a beautiful site with multi-cloured sand. There is a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view. The Government museum offers a good collection of sculptural art crafts of Tamil Nadu.

Kanniyakumari was once referred to as the Alexandria of the east. It has been a great centre for the arts, culture, civilization, and pilgrimage for years. It was also a famous centre for commerce and trade.

Kanniyakumari was under the control of the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks who were great rulers of south India. The architectural beauty of the temples is the work of these rulers. During the British Raj, Kanniyakumari was bestowed the dry title of Cape Camorin, necessitated perhaps by the Englishmen's inability to pronounce local names.

Facts

Area: 25.89 sq. kms.
Population: 1 7,206 (1991 census)
Altitude: Sea Level
Climate:

	Max.	Min.
Summer	34.8º c	22.4º c
Winter	33.8º c	21.6º c
Rainfall: 102 cms average Clothing: Tropical

Sights

Tiruvalluvar Statue
In 2000, the government of Tamil Nadu installed a large stone statue of the Tamil saint Tiruvalluvar on a rock. The Statue, which was sculpted by a team headed by Mr. Ganapathi Sthapathi, is 133 ft (41 m) high signifying the 133 chapters of Thirukural.

Gandhi Mandapam
Kanyakumari beach is also the place where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were thrown into the sea. There is a memorial to him there, the Gandhi Mandapam. On Gandhiji's birthday ( October-2nd ) the Sun rays fall on the spot where his ashes were placed before immersion.

Hotels

Hotel Singaar International 5/22, Main Road, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu - 629 702, India.

List of hotels in Cape Comorin:

• http://www.hotelstamilnadu.com/kanyakumarihotels.htm

External links:

• http://www.mapsofindia.com/maps/tamilnadu/districts/
  kanyakumari.htm
• http://www.travelmasti.com/domestic/tamilnadu/
  kanniyakumari.htm
• http://www.indiaonlinetravel.com/tamilnadu-
  beaches/kanniyakumari-beaches.htm
• http://www.geocities.com/psbabusyed/ncoil.html
• http://www.nirvanatour.de/india/city/c.html
• http://hinduism.about.com/od/temples/p/kanyakumari.htm
• http://www.pbase.com/oochappan/kanyakumarin
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cape_Comorin