Travel with Me to Kanyakumari

Something that’s etched in my memory and never fades are trips I have made to Kanyakumari. There’s something so Godly (using the word for convenience) about it. Now Kanyakumari is southern tip of India, located in Tamil Nadu, known for its Indian Ocean. Now the question remains as to why the trip to Kanyakumari makes it so memorable? Well let me say it depends on what you look at and also what you want. The sheer gigantic Ocean stands before one and proclaims… Lo, Behold I am the eternity. Of course it is not the ocean alone which gives one the feeling, but also the serene presence of The Vivekananda Rock, amidst the vast ocean, perhaps, the very symbol of Eternity. And the immortal presence of Goddess Kanyakumari in the temple near the Bay, offers real spiritual fervor to the seeker. Standing in the rock and watching the waves splashing over one’s face, one can only marvel at its beauty and inevitably ponder on how the city itself blends into its past, presence and future and there is also a point where all the three vanish and everything around vanish leaving only you and the Ocean.

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There are quite a few things to take care of while travelling to Kanyakumari. The first would be from where one travelling is and what route one is going to take. One route is through Kerala and the other through Tamil Nadu. Through Kerala, its very exotic, but only if there is a week’s leisure for one to consider, for there are places in Kerala which are by themselves a must visit and also if one is travelling during summer, it would be tedious unless they stay in one of the resorts amidst backwaters (I have Alleppy (in Cochin district) in mind here), for summer is too hot. Through Tamil Nadu, it would not be as tedious, for the distance is not much, (it takes Thirunalveli- Nagerkoil route), but again it depends on where they start from.

The best time to go there is either during rainy season or during spring, where one can find a clear blue sky to have a glimpse of the sunrise and sunset (They are the ones that this place is very famous for, though I did not have an opportunity to see it, having travelled there twice.) Most of them who have visited the place before would not agree with me if I say the rainy season is the best season to travel here, yet I say it because, Kanyakumari takes on such romantic turn – no sunsets, no sunrise, its all cloudy, raining all the time, the bay is closed. But if one can go and stand along with those fishermen, then its hard describing in words what Nature offers. I still feel those raindrops over my face… everything looks so serene and after the rainfall , when the shops open for a Short time, shopping in those rain-washed streets are treat by itself.

In and around Kanyakumari, there a lot of economical inns to make your stay. Vivekananda Kendra is one such place and it is also close to Bay. There are other Three Star inns as well which offer sea facing rooms. But that depends on personal choice. Locating one is never a problem in Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is also famous for its red soil- sometimes people sell it, Conch and seashells attracts shoppers, also bags (handmade) and yes the spices- Kanyakumari is the best place to get it from.