1. Kanyakumari Bhagavathi Amman Temple

Time: 07:00 AM
Entry Fee: Free
Recommended Duration: 40 Minutes

Also known as Devi Kanya Kumari Temple, Kanyakumari Bhagavathi Amman Temple is dedicated to the adolescent girl avatar of Goddess Parvati and the first place to visit on our one-day trip in a private car. Legends say that Devi Kanya was supposed to be married to Lord Shiva, however, their marriage did not take place. It was then that the Devi decided to remain a virgin because of which she is considered the Goddess of virginity and purity. It is said that the rice and other cereals that were meant to be cooked on the day of the wedding remained untouched, and as a result turned into stones, which can are visible even today. It is said that when Goddess Parvati (also known as Sati / Durga) died, Lord Shiva carried her body across the universe in grief and sorrow. During this, Lord Vishnu cut the body of Sati into 52 different parts which fell off at various places. It is in this temple that the right shoulder and the back of Sati’s corpse fell.

2.Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Time: 08:00 AM
Entry Fee: Rs.10
Recommended Duration: 1 Hour

In your one-day Kanyakumari city tour, get inspired by the Memorial of Swami Vivekananda at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. It is said that it was on the rock present here that Swami Vivekananda attained enlightenment. It’s located on a small island and hence comes with the backdrop of the Indian ocean which adds to its calm and peaceful vibe. One needs to take a small ferry ride just for Rs.20 to go up to the memorial. There is a museum that projects the life and works of Swami Vivekananda and is referred to as the Shripada Mandapam. The memorial comes equipped with a meditation hall known as the Dhyana Mandapam with six rooms. It also has an assembly hall known as the Sabha Mandapam which consists of two rooms, a corridor, and an open courtyard that surrounds the assembly hall.

3. Suchindrum

Time: 9:00 AM

A temple town, Suchindrum is located 11 kilometers from the city of Kanyakumari. The temples here are built in the distinctive Dravidian style and are adorned with massive gopurams which are a common characteristic of all Dravidian temples. The highest gopuram is 134 feet high and the inside of the temples sport various exquisite rock-cut pillars and gateways. Being an ancient temple town it is frequented by a huge number of pilgrims each year.

4. Thiruvalluvar Statue

Time: 10:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Recommended Duration: 20 Minutes

If you hail from Tamil Nadu or are an enthusiast of poetry and literature, you must have heard of the legendary Poet & Philosopher, Valluvar. The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a 40.6 m tall statue of him that was inaugurated in the year 2000. The statue is representative of the three chronological books namely, Virtue, Wealth, and Love in the same order. While the platform of 12 m on which the statue rests is representative of the 38 chapters of the first book, the statue in itself represents the second and the third book. This is constructed in such a manner to denote that one can get wealth and love only on the strong foundation of virtue. One can also easily notice that the three fingers of Valluvar’s right hand are pointed toward the sky which is also representative of Virtue, Wealth & Love.

5. Government Museum, Kanyakumari

Time: 11:00 AM

Closed On: Monday
Entry Fee: Rs.10/adult & Rs.5/Child
Recommended Duration: 30 Minutes

Even though one can think that a visit to the Government Museum will be boring, this does not stand true for the one in Kanyakumari. In your one-day Kanyakumari Local Sightseeing Tour, you won’t just witness sculptures and artifacts from medieval times but also learn about the history of coins, plants, animals, Indian astronomy, etc. It also stores the crafts and sculptures from ancient South Indian temples. You can also see old coins, weapons, a specimen of plants, etc in this multi-purpose museum.

6. Gandhi Memorial, Kanyakumari

Time: 12:00 PM
Entry Fee: Re.1
Recommended Duration: 30 Minutes

Gandhi Memorial also known as Gandhi Mandap is a memorial constructed on the seashore of Kanyakumari in memory of Mahatma Gandhi. This place is of historical importance as the site of the mandap is where Gandhi’s ashes (in one of the 12 urns) were last kept for public viewing before being immersed in the waters of Kanyakumari. A tour to Kanyakumari is incomplete without tourists reflecting upon the sacrifices of the great man at this memorial. Although the construction of the temple might appear to be very simple, it is indeed a piece of architecture. There is an opening in the Mandap that has been constructed in a manner that on the 2nd of October (Birthdate of Gandhi), every year, sun rays fall directly at the spot where his ashes were kept.

7. Vattakottai Fort

Time: 2:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Recommended Duration: 1 Hour

Constructed in the 18th century by the Venad kings of Travancore, Vattakottai Fort is one of the few sea forts in the country. The fort once acted as an army base to protect the kingdom of Travancore. Various canon attacks have been initiated from this fort. With a beach on one side and the western ghats on the other, this fort made of granite is a popular tourist picnic spot. The beach on which the fort stands has black sand and hence is very different from the other beaches of Kanyakumari. The fort also strikes a close resemblance to the Bekal Fort of Kerala, since a part of both the forts extend to the sea.

8. Padmanabhapuram Palace

Time: 3:00 PM
Closed On: Monday
Entry Fee: Rs.10 for Adults and Rs. 2 for Children
Recommended Duration: 1 Hour

Get ready to be captivated by the archaic look of a mansion-like Palace on your one-day Kanyakumari Local Sightseeing Trip. Also known as the Kalkulam Palace, Padmanabhapuram Palace once used to be the capital city of Travancore. The primary complex of the palace is located inside a granite fort that stretches over 4 km. Nestled at the foot of the Veli Hills, the palace provides a scenic view of the Western Ghats. The walls of the Palace have intricate wooden detailing which is indeed a trademark of the traditional architecture of Kerala. The Central Mansion and the Southern Palace are both open for tourists to explore. While the Central Mansion boasts of the King’s bedrooms, the Southern Palace is popular for being converted into a museum.

9. Thanumalayan Temple

Time: 4:00 PM
Entry Fee: Free
Recommended Duration: 1 Hour

The Thanumalayan temple also known as Sthanumalayan Temple is located 15 km away from Kanyakumari in the Suchindram district and is an important Hindu temple for both the sects of Hinduism, Shaivite and Vaishnavite. The word ‘Sthanumalayan’ denotes the three primary Hindu Gods, “Stand” meaning Siva; “Mal” meaning Vishnu; and “Ayan” meaning Brahma. The uniqueness of the temple lies in the fact that all three gods are represented via one Linga (idol). The idol is silver coated, however, it is golden in color. One can also find a big Hanuman statue of 22 feet inside the temple complex which is made using one solid granite stone. The temple also boasts one of the largest Nandi statues of approximately 13 feet, made of mortar and lime. There are also four musical pillars and roughly a thousand more pillars with carvings in an area known as the dancing hall. The quality of the stone craft adds to the architectural value of the temple.

10. Sunset View Point, Kanyakumari

Time: 5:00 PM
Fee: Free
Recommended Duration: 30-45 Minutes

The interesting thing to note about Kanyakumari is that one can view both the sunrise and the sunset from the same viewpoint, both of which happens to be at the backdrop of the sea. It is one of the most experiential things one can do in Kanyakumari. One can notice the color of the sky changing every few minutes, from pink to rust orange, to other hues of red which is a mesmerizing sight to catch.
With sunset approaching, the area starts getting crowded, which makes the place very cheerful & festive. There are various street vendors selling snacks, tea, coffee, coconut water, jewelry, and other handmade souvenirs that one can shop from.