Kanyakumari Beach in Tamil Nadu

At the southern most tip of India, where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, lies Kanyakumari (also spelt as Kanniyakumari), an important pilgrim center. Kanyakumari is also famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets, especially on full moon days.


The beach is a beautiful sight with multi-coloured sand, but it does not really offer one the opportunity to sunbathe on soft golden sands, or to frolic in the waves either. The seashore is rocky and dangerous, and there is a manmade wall running along it. People are warned to stay off the rocks, and when if someone ventures out of bounds, he or she is quickly and severely reprimanded by a watchful policeman. There is a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view.

The sea is fairly rough, so it is entertaining to watch it beat itself against the rocks and then subside, before it gathers itself up for another attack. With long stretches of sands of many hues, the beach offers a welcome change. A variety of shells are on sale on the Kanyakumari beach.

Prime Attractions :

Vivekananda's Rock: Kanyakumari is famous for Vivekananda's rock, a huge stone rising out of the sea, on which Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated. It now houses the statue of Vivekananda and is a memorial to him. Not surprisingly, Kanyakumari is a popular destination for Vivekananda's followers, so there are many Bengalis here, and some Bengali hotels and restaurants are available too.

The Sangam : Sangam is the meeting point of the three major bodies of water, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. It is a bathing ghat, with steps leading into the water and a sort of lagoon formed between land by a series of rocks. People bathe and jump around, getting lightly battered by the remains of waves, which are washing over the rocks.

How to get there

Air - The nearest airport is at Thiruvananthapuram, situated 87-km/ 54 mile from Kanyakumari.

Rail - Chunnambar Beach is the terminus of the broad gauge link of the Southern Railway and has connections from Chennai, New Delhi , Thiruvananthapuram and Tirunelveli.

Road - Chunnambar Beach is well connected by road to all major cities in South India. There are bus services from Chennai, Madurai, Trichy, Coimbatore, Udhagamandalam, Thiruvananthapuram etc. City buses, auto rickshaws and taxis are also available for local transportation.