|
Location
: Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Famous For : Spectacular Sunrises And
Sunsets
Attractions : Vivekananda Rock And The
Sangam
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.
A Sight For Sore
Eyes
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.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is
available at the hotels in Kanyakumari with options varying from
reasonable economic class to luxurious ones.
|
