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Tamil
Nadu ( Kanniya Kumari )
INTRODUCTION
Kanniya Kumari the southernmost
tip of peninsular India, is where the waters of the Bay
of Bengal, the India Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet. A
place from where one can see spectacular sunrises and
also colourful sunsets! On balmy evenings, one can
watch the sun set while a full moon is rising in
another part of the sky!
There is a temple dedicated to the
virgin goddess Kanniya Kumari picturesquely located
close to the sea shore. According to legend, it is here
that the goddess Parvati undertook penance to gain the
hand of Lord Shiva in marriage. The beautifully adorned
deity has a sparkling diamond nose ring that is
supposed to be visible even from the sea.
On little rocky island just of the
coast is the memorial to that great Indian philosopher
- Swami Vivekananda. He is supposed to have sat here in
deep meditation in 1892. On the island one can also see
the Shri Pada Parai - the footprints of the Virgin
goddess.
The Gandhi Memorial at Kanniya
Kumari is located at the place where his ashes were
kept before immersion. It is so designed that on 2nd
October, his birthday, the sun's rays fall directly on
the spot.
Close to Kanniya Kumari is also
the Vattakottai (6 km) an 18th century circular fort on
the beach that is a popular picnic spot.
AROUND KANNIYA KUMARI
NAGARAJA TEMPLE
Nagaraja (20 km) - An unusual
temple with Nagaraja as the main deity. There are
shrines to Lord Shiva and Vishnu as well.
SUCHINDRAM
(13 km) The imposing Thanamalayam Temple at
Suchindram is dedicated to the trinity - Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The
temple is also noted for a huge statue of Hanuman and its musical
pillars.
UDAYAGIRI FORT
(34 km) - Built during the reign of Marthanda
Varma (1729 - 1758 AD), the fort has the tomb of his trusted European
general, De Lennoy.
PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE
(45 km) - This is the exquisite wooden palace of
the Subramanya.
COURTALLAM FALLS
(137 km) - Beautiful waterfalls at an elevation of
167 m. its water is believed to have medicinal properties. (Season -
July to September).
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