AIR
Indian Airlines and Jet Airways fly to Thiruvananthapuram, the closest airport to Kanyakumari, from Delhi and Mumbai. International airlines like Gulf Air, Kuwait Airways and Oman Air also have flights to Thiruvananthapuram from places like Doha, Dubai, Muscat and Abu Dhabi.

Airport
The nearest airport is about 90 km away at Thiruvananthapuram.

RAIL
Well connected to important cities with trains running from Thiruvananthapuram, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Jammu (the longest rail journey in India ? 86 hours) to Kanyakumari. The Nellai Kumari Express comes in from Chennai and the Kanyakumari Express connects Mumbai and Kanyakumari. Delhi is connected by The Thirukkural Express.

Railway station
Located 1 km away from the main town area.

ROAD

SETC Buses go to Chennai, Madurai, Thiruvananthapuram and Rameswaram and back at regular intervals from the bus station at Kanyakumari.

Bus terminus
The Thiruvalluvar bus stand is a five-minute walk west of town .

CLIMATE
In the summer, temperatures go as low as 22°C and as high as 35°C, while in the winter, temperatures remain between 22°C and 33°C.

STD CODE
04652

Area
11.6 sq km

Vivekananda Memorial
A ferry will take you to the huge rock memorial 400 m offshore. This memorial marks the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. The mandapam here was built in 1970. Open daily from 7 am to 11 am and 2 pm to 5 pm, except on Tuesdays. You will also find Sri Pada Parai (footprints of Kanya Devi) here, installed in a small shrine marking the place where she performed penance for Lord Shiva.

Kumari Amman Temple
Dedicated to Goddess Kanya Devi, the temple is open from 4.30 am to 11.45 am and from 5.30 pm to 8.45 pm. In May-June there is a procession of the idol of the deity, and in September-October during Navarathri people celebrate the goddess victory over the demons.

Gandhi Mandapam
Located about 300 m, north-west of the Kumari Amman Temple, and inspired by an Orissa temple. It s so designed that the sun s rays strike the sacred spot where the ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were laid, prior to their immersion in the sea.

Vattakottai
Also called the Circular Fort, this 18th century fort overlooks the sea and is located 6 km from Kanyakumari.

Suchindram
Suchindram literally means the place where Indira was purified . Legend has it that Lord Indra was advised to perform penance here to free himself from the curse of Gautama muni. At the entrance of the temple is a laurel (konnayadi) tree about 2,000 years old. In the hollow of the tree is the linga of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu & Shiva). Indra worshipped the Trimurti here and is said to have passed through burning ghee to purify himself. Inscriptions found here date as far back as 9th century AD. The temple is also famous for a huge statue of Hanuman and its musical pillars. Built in the 17th century, it lies 13 km away from Kanyakumari.

Udayagiri Fort
Built by King Marthanda Varma (1729-1758 AD), this fort (20 km from Kanyakumari) also has a foundry for casting guns. The European General De Lennoy s tomb is located within this fort.

Nagaraja Temple
Also 20 km from Kanyakumari, the temple has shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu.

Padmanabhapuram Palace
About 45 km from Kanyakumari is the magnificent wooden palace of the Travancore Maharajas.

Tiruchendur
This is the site of a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya situated 100 km north of Kanyakumari.

Courtallam Falls
The Courtallam Falls, 137 km from Kanyakumari, start from a height of 167 m. Locals believe that the water here has medicinal qualities.

Shopping can be done at the Tamil Nadu Co-optex Sales Emporium near the Gandhi Mandapam. The Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium is at Sannathi Road. Souvenirs and handicraft articles made from sea shells and palm leaf are some of the items to pick up at Kanyakumari.