Explore Kanniyakumari
Places to Visit in Kanniyakumari
Top attractions and must-see spots in Kanniyakumari
Beaches
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Kanyakumari Beach
A unique beach where the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean meet.
Rajakkamangalam Beach
Located within the Rajakkamangalam panchayat block of Kanyakumari district, this coastline encompasses several quiet, largely undiscovered beaches including Periyakadu and Thekkurichi. Set along the west coast road, the area is lined with casuarina trees and offers a raw, unspoiled coastal experience away from the tourist rush. It is a favourite among locals seeking calm shores, and the Rajakkamangalam estuary nearby shelters a rich mangrove ecosystem and sea turtle breeding sites.
Sanguthurai Beach
A quiet, clean stretch of coastline about 10 km from Kanyakumari town, Sanguthurai Beach is one of the least crowded beaches in the district. The beach is fringed by coconut palms and features a historic white pillar with a black conch sculpture from the Chola period. From the shore, visitors get distant views of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and Thiruvalluvar Statue. Ideal for peaceful walks and watching sunsets over the Arabian Sea.
Sothavilai Beach
A long, serene beach near Kanyakumari with shallow waters for swimming.
Landmarks
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Gandhi Memorial Mandapam
Built at the place where Gandhi’s ashes were kept before immersion.
Kanyakumari Wax Museum
A fun spot with wax figures of famous personalities.
Mathur Aqueduct
The Mathur Aqueduct, locally known as Thottipalam or Mathur Hanging Trough, is one of the longest and tallest aqueducts in Asia. Built in the 1960s, it stands 110 feet tall and stretches nearly a kilometre across a valley, carrying water from one hill to another across the Pahrali River. The view from the top of the bridge is spectacular, with hills, river, and rubber plantations spread below. Visitors can walk across the structure and cool off in the river below.
Our Lady of Ransom Church
A beautiful Gothic-style church near the shore.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
A magnificent wooden palace built by Travancore kings
St. Xaviers Cathedral, Kottar
One of the oldest churches in South India, St. Xaviers Cathedral in Kottar, Nagercoil, was built around 1600 AD by St. Francis Xavier, who did missionary work across the Kanyakumari coast. The church is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite shrine dedicated to Mary the Mother of God and was elevated to the status of a Cathedral in 1930. Every year from November 24 to December 3, over five lakh pilgrims from Tamil Nadu and Kerala gather here for the ten-day feast, one of the largest Catholic festivals in South India.
Thiruvalluvar Statue
A towering 133-ft statue of the Tamil poet-saint beside the memorial.
Tsunami Memorial Park
A peaceful memorial dedicated to tsunami victims.
Vattakottai Fort
A coastal fort offering panoramic seaside views.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial
A serene rock island honoring Swami Vivekananda, offering stunning sea views.
Scenic Spots
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Pechiparai Reservoir
Built during the reign of Travancore king Mulam Thirunal in the late 19th century, Pechiparai Reservoir is a scenic dam and reservoir set amid the forested hills of Kanyakumari district, about 43 km from Nagercoil. Boating facilities are available on the tranquil waters surrounded by Western Ghats greenery. The reservoir supplies drinking water to much of the district and is a popular day-trip destination, best combined with visits to Thirparappu Waterfalls and Mathur Aqueduct nearby.
Sunrise and Sunset View Points
Kanyakumari is one of the few places on Earth where both sunrise and sunset can be witnessed from the same spot, making it a bucket-list destination for travellers across India. The Sunrise View Point on the eastern side offers views of the sun rising beyond the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, casting dramatic reflections across the water. On the western side, the Sunset View Point near the lighthouse frames the sun descending into the Arabian Sea. On Chitra Pournami, both the sunset and moonrise are visible simultaneously.
Thirparappu Waterfalls
One of the most popular natural attractions in Kanyakumari district, Thirparappu Waterfalls lies about 42 km from Nagercoil where the Kodayar River cascades from a rocky ledge roughly 50 feet high and 300 feet wide. The riverbed is rocky and particularly scenic, and a childrens swimming pool has been built at the site. On the banks above the falls stands an ancient Shiva temple enclosed by a stone fortification. The falls flow for around seven months a year and draws families, picnickers, and nature lovers.
Triveni Sangam
The meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean.
Shopping
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Co-Optex Sales Emporium
The Tamil Nadu Co-optex Sales Emporium near Gandhi Mandapam in Kanyakumari is a government-run store offering a wide range of handloom textiles at fair, fixed prices. It stocks silk sarees, cotton sarees, Kerala-style sarees, mixed silk-cotton weaves, and everyday textiles including towels, bedsheets, and dhoti sets. It is a reliable stop for travellers looking to buy quality South Indian fabrics without the uncertainty of bargaining in open markets.
Kanyakumari Bazaar
Situated just behind the Bhagavathy Amman Temple, Kanyakumari Bazaar is one of the oldest markets in the district, with hundreds of stalls lining the lanes around the temple complex. It is the go-to spot for locally made shell handicrafts, customised conches, coloured sands from Kanyakumaris famous multicoloured beach, coir and coconut products, spices, wooden crafts, and handloom sarees. The bazaar is particularly vibrant during festival seasons and draws pilgrims and tourists alike.
Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium
Run by the Tamil Nadu government, Poompuhar Handicrafts Emporium on Sannathi Street in Kanyakumari is a well-known fixed-price store for authentic Tamil Nadu crafts. It stocks bronze sculptures, wooden carvings, stone idols, silk and cotton textiles, leather goods, and traditional artworks made by skilled craftspeople from across the state. For travellers looking for genuine, quality-assured souvenirs and gifts, it is one of the most dependable shopping stops in Kanyakumari.
Sannathi Street
Running through the heart of Kanyakumari town near the main temple, Sannathi Street is the primary shopping street for tourists visiting the southernmost tip. Stalls and shops sell seashell jewellery, palm leaf crafts, brass idols, traditional textiles, and religious souvenirs. The street has a lively, bustling atmosphere especially in the evenings, with the sound of temple bells and sea breeze adding to the experience. It is also where several government-run handicraft emporiums are located.
Vadasery Market, Nagercoil
Vadasery, a commercial locality in Nagercoil, is renowned across South India for its temple jewellery. Asarimar Street within the market is lined with silver and gold smiths crafting intricate pieces inspired by classical Dravidian temple architecture. Vadasery temple jewellery holds a Geographical Indication (GI) tag from the Government of India and is widely used by classical dancers across the country. Shoppers can watch artisans at work and find authentic jewellery not easily available elsewhere.
Temple
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Alappancode Easwara Kala Bhoothathan Temple
Located near Marthandam in Kanyakumari district, the Alappancode Easwara Kala Bhoothathan Temple is an ancient pilgrimage site dedicated to Easwara Kala Bhoothathan, a deity locally revered as an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple follows Kerala-style architecture and daily rituals. It is the only temple in Tamil Nadu where over 25 caparisoned elephants participate in the annual festival procession, held on the last Saturday of December. The procession covers seven kilometres and draws large crowds from both Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Bhagavathy Amman Temple
One of the 108 Shakti Peethas, dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari.
Guganathaswamy Temple
Built by King Raja Raja Chola I around 1000 years ago, the Guganathaswamy Temple in Nagercoil is a significant Shiva temple reflecting classic Chola-period architecture. The temple houses 16 stone inscriptions dating from 1038 AD to 1045 AD, making it a valuable site for students of South Indian history and epigraphy. Located conveniently near the Nagercoil railway station, it is a peaceful and historically rich stop for devotees and heritage travellers visiting the Kanyakumari district.
Nagaraja Temple, Nagercoil
One of the most significant temples in Kanyakumari district, the Nagaraja Temple in Nagercoil is dedicated to the five-headed serpent king Nagaraja. The town itself takes its name from this temple, with Nagercoil meaning temple of the Nagas. Likely pre-12th century in origin, it originally functioned as a Jain shrine, as evidenced by Tirthankara images still visible on the mandapam pillars. The sanctum retains its distinctive thatched roof and sand floor. The sand offered as prasadam is believed to cure skin ailments.
Suchindram Temple
Known for its musical pillars and the unique Trinity deity.
Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple
A 9th-century rock-cut cave temple hewn from a granite hillside near Kulasekaram, Thirunanthikarai Cave Temple is one of the oldest religious sites in Kanyakumari district and is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India. Dedicated to Lord Shiva, it is believed to have originally served as a Jain monastery before its conversion. The interior retains four Tamil inscriptions and rare early examples of Kerala-style mural paintings depicting Ganesha and Narasimha. It is the fourth among the 12 Sivalayam temples of Kanyakumari district.
Thiruvattar Adikesava Perumal Temple
One of the 108 Divya Desams of Vaishnavism, the Adikesava Perumal Temple at Thiruvattar is believed to be over 2,500 years old. Lord Vishnu reclines here as Adikesava on the serpent Adiseshan, viewed through three successive doors, and is considered older than the Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, with which it shares deep ritual connections. The temple is surrounded on three sides by the Kothai, Pahrali, and Thamirabarani rivers. The single-stone Otraikkal Mandapam inside is considered an architectural marvel.