Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, during Experience Kerala XL

Explore Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu

Kanniyakumari, formerly known as Cape Comorin, is a coastal town located at the southernmost tip of the Indian Subcontinent. Many call it Koodal which means it is situated at the confluence of three oceans: Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. What sets Kanniyakumari apart is that it is the only place on the earth where you can watch sunrise and sunset from the same position. Also on full moon days, (specially on Chitra Paurnami which occurs in April-May) you can view both the sun and the moon facing each other on the same horizon, a rare sight, never to be missed. The sea here lures you back to the beach and with picture-perfect sunsets, sands from the three seas tinged in various shades of ochre, walking by the azure waters, it is the ecstasy of being in a geographical wonder. Named after Goddess Kumari Amman, the city is just what you might need for a spiritual experience.

Kanniyakumari houses some of the most famous rock memorials. At the Vivekananda Rock memorial, Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated here before he started his philosophical journey. A popular tourist attraction, the memorial comprises of two parts—the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. There are ferries that take visitors to the rock, which is about 100 metres away from the coast, between 8 AM and 4 PM on a daily basis. Next to the Memorial is The Thiruvalluvar Statue, a 133 ft stone sculpture of Saint Thiruvalluvar (built in 2000), the author of the famous Thirukkural couplets, a masterpiece of Tamil literature written many centuries ago.

On the southern shore of Kanniyakumari stands the Tsunami Memorial Park, a monument that honors the lives lost during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Then there is the 18th-century circular fort Vattakottai overlooking the Bay of Bengal on the one side and the Arabian Sea on the other. Located 8 km/15 min northeast of Kanniyakumari, this 18th-century granite structure was built under the supervision of Eustachius De Lannoy, a naval commander in the Dutch East India Company. Another beauty, not to be missed is the Padmanabhapuram Palace, Asia’s largest wooden palace, nestled inside a fortress, ringed in by the Western Ghats built around 1601 drawing inspiration from Keralan architecture. It was the residence of the Travancore rulers and the palace complex also houses a museum with artefacts belonging to the royal family.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Why should I visit South India with the Experience Kerala Trip?
Answer: Our Experience Kerala Trip to South India is a special trip to visit locations of immense natural beauty. The Experience Kerala Trip gives a chance to experience first hand the local authentic culture, in safety with a small group, staying in good rated hotels and resorts with which we have established a long lasting relationship with and have been checking continuously for their standards

Q: Is South India open for tourists now?*
Answer: Yes, South India is open to tourist and those who plan to travel with our Experience Kerala Trip can book with us for a safe, special and unique experience. We take bookings for our Experience Kerala Trip also for the following years

Q: Why should I travel with you with the Experience Kerala Trip?
Answer: For many of the people that have travelled with us, the Experience Kerala Trip has been a life changing experience. Many availed of ayurveda treatments to improve their health, which had benefited tremendously. Our Experience Kerala Trip is fully supported so all you have to do is board your flight and look for us at the arrival gates, making full time to enjoy the experience and don't worry about any logistics, just go with the flow.

Q: Are 12 days enough to visit South India with the New Year Trip?
Answer: The 12 days of our Experience Kerala Trip will give a great insight in South India, its culture, rituals and food. If you were thinking or wishing to stay extra days, before or after the Experience Kerala Trip, we can organise a further stay in nearby locations, convenient for joining or leaving the group trip.

Q: What type of person do I have to be to join your Experience Kerala Trip?
Answer: The most important thing when joining our Experience Kerala Trip, is to be flexible, open minded, go with the flow, trust your guide and not be afraid to meet local people. In India things may not work as efficiently and smoothly as you would expect, our Experience Kerala Trip motto is “Expect the unexpected”, this is part of the journeying within

Q: Can I travel on my own in the Experience Kerala Trip?
Answer: Yes, many of the people that travelled on the Experience Kerala Trip have come on their own, single travellers are very welcome. We try to introduce members of the group to each other before the time of the travel, if it is possible we pair up a single traveller with another single traveller, of same sex and maybe similar age, to avoid a single supplement charge. If you wish to have your own room, there is no problem in having a single room paying the supplement to join the Experience Kerala Trip in South India