It’s a trip to Kanyakumari from Bangalore. Kanyakumari is the southernmost tip of mainland India and is surrounded by three water bodies. Bay of Bengal towards east, Indian Ocean in south and Arabian Sea in west. I think it is the only place to see sun rise and sun set in water bodies in India. Kanyakumari town is named after the goddess Kanyakumari amman, a popular deity of the area. Legend has it that the goddess Parvathi in one of her incarnation as devi Kanya did penance on one of the rock of this land’s end to obtain the hand of lord Siva. Tip of the day – Never ever wear any footwear which is difficult to open in Kanyakumari like sneakers or other shoes. Every place you visit, you have to open your shoe even in museum. 2nd tip of the day – Always wear socks to protect your feet from heat. 3rd tip – Protect yourself with best sunscreen lotion you have. 4th one – everybody speaks Hindi. 5th one – Hardly any non veg restaurant. Everyone is veg and I figured out only one non veg which became my favorite. Ok ok lots of free trip.
Its 22-March-2012 10:30 PM, we have boarded Nagercoil Express in Bangalore City Junction station. Since this train does not have any pantry, we had to get packed food. When I am traveling I am always double hungry than normal days. The train was full, but it was totally empty once it reached Madurai next day at 10:00 am. Runai and I were thinking whether the train will go till Nagercoil or not. Then I saw there was another family far end in the same coach.
We reached Nagercoil Junction station at 23-March-2012 2:30 pm. We came out of the station and saw lots of taxi waiting to take you to Kanyakumari. We know that they are going to take you on a ride if we hire them, so thought of taking a bus because it 20 KM from Nagercoil to Kanyakumari. There lots of local public bus very frequent to go to Kanyakumari. But then I came to know that it will take 2 hours to reach in this type of bus because it will go everywhere and will stop in every place. One person told us that if we walk a kilometer from there to reach highway, then we will get direct express bus for Kanyakumari and will take hardly 20 min to reach. Along with us there were another family who came to highway road bus stop. After waiting for 10 min, a bus came and we boarded that bus. Ticket was Rs. 18 per head and we reached Kanyakumari around 3:30 pm. We asked one fellow passenger to drop us in Kanyakumari Railway station. I had a printed google map of all the places from Kanyakumari Railway station. Anyway we got down and saw that it’s the entrance for Our Lady of Ransom Church.
We decided to go to the church and then search for hotel. We did that promptly. It’s a beautiful church. A bit of information about this church – Located on the shoreline of the Bay of Bengal, the 100 year old Church in dedicated to Mother Mary. It was built in the Gothic style of architecture with a strong Portuguese influence. It is 153 feet high and is crowned with a cross of pure gold. One lady near the entrance asked me if I know Tamil and I replied yes. May be she knows only Tamil and wanted to communicate something important. She told me that behind the church, there is a staircase and on top there is a new smaller church build and we also get to see beautiful view of Bay of Bengal from the terrace. We opened our shoe and went inside the church. Interior was very simple just opposite to the decoration on outside. Then we went backstage and went to that new church which was pretty small and from the terrace we can see the beautiful sea. We could not take any picture because we did not yet open our luggage.
Next was our hotel search. Tell you something, if there are 100 houses for local resident, then there are 1000 hotels for tourist. So we decided to go near the beach and get a hotel. In the midway we found a budget Hotel Sangam. We wanted to enguire the rate and they told Rs. 1300 and 1000 for A/C and Non A/C double bed. We told its too much and we were about to leave and the receptionist told us, that they have room for Rs 600. Basically it’s the same room and since it is off season, they lower the rate and I instantly booked it for 3 days. After refreshing we went to the restaurant downstairs. We did not wanted something fancy so ordered for 2 plates of lunch meal. Tell you something, I don’t know what they gave in food but I till late night I was not hungry. So we decided that we are not going to go in that restaurant anymore.
We headed toward Triveny Sangam (which is the meeting point of three water bodies). I am confused here. Till now I know that there are 3 different Triveny Sangam (one near Srirangapatnam, another near Coorg and next is this one). If a traveler ask for Triveny Sangam details, where will the person refer to? Anyway it’s a rocky place and no sea beach as such. There are plenty of shops for sea shells and they are pretty cheap AMO. Big shells were for Rs. 200 whereas in Chennai they are sold for min Rs. 500 for bad quality ones. We can have a so-so view for sun rise and sun set from here with lots of obstacles. After the sun set and few photographs, we left the place.
| Triveni Sangam (Bay of Bengal + Indian Ocean + Arabian Sea) |
| Sunset |
| Vivekananda Rock & Thiruvalluvar Statue |
| Vivekananda Rock & Thiruvalluvar Statue |
| Triveni Sangam |
Near the junction there is a small Aqua World fish exhibition. Ticket was Rs. 20 and no photography allowed. There are plenty of fishes of various types, shapes and colors, They have a good collections here.
Just opposite to Aqua World, there is a nice beautiful well maintained park. People can seat there and feel the breeze of Indian Ocean because it faces south. We got an ice cream and peanut pack and sat there till 7:30 pm, when the security guard shouting that it’s time to close. We also got some night vision photograph for light house.
| Night View of Light House |
We came out and started walking toward the hotel when we saw a busy restaurant Hotel Vishwawhich was making something to do with egg and instantly I figured out that it’s a only non veg restaurant nearby. I could not continue eating veg for 3 days and here this restaurant came to my rescue. I had parota with beef masala for Rs. 130. Runai did not take anything except water. It was well prepared and I made it my all time food counter.
We went in the hotel and this restaurant was 5 buildings away, so figured out it was easy for us. On the way we got 4 L of water. We slept early that day because we planned to watch sun rise next day.
24-March-2012 4:30 am, our room phone was ringing and I received it and found that it was from reception for wake up call to go and watch sun rise. I think it is a custom for them. Anyway I got up, got prepared and headed toward the pink color watch tower. Ticket was Rs. 5, timing is 5:30 am to 7:00 pm and we have to climb 5 floors to reach the top. I had wait till 6:20 am for the sun rise. It’s an awesome view.
| Sun Rise |
Around 7:00, I started going all the places that I will visit and noted down there entry timing. Next I came back to hotel and then went for breakfast. Another horrible experience it was. We ordered for puri, saabji and vada for Rs. 25.
Then we started walking toward Vivekanandapuram which is the headquarter of Vivekananda Kendar. Bit of info – The center spreads over an area of 100 acres. It was founded by Eknathji Ranade for Swami Vivekananda.
| Vivekanandapuram -Entrance Gate |
We headed straight to the sea shore of Bay of Bengal. One cannot go to the beach because it is guarded by wall but one can enjoy absolutely breathtaking views of sunrise. It’s very quiet and peace place. On the way it was written as Peacock Santuray. We could see one and we started running after it to take a picture. But after sometime, we saw that everywhere there are peacocks and could get very clear photograph.
| Vivekanandapuram – Peacock Santuray |
On the way back, we went to Eknathji Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam.
| Vivekanandapuram – Eknathji Mandapam and Vivekananda Mandapam |
| Vivekanandapuram – Vivekananda Mandapam |
Later we went to Gangotri but it was closed because we were too early. Timing is 10:00 – 12:00 and 6:30 – 8:30.
| Vivekanandapuram – Gangotri |
We went to Sree Ekakshara Maha Ganapati Temple.
| Vivekanandapuram – Sree Ekakshara Maha Ganapati Temple |
Then we went to Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition. Timing is 9:00 – 1:00 and 4:00 – 8:00 and Tuesday evening closed. Ticket is Rs. 10 and book available for Rs. 100. It a huge hall with picture frames. It depiction starts with history of India and then transformation with western culture and then history of Swami Vivekananda and his vision. There is a full length 3D picture of Swami Vivekananda at the entrance. In any 180 degree, if you look at him, then it will look like he is looking at you. There we meet a nice retired old person who takes care of that hall.
| Vivekanandapuram – Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition Entrance Gate |
| Vivekanandapuram – Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition |
| Vivekanandapuram -3D picture in Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition |
Then again we returned back to Gangotri and it was open. This is where Eknathji used to stay and his room. There were pictorial exhibition of his work and various letters which he used to communicate with rest of the people. It depicts his vision.
Then we went for lunch. There is a restaurant inside the premises and serve simple but good homely food. Lunch is Rs 38 and starts from 11:30. We were little early, so had to wait for 15 min. But waiting was worthy and got steaming rice with dal and other stuffs.
In Vivekanandapuram there are many things to see.
- Sree Ekakshara Maha Ganapati Temple
- Vivekananda Pictorial Exhibition
- Gangotri (on the life of Eknathji Ranade – Founder of Vivekananda Kendra)
- Bharat Gramodaya Darshan Park
- Nalanda (Library and Reading Room)
- Eknathji Samadhi
- Vivekananda Samadhi
- Sunrise Beach
If anybody wants to stay there, then you have an option of boarding and lodging along with restaurant. It’s nothing fancy but good place to stay and enjoy the calmness with reasonable price.
In Vivekananda Kendra I think it is open even before 8:00 am but most of the tourist places inside the premises is open after 10:00 am.
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