Kanniyakumari (Cape Comorin) where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea meet

This site is associated with the Goddess Kumari, the virgin. Kanniyakumari has become a busy pilgrimage centre. The memorial to Swami Vivekenanda, on a rocky promontory just over 400 meters off shore, dominates the view from the beach. The confluence of the 3 seas here gives rise to spectacular sunrises, sunsets and moonrises.

But we didn’t realise just how busy it would be!!!! Eek. To get to the Rock you had to catch a ferry, along with hundreds of other people. We didn’t feel guilty for paying 300Rs to jump the queuerather than the normal 75Rs for the ling queue. Even then we had to wait for a boat.

This is us making our way down to the boat. Although there seemed to be loads of boats only 2 were running. It’s not a long crossing and they didn’t waste time getting people on. We were split into male / female lines and us ladies were allowed on first, but we had to make a mad dash to grab a life jacket before we scrambled onboard. Most people didn’t even put them on!!! (why wasn’t I surprised!!!) I got chatting to a lady and her sister-in-law whilst we waited for the boat to arrive. She was a little obsessed with the royal family and asked all sorts of questions. Anyway, we got on and experienced the short journey over.

The Kanniyakumari Temple, which overlooks the shoreline, is a magnificent sculpted strucure and the image of the goddess in its sanctum (closed to non-Hindus) is famous for its diamond nose ring.

This is the view from the statue of the Temple.

No photos allowed in here either, but all you could see was a garland of flowers on top of the stone where the Goddesses footprints can still be seen (we were allowed in here).

A large metal bridge with an inbuilt glass walkway took us over to the Vivekananda Memorial.

Dedicated to the memory of the philosopher Swami Vivekananda who came here as a simple monk, he swam out to these rocks and sat there in deep contemplation in 1892. This memorial was built in 1970.

It’s quite impressive close up!

We joined the queue for the boat trip back, no segregation and no jumping the queue. Thankfully we were under cover and we only had to wait for 3 boats to come and go before we made it back.

The confluence of the 3 seas – the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea all meet here at the southernmost tip of India.

And after the Ganges it’s the second most holy place for Hindu people to make a pilgrimage to, to attain salvation.

This is the original temple to the Goddess on the sea shore and just along is a special area for people to immerse themselves.

I didn’t like to take too many photos as its sacred for some people.

The Gandhi Mandapam was built on the sea front so that on his birthday (2nd October) sun shines on the brow of his statue where his ashes were placed.

There were lots of photos recording his life all along the walls inside.

But no sign of the statue!?

We’re off to Madurai next where there is a dedicated Gandhi museum so I’m guessing we’ll see the same photos there too.

This place has made an impression on me, it was nothing like I expected, solemn and holy but imagine Blackpool (everywhere is lit up and hundreds of stalls selling the Indian equivalent of kiss me quick hats) mixed with a festival (people come in coach loads and having parties sitting on the floor in the carpark with loud music and dancing) combined with some spiritual healing (after visiting the shrine on the rock they then submerge themselves in the confluence of the waters fully clothed). A bit odd for us to see but they’re all on holiday so the atmosphere is like a carnival every day. Never seen anything like it!

Thankfully our posh hotel is like a little calm oasis in the bedlam.

I loved the name of the Bar, and yes the hotel is heavenly (bit more expensive than others we’ve stayed at) but worth it for the cold beer 😜

I had a lovely few hours having a little swim and a laze on a comfy sunbed by the pool. Perfect. (The only company we had was a gardener sitting on the floor on his bum snipping the grass within an inch of it’s life and a lady who came after him sweeping up his mess!!!)