At the very southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, where the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean meet, stands the temple of Devi Kanya Kumari — the goddess in the form of a young maiden.
Significance
According to legend, the Devi performed penance here to win the hand of Lord Shiva. When the wedding could not take place, she remained a maiden, standing guard over the land. The temple is regarded as a Shakti Peetha, and the goddess’s diamond nose ring is famous — its sparkle is said to have been visible from the sea.
Around Kanyakumari
Nearby are the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892, and the Thiruvalluvar statue. The Suchindram Thanumalayan Temple, dedicated to the Trimurti, is a short drive away.
Kanyakumari is the final stop on our Madurai – Rameswaram – Kanyakumari tour.
