Museums and Memorials in Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari, fondly called Kumari Mavattam in the local language of Tamil, is the southernmost district in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.
The region offers a wide range of places of interest which include beaches, religious sites, wildlife sanctuary, and waterfalls and so on.
Kanyakumari is regarded as the home of a lot of museums and monuments/memorials.
Some of the most popular places to visit in Kanyakuari are:
Vivekananda Rock Memorial
The World-renown Vivekananda Rock Memorial is devoted to Swami Vivekananda (Narendra Nath Data), an Indian Hindu monastic, principal adherent of the 19th-century saint Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and the founder of Ramakrishna Mission.
History
The memorial was constructed between 1963 and 1970 in a light tint of red and blue granite. The beautiful memorial is located on the peak of a rock island, at an altitude of about 17 meters above sea level, extending an area of about 6 acres.
During the year 1970, Swami Vireshwarananda (tenth President of the Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission) dedicated Vivekananda Rock Memorial, and it was unveiled by Varahagiri Venkata Giri (the fourth President of the Republic of India).
The main Attraction : The speciality of the memorial is that assorted Indian architectural styles have been integrated into the building of the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
Vivekananda Rock Memorial comprises of two primary structures:- Vivekananda Mandapam
- Shripada Mandapam
Vivekananda Mandapam
Vivekananda Mandapam has an orthogonal flooring design and it has quaternary divisions and they are Assembly hall (Sabha mandapam), Meditation hall (Dhyana mandapam), Front portion (Mukha mandapam) and Front entrance. The majestic statue of Swami Vivekananda stands tall in the Pralima mandapam.
Shripada Mandapam
It is located on Shripada Parai, an ancient blessed point considered to be sanctified by Goddess Kumari Amman. Shripada Mandapam has a squarely flooring design, and it also houses a Sanctum Sanctorum (Karbagraham), inner pragaaram and outside pragaaram.
Memorial Timings: 07:00 am to 04:00 pm (All days of the week) and the entry fee is just rs 10 per person. The Approximate Visit Duration is 2 to 3 hours.
Transportation: Ferry services operated by the Poompuhar Shipping Corporation link the mainland to the rocky island of the memorial.
Nearby Places of InterestMuttom Beach: 2.2 km
Keeriparai Reserve Forest: 2.2 km
The government Museum: 2.2 km
Ullakaarivi: 2.2 km
Nearby places to stay:The Palms inn- 1043 Sector 38, opp. Power House, Main Gate, Gurugram, Haryana 122002•084700 30007
The Gopinivas Grand-3-star hotel-2/17B, E Car St, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702•088254 66315
Nearest Railway Station to Gandhi Memorial: Nagercoil Junction Railway Station (NCJ)
Nearest Airport to Gandhi Memorial: Trivandrum International Airport (IATA: TRV, ICAO: VOTV)
Gandhi Memorial in Kanyakumari
The Gandhi Memorial is is called Gandhi Mandapam in the local language of Tamil. The Gandhi Memorial located in the Kanyakumari district was completed during the year 1956.
The structure has been constructed in a distinctive fashion that the sun rays entering the memorial at 12 PM illuminates the particular spot where the copper urn bearing the last ashes of Mahatma Gandhi was kept. The memorial also showcases the last belongings of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.
History
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi traveled to Kanyakumari twice during the years 1925 and 1937. After Gandhi's demise, his body was cremated and the ashes were brought and immersed in the sea waters bordering the Kanyakumari district. Before the immersion of the ashes, the copper urn was kept in the place where the present Gandhi Memorial remains in the firm.
Approximate Visit Duration: 1 to 2 hours and Visiting Hours are from 07:00 am to 07:00 pm (All days of the week).
Nearby Places of InterestKumari Amman Temple: 100 m
The government Museum: 1.6 km
Tsunami Memorial: 100 m
Muttom Beach: 1.6 km
Vivekanandha Rock Memorial: 600 m
Nearby places to stayHotel Sea Land- E Car St, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702•04652 246 079
The Gopinivas Grand-3-star hotel-2/17B, E Car St, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702•088254 66315
Ferdin Cottage-P.B.4, Kottakkarai Road, Kovalam-Kanyakumari Rd, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629702•094892 48444
Kamarajar Manimandapam in Kanyakumari
Kamaraj Memorial, fondly called Kamarajar Manimandapam, is a far-famed monument that was constructed and consecrated to Late. Sri K. Kamarajar.
Kamarajar was a notable Indian political leader from the southern state of Tamil Nadu. Kamarajar is widely recognized as the "Kingmaker" of Indian politics during the 1960s.
History
Kamarajar was involved in the Indian independence movement and was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu during 1954–1963 and a Parliamentarian for more than seven years.
Kamarajar was popularly called Black Gandhi of India. The memorial also houses a museum that exhibits photos and records recounting the life of Karmamveerar Kamarajar. The timming of the memorial is from 07:00 am to 07:00 pm (all days of the week) and the Approximate Visit Duration is 1 to 2 hours.
Tsunami Monument
The Tsunami Monument is a singular structure that is located in the southern sea-coast of Kanyakumari district. The memorial was constructed in the remembrance of those who passed away in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tidal wave.
Why this place is special
The quake struck numerous nations, including India, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Somalia, the Kingdom of Thailand, the Republic of Maldives and the Republic of Indonesia.
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, recorded as one of the most withering natural calamities in the history, the mega thrust quake killed over 280,000 people. People from all over the country visit this Tsunami Monument in Kanyakumari to pay homage.
Chitharal Jain Monuments
Chitharal is located about 45 kilometers away from Kanyakumari. It is famous for the Rock-cut temple.
The hillock at Chitharal has a cave containing rock-cut sculptures of Thirthankaras and attendent deities carved inside and outside dating back to the 9th century A.D. King Mahendra Varman I was responsible for the Jainism influence in this region.
It was converted into Bagavathy Temple in the 13th century A.D. Cars and vans can go upto the foot of the hill. One has to walk for about 10 minutes to reach the temple. The Jain images have been preserved by the Central Archeological Survey of India. It comes under Vellankode panchayat.
Kanyakumari
The museum is the home of a lot of rock carvings and beautiful statues like the 9th-century Tamil poet Manikkavacakar and Alwar. The museum exhibits stupefying wooden sculptures, botanical specimens, tribal items, bronzes, antique coins, zoological specimens and so on.
The museum also displays horny material from the upper jaws of certain whales (used as the ribs of fans or as stays in corsets) from the Panchayat town of Manavalakurichi in the territorial dominion.
Museum Timings: 09:30 am to 05:00 pm and Museum will remain closed on Fridays, second Saturdays and National holidays. The charges for entry is Rs. 5 per Indian national and Rs. 100 per foreign national.
Other important museums and memorials in the Kanyakumari district include:- Wax Museum (Baywatch Amusement Park)
- Jeevanandam Manimandapam
- Saikuthambi Pavalar Memorial
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