Kanyakumari Beach,
Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari Beach is located at Kanyakumari which is the
southernmost tip of the Indian Peninsula; its former name was Cape
Comorin. The Kanyakumari beach is a beautiful sight with multi-coloured
sand. The beach here does not really offer one the opportunity to sunbathe on
soft golden sands, or to frolic in the waves either. The seashore is rocky and
dangerous, and there is a manmade wall running along it. People are warned to
stay off the rocks, and when if someone ventures out of bounds, he or she is
quickly and severely reprimanded by a watchful policeman. There is
a lighthouse from where one can get a panoramic view.
The sea is fairly rough, so it is entertaining to watch it
beat itself against the rocks and then subsidize, before it gathers itself up
for another attack. With long stretches of sands of many hues, the beach offers
a welcome change. The place is also famous for its distinctly beautiful
(reddish) sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies - the Bay
of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea - makes the
sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings
one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time
- on either side of the horizon. A variety of shells are on sale on
the Kanyakumari beach.
Kanyakumari is a unique beach that is surrounded by three seas;
the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. It is located at the
southernmost tip of India. Kanyakumari coast is famous for its fabulous sun set
and sun rise views especially on full moon days from the shore. The Kanyakumari
coast has some very small golden sand beaches but they are rocky.
Kanyakumari is a pilgrimage destination. It is also popular as it
lies in the southern most part of the Indian Peninsula. This is where the
Sangam lie, which is the meeting point of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea
and the Indian Ocean.
Vivekananda rock is the prime tourist attraction where it is
believed that Swami Vivekananda meditated. For protection from high waves there
is wall constructed along the sea. Thiruvalluvar Statues and Gandhi mandapam
are another attractions here.
The nearest major city is Nagercoil, the administrative
headquarters of Kanyakumari District, 22 km (14 mi) away. Kanyakumari was one
of the important towns of the ancient Tamilakam (Sangam period).
Activities
Famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the
horizons, Kanyakumari has been enticing adventure tourists for ages because of
its breath-taking location. Adventure junkies here can indulge in many
adventure activities like trekking, biking, swimming and surfing. With a rocky
shoreline, the waves that hit are quite strong and frequent. It could well be
one of the windiest places on Earth. The swell gets big here but is usually
blown out. An occasional offshore wind comes along from time to time and then
you get some good waves.
If you know any wind surfers then tell them to head to Kanyakumari
and they are sure to get some big windy waves. The western coast, from Dwarka
to Kanyakumari, enjoys some of the biggest waves. The beaches at Kanyakumari
are very clean and the combined surge of the waves make Kanyakumari an ideal
surfing spot in the Indian subcontinent. The surfing conditions here are
favorable as there is no land mass beyond Kanyakumari right up to Antarctica.
Kanyakumari is also one of the windiest places on the planet,
making this location ideal for windsurfers. The average height of the waves
around the year is 3 to 5 ft. The season for large waves is from May to
September when the average height of the waves increases to 8 to 15 ft.
Visitors are recommended to get their own surfing boards along as there might
not be enough with the locals to rent out during the season.
The parasailing here is for just 5-10 minutes. The organizer
usually takes you inside the sea in a boat for it. You can experience the
beauty of the sea on your way and then enjoy the parasailing there. Strong
winds during the main season make it a significant location for leisure sports,
like Paragliding and Kite Surfing.
Connectivity
By Air: Nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram which is just 90 kms away.
It has both the domestic and international terminals. From Thiruvananthapuram,
you can take a taxi or a bus to Kanyakumari.
By Rail: Kanyakumari is well connected by rail services with all the major
cities in India.
By Road: Kanyakumari has a good road network which connects to the major
cities and towns in South India like Chennai, Bangalore, Madurai, Pondicherry,
Trivandrum and so on. Tourist taxis and auto rickshaws are also available for
travel in Kanyakumari.
