The southernmost tip of India’s mainland makes for a quirky weekend getaway

Kanniyakumari, formerly regarded as Cape Comorin, is a coastal city set at the southernmost tip of the Indian Subcontinent. Many call it Koodal which means it is found at the confluence of three oceans: Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. What sets Kanniyakumari apart is that it is the only place on the earth where you can watch sunrise and sunset from the same position. Too on full moon days, (specially on Chitra Paurnami which occurs in April-May) you can view both the sun and the moon facing each other on the same horizon, a rare sight, never to be missed. The sea here lures you back to the shore and with picture-perfect sunsets, sands from the three seas tinged in several shades of ochre, walking by the azure waters, it is the ecstasy of being in a geographical wonder. Named after Goddess Kumari Amman, the urban centre is just what you might need for a long weekend getaway. Here’s a 72-hour guide to the storied urban centre.

Kanniyakumari houses some of the most famous rock memorials. At the Vivekananda Rock memorial, Swami Vivekananda is said to have meditated here before he started his philosophical visit. A frequented tourist place of interest, the memorial comprises of two parts—the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam. There are ferries that take guests to the rock, which is about 100 metres away from the coast, between 8 AM and 4 PM on a daily basis. Next to the Memorial is The Thiruvalluvar Statue, a 133 ft stone sculpture of Saint Thiruvalluvar (established in 2000), the author of the famous Thirukkural couplets, a masterpiece of Tamil literature written many centuries ago.