Vattakottai
Vattakottai (literally, circular fort) is an 18th-century fort overlooking the sea, located six km from Kanyakumari. The Udayagiri Fort (34 km), built by King Marthanda Varma (AD 1729-1758), has a foundry for casting guns. The kings trusted European general De Lennoys grave is located within this fort.The Panchappathi, five primary sacred places of Ayyavazhi religion were all situated within 10 km circle from Kanyakumari. It also includes the Swamithoppe Ayya Vaikundar Temple situated 10 km north-west of Kanyakumari, which is one of the famous temples in Tamilnadu. Though not so massive structurally, it is well known for its non-idolatory system of worship. Situated 13 km from Kanyakumari, Suchindram bears the imprint of various kingdoms. The Thanumalayan temple here is a repository of art treasures belonging to those kingdoms. The temple is famous for its musical columns and its impressive 6 m tall statue of the monkey god, Hanuman. The main deity in the form of a shivlinga represents Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma, the trinity of the Hindu pantheon. Ancient inscriptions dating back to the ninth century are found in this place. The Nagaraja Temple at Nagercoil (20 km) is a magnificent temple with Nagaraja as the main deity. There are also shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Vishnu. The entrance to this temple is reminiscent of the Chinese architecture of a Buddhist Vihar. Nagercoil is 19 km from Kanyakumari on the way to Padmanabhapuram. Padmanabhapuram Palace (45 km) is a large mansion of the Travancore Kings. It is known for its fascinating natural splendor. Other tourist places include Mathur Hanging Trough, Sitharal Jain monuments, Thirunandhikarai cave temple, Thirparappu falls, Udayagiri fort, Muttom, Vattakottai, Olakai aruvi, Pechiparai Reservoir, St. Xavier church, all within 30 km from Nagercoil. Tiruchendur (85 km) is the site of a beautiful temple dedicated to Lord Subramanya. The temple located here on the shore of the Bay of Bengal is one of the six abodes of Lord Subramanya. The location of the temple draws a perennial stream of devotees. The temple overlooking the singing sea is an inspiring sight. The Courtallam Falls (137 km) is perched at a height of 167 m. Its water is believed to contain medicinal properties. |  sunrise | |
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Overview : Kanyakumari
History :
Temples and Memorials : The Kumari Amman /Kanyakumari Temple Gandhi Mandapam, Suchindram Temple, Vivekananda Memorial
Beaches : Sangam
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