This town is located on the southernmost tip of the Indian subcontinent, approximately 250km south of Alapuzha. It is located in Tamil nadu. It takes a looooong time to get here, but is well worth the trip. It makes a great final destination for any vacation!
There are not as many white tourists as Thekkady or Alapuzha, most of the people tend to be Indian. Follow the crowds down to the shore, and stand in the water where the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, and Arabian Sea all meet.
Street vendors are numerous, more so than at the other tourist spots, and will hassle you to no end, so if you’re not interested in what they’re selling just walk away and don’t even look at them . The second you make eye contact with them, they’ll come over to you, and won’t leave you alone for the next 10 minutes.
Kunya Kumari Temple is located off of the main street, you can’t miss it. It is a very old, historic Hindu temple and always has masses of people going in and out. It is quite an experience. Men must remove their shirt before entering.
The Gandhi Memorial is also a nice site. It features highlights of Ghandi’s visit to Kunya Kumari decades ago. There is no admission fee.
Another main attraction is Vivekananda Rock and Thiruwaluwar Statue, which is accessible by ferry boat. Tickets are available for sale, and include admission to both sites. Boats depart the shore every hour or so to go to Vivekananda rock, which is a 5-minute boat ride. From there, boats leave sporadically, going to the Thiruwaluwar Statue (a 2-minute boat ride from Vivekananda rock), and then back to shore. There are great attractions, with lots of history behind them. Memorials on each island pay homage to their respective subject.
Sunrise and sunset are also among the notable sites of this small town. Due to the fact that you are right at sea level, and on the tip of the continent, you can see perfectly as the sun rises to the east and sets to the west. Many hotels allow you to go up to their roof deck to view sunrise/sunset. It was overcast when we went to the roof early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the sunrise, so we didn’t get an ideal view, but it was still amazing. You have a great view of the entire town, including, the Gandhi memorial, and the Vivekananda Rock/Thiruwaluwar Statue.
We weren’t there for this, but if you plan the trip on a full moon night (or close to the full moon), you can even watch the sun set in the west while simultaneously getting a catch of the moon rising in the east. Sounds spectacular!