A popular sightseeing place in Kanyakumari is the Thirparappu Waterfalls, which is also known as Kumari Kuttalam. Presenting incomparable scenic beauty, Thirparappu Waterfalls cascades from a height of around 100 feet; flowing down on a rocky riverbed. This man made waterfall originates from the Kodayar River. Boating is quite popular here. There are separate bathing areas too for men and women. A swimming pool, especially for children has also been constructed recently. Water from Thirparappu Dam is used for irrigation in the nearby areas.

The ancient Mahadevar Temple is located near to the waterfalls.

Located in Mathoor village, Mathoor Hanging Bridge is another important part of Kanyakumari tour. Mathoor Hanging Bridge is known for being the highest bridge with a height of 115 feet, standing on 28 sturdy pillars, as well as the longest bridge in Asia with 1 km of length. Mathoor Hanging Bridge, also called as Mathoor Aqueduct, was built to provide relief from drought in nearby areas as well as to provide support for irrigation.

A popular place to see, it is often visited by tourists looking for relaxation amid lush green nature. A children park has also been developed in this area. There is a staircase that has been built for tourists to climb down to the park. Thirparappu Waterfalls are located just 3 km away from the bridge so a visit to both these places can be clubbed together.

Built in 16th century, Padmanabhapuram Palace is situated at Veli Hills. This wooden palace was built by Ravipillai Ravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal during the reign of Travancore Kingdom. During 16th to 18th century, this palace was the seat of power of Travancore Kingdom. Later the kingdom shifted its base to Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Padmanabhapuram Palace is located in Thuckalay, at a distance of 37 km from Kanyakumari. From Nagarcoil it is about 20 km away. It is maintained by the archeological department of Kerala, in spite of being in Tamil Nadu state.

If looking a secluded place where you can spend a few moments absolute peacefulness then visit the Kalikesam Waterfall. This waterfall originates from River Boothapandi.

The surrounding area is popular for rubber plantations, while the dense forest around is known for wild animals that are also said to frequent this area. Near Kalikesam, there is a Goddess Kali Amman temple and a cave named, Bottani Cave, which are also worth visiting.

Located in Kalkulam Taluk, Pechiparai Dam has been built over River Kodayar. It was constructed during the reign of Travancore Maharaja Moolam Thirunal. Reservoir water is used for irrigation as well as for drinking purposes. Surrounded by lush green dense forest Pechiparai Dam offers an enchanting scenic beauty. The surrounding area is rich in flora and fauna including tigers, deers, elephants, etc.

Perunchani Dam is an irrigation dam at Perunchani The dam is built across the River Paralayar. It is a straight gravity masonry dam of 373.10 meters long consisting of 275.28 meters of bulk head.The dam is set amidst the hills of the Western Ghats and commands a picturesque view of the hills and lush greenery around.

Ulakkai Aruvi Waterfalls , prevalently called as Olakaruvi/Ulakaruvi by the Tamil individuals is an interesting waterfalls arranged close to the panchayat town of Azhagiapandiapuram in Kanyakumari area, The lower part of the waterfalls, and the spot one scopes after the trek.

This is a decent excursion spot. The perspective from this spot of the greenery beneath the slopes is invigorating. Great to have shower and unwind for 60 minutes. The water here is cool notwithstanding amid the hot months, however the waterflow is less amid the late spring months. To achieve the Higher falls, one needs to move around 200 meters tough (prescribed just for sound individuals who can climb and swim).

Built in 18th century, Vattakottai Fort is the last of the coastal forts of Travancore Kingdom. Although known as Circular Fort, it has rectangular shape. Under the administration of Captain Eustachius De Lannoy, Vattakottai Fort was built to serve the purpose of coastal defense. It was during the Travancore King Marthanda Varma reign (1729- 1758), when this fort was built. Impressive structure of this fort is consisted of various sections such as weapon rooms, watchtowers, etc. The fish motif that can be seen on the fort walls are indicative of the fact that it was under the pandya reign as well for some time.

Now under the maintenance of Indian archaeological department, this fort has been declared as heritage site. Another reason that makes it a place to must visit in Kanyakumari is the black sand beaches near the Vattakottai Fort.

Another place to visit in Kanyakumari is Udayagiri Fort, which was built in 18th century, during the rule of King Marthanda Varma of Travancore Kingdom. Spread across an area of 90 acres, it stands majestically on an isolated hill of 260 feet height.

Originally the Udayagiri Fort was built in 15th century, while in 18th century it was rebuilt by the King Marthanda Varma. Eustachius De Lannoy, who was Chief of the Travancore Army, supervised the construction of this fort, in his honor the fort was also used to be known called as Dillanai Kottai which means De Lennoy’s Fort. This fort also has tombs of the Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, his wife and son. At the same site, a chapel was also built.

Udayagiri Fort has been converted into a bid diversity park, while the tombs of De Lannoy along with other prominent remains of the fort are being protected under the Archaeological Department of India

With its really lengthy coast-line, Tamilnadu is a beach-lover’s paradise with all kinds of interesting beaches belonging to it. You may have seen all the big and popular ones, but without a visit to the beautiful Colachel beach, your Tamilnadu beach experience can’t be considered complete. This pretty and cosy beach is hidden away somewhere on the coast of Kanyakumari and makes for a beautiful visit. What makes Colachel special? It turns out that there is quite a history to this beach town. It has played a major part in defending our country from the early Dutch invasions when the Tranavancore kings ruled it. And it isn’t just about history either. Today, the Colachel beach is one of the most pristine beaches in the southern coast that can lift up your senses with all its untouched beauty and the serenity.

Chothavilai Beach, also known as Sothavilai Beach is undeniably one of the best beaches of Kanyakumari. A must visit for beach lovers this beach with a length of around 4km is also one among the longest beaches in Tamil Nadu. This beach is characterized by shallow waters and high sand dunes, which indeed make a worth capturing sight. Its shallow waters make it suitable for swimming.

Sanguthurai Beach is quieter and provides plenty of opportunity for swimming and relaxing under the shade of trees. It also has a children’s play area and snack stalls. Located about nine kilometers from Nagercoil town, Sanguthurai Beach stands out for having a huge conch statue that dates back to the Chola period. It also has a tower from where views of the sea and surroundings can be seen. Get out your camera and aim it at the horizon – you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to capture picture-perfect moments! The quiet and calm here makes this one of the best beaches in Kanyakumari. It’s the perfect getaway anytime you want to de-stress or get away from the crowds.

Thengapattinam Beach is a pretty destination known for its dense coconut groves. It’s popular among tourists and can get crowded during peak season. Try to visit during the shoulder or low season to really appreciate it. It’s totally worth it.The beach sees the convergence of the Tamiraparani River with the Arabian Sea and this confluence lends it a beauty you won’t find anywhere else. You can explore the beach in more depth by hiring catamarans that are easily available. Don’t miss a visit to the mosque nearby that’s hundreds of years old.

Thanumalayan Temple is visited by almost every visitor in Kanyakumari. Also known by the name of Sthanumalayan Perumal Temple, it is dedicated to the holy Trimurti- Lord Shiva, Lord Vishnu and Lord Brahma, holding high significance among both Shaivite and Vaishnavite devotees. This temple was built in 17h century while the inscriptions on the temple date back to 8th century as well.

Thanumalayan Temple has 30 different shrines. 22 feet high statue of Lord Hanuman is one of major attractions of this temple. Built out of single granite rock, this statue is one among the largest Hanuman statues in India. It is also known with the name of Suchindram Anjaneyar Temple.

Located in Vadiveeswaram Village in Nagercoil. The name of the region as Nagarcoil is also said to have derived from this temple. Visited by devotees from various parts of the country, this temple is dedicated to five headed Serpent Lord Nagaraja.

This temple is said to be protected by many snakes, which are said to have never hurt any devotee which is undeniably one of the most interesting aspects of this temple. Another striking feature of this temple is the place where the idol of Nagaraja is seated is wet throughout the year. The sand at this place is considered to be auspicious. It is popularly said the sand here remains black for 6 months and white for another 6 months of the year.

Dedicated to Goddess Kanya Kumari, the virgin goddess, this temple is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas. Also known as Bhagavathi Amman Temple, Devi Kanyakumari Temple is an ancient temple, more than around 3000 years old. Its description can be found it many ancient Hindu texts, including Hindu religious epics such as Mahabharata and Ramayana and in Sangam Literature.

As per the legend of this temple, Goddess Parasakthi, on the request of devas, took the form of a Goddess Kanya Kumari, to kill demon Banasura who had the boon that he cannot be killed by anyone but a virgin. Kumari Amman Temple, located on the shores of Kanyakumari, is known for its marvelous architecture as well. Another striking feature of the temple is the nose ring of Goddess Kanyakumari idol. There are many stories related to its incomparable shine as well. There are 25 otter theerthams as well on the shores around the Kanyakumari temple.

Mandaikadu Bhagavathy Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Parvati (known as Bhagavathy) located in Mandaikadu Village near Colachel in the western coast of Kanyakumari District in the State of Tamilnadu. This temple on the sea shore is a sought-after pilgrim centre for both people of Tamilnadu and Kerala. The Temple is situated near to Nagercoil – Colachel State highway in Mandaikadu. This Temple was built in Kerala tradition in very simple style. Holy trees for this temple are Bo Tree and Neem. Pujas is performed four times daily. This Temple is administrated by the Hindu Religious & Charitable Endowments Department of Tamilnadu.

The Kodai festival at Mandaikadu is a major festival celebrated in March every year. Pilgrims from southern parts of Tamilnadu and Kerala take part in the celebration. This temple is also commonly called as “Women’s Sabarimala”. Devotees worship Bhagavathy Amman for fulfillment of their expectations. The 15 feet tall anthill is the Bhagavathy Amman. Since this temple is Sabarimala for women, they visit the temple with the Irumudi (a bundle containing pooja items for the Goddess) as men go to Sabarimala. She is also believed to rule the nine planets or the Navagrahas in one’s astrological chart.

The Sri Venkateswara temple at the country’s southern tip of Kanyakumari was inaugurated by Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) with a ‘Maha Kumbhabhishekam’ ritual.The temple has been designed in such a way that sunlight will directly fall on the foot of the Venkateswara idol in the sanctum sanctorum on April 14, every year (on the occasion of Vishu). It also has quarters for the temple priests, place to offer hair, serving free food (annadhanam), connecting roads, decorated entrance, goshala and pond.

Guganathaswamy Temple is another place to see in Kanyakumari. Built during the reign of Chola dynasty, this temple is said to be more than 1000 years old. There are 16 inscriptions in Guganathaswamy. These inscriptions date back to 1038 A.D., 1044 A.D. and 1045 .A.D. The attractive structure of this temple reflects the Chola architectural style.

Chitharal Jain monuments and temples are an effigy to the diversity of the culture and the religions existing in harmony in India. Chitharal Jain Monuments are one of these culturally rich monuments.

Almost every day, you can see people who are traveling to Chitharal Jain Monuments to honour their gods and values. This monument draws the attention of a large number of visitors with its spectacular mesmerizing divine and spiritual values.

The place is very beautiful and serene. The ambience is perfect and soothing as Sai naam was chanted throughout the premises of the temple. It is aptly decorated with beautiful flowering trees. The place is clean and things are properly shown. The statue of Sai however is adorned with jewels. There is a separate meditation hall for devotees.

Swamithoppu, formely known as Poovandanthoppu, is situated in Thamarakkulam village of Nanchi naadu in Kanyakumari District.This is the birth place of Ayya Vaikundar. After the enlightenment at Thiruchenthur in March 3, 1833, at the age of 24, Ayya Vaikundar returned to this place where he started his social reformation. This can be considered as the first pathi.

Shivalaya Ottam is a ritual marathon undertook by the devotees to the 12 Siva shrines in the district of Kanyakumari on the day of Shivarathri. From this year onwards the day was announced as a local holiday for the district. Shivalaya Ottam means running from one Siva temple to another. On Shivarathri day, the pilgrims at Kanyakumari district worship at 12 Shiva temples covering a distance of 90+ km within 24 hours by foot.Pilgrims who cover the distance by foot observe ‘Vriddha’ for a week.During the fasting period they eat tender coconut, tender palmyra (Nungu) during the day and Tulsiand water in the night. Those who cannot run this distance, visit the temples in vehicles. Package tours

Devasahayam Mount is a Christian Pilgrimage center located at Aralvaimozhi in Kanyakumari district. Devasahayam Pillai was an 18^th century convert from Hinduism to Christianity in the southern part of India. He may have been an official in the court of Travancore King Maharaja Marthanda Varma, during which time he came under the influence of the former Dutch naval Commander Captain Eustachius De Lannoy. Pillai’s tomb at St. Francis Xavier Cathedral in Nagercoil attracts large numbers of devotees. His life teaches how to witness our faith. While undergoing severe persecution, he never complained or was deterred. The spirit of evangelism was strong in him.

All Saints Church is located in Muttom village in Kanyakumari District. This church is modelled based on Portuguese architecture. The church stands in the middle of Muttom Village. It has nearly 800 devotees and is likewise an acclaimed visitor destination. Situated on the shores of the magnificient blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, this congregation is arranged flawlessly and is very much joined by water and street ways. It is a catholic church and was inherent the period 1875-1914 amid the Portuguese principle. The magnificence of Portuguese structural planning can be seen obviously in the extravagant façade and straightforward yet wonderful insides.

St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral is located at Kottar, now a suburb of Nagercoil, which was once a very famous commercial centre at that time. It is one of the famous pilgrimage centres in India. It is also one of the oldest Churches in Tamil Nadu. Next to Goa, where the incorrupt body of St. Francis Xavier is kept, St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral at Kottar is the famous pilgrimage centre in honour of St. Francis Xavier where peoples from all parts, irrespective of caste, creed, language and religion come to St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral to worship here. Records say that, St. Xavier was canonized and attained sainthood in 1622, but the Church was dedicated to St. Xavier in 1605 itself. Hence the St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral at Kottar is the first one in the whole world to be dedicated to St. Xavier

Our Lady of Ransom Church is a famous Catholic Church that is located in the Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu and was built in dedication to Mother Mary. A brilliant example of Gothic architecture, the church was built during the 15th century and looks breathtakingly beautiful against the blue lashing waves of the ocean behind it. The gold cross on the central tower of the church further adds beauty and charm to this magnificent structure, and its beauty and tranquillity are what attract people the most.

‘Peer Mohamed Oliyullah Dargha’ is named after the great philosopher Peer Mohamed Appa, who was born in Tenkasi of Tirunelveli District. After spending to sometime in Peermedu of Kerala State he came to Thuckalay and stayed permanently.
He is a great Tamil poet. He also wrote many books on philosophy. He had very close relationship with the Kings of Chera dynasty.
The Anniversary of this great philosopher and poet is celebrated every year in the Arabic month of Rajab.

People from Kerala and Tamil Nadu participate in the celebrations irrespective of their religion. The festival day is declared as local holiday by the state government for the whole district of Kanyakumari.