ALL INDIA CONFERENCE AT KANNIYAKUMARI
Kanyakumari is the southern most important point of peninsular India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. It was once referred to as the Alexandria of the east. During the early part of the eighth century AD Islam entered the southern part of India through the sea route with traders and missionaries. Through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, Christianity arrived in this area in AD 52.
Tourist Sites within Kanniyakumari
The Kumari Amman located on the shore, is a Shakti Peetha dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva's hand in marriage. On two rocky islets just off the shore, southeast of the Kumari Amman temple, are the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the gigantic 133 feet (40.5 m) tall statue of Tamil saint-poet Thiruvalluvar is one of the biggest statues in Asia. One of the rocks called Sri Padhaparai is said to bear the footprints of the virgin goddess. Swami Vivekananda is said to have seated on this rock in deep meditation. Also on this rock, there is a Dhyana mandapam, an area for meditation.
The following are some of the many popular tourist attractions around Kanyakumari –
• Suchindram has the Sthanumalayan temple with a repository of art treasures belonging to several kingdoms. The temple is famous for its ninth-century inscriptions, musical columns, and 6-meter-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.
• Padmanabhapuram Palace is a large 17th century palace of the Travancore kings, made almost entirely of wood - the only one of its kind in India.
• Thiruparrapu Falls is a waterfall near Thiruparrapu. There is an ancient temple near the falls, which is popular among the locals.
Madurai known as the 'Athens of the East' and "city of nectar", Madurai is the oldest city in Tamil Nadu and was home to the ancient Tamil Sangam, the literary conclave that produced the first epic, Silappathikaram. Today, it is known to produce the best harvests of jasmine flowers. One cannot ignore mention of the Meenakshi Temple, which is as well known for its architectural splendor as also a shelter, which inspired a thousand arts.
Rameswaram is one of the holy cities in India. Ramanathswamy temple is very famous for India's longest temple corridor ever built. Rameswaram is known for one of India's most venerated and most visited Shiva shrines, dedicated to Sri Ramanathaswamy. It is so intimately associated with the life of Sri Rama, the hero of the epic Ramayana, that both Saivites and Vaishnavites consider every grain of Rameswaram's sand very sacred. There is a traditional belief among the Hindus that a pilgrimage to Kashi will be complete only after a visit to Rameswararn, also hailed as "Benaras of the South".
Kanniyakumari is well connected by Train and roads. Nagercoil the district capital of Kanniyakumari is just 25 kms and State Transport buses are available at the door step of the Nagercoil Jn. There are direct Trains to Kanniyakumari / Nagercoil and a number of Trains passing through Nagercoil. Some of the important Trains connecting Kanniyakumari/Nagercoil are appended for the information our Comrades.
How to Reach Vivekananda Kendra-Kanniyakumari?
Direct Buses ply from Thiruvananthapuram,Tirunelveli & Madurai to Kanniyakumari.
Vivekanandapuram is Just 1 Km. from the Kanyakumari Railway Station.
Taxis and autos ply regularly between Kanyakumari and the campus.
Nagercoil is the next nearest Railway Jn. (just 15 kms. away).
Vivekanandapuram is a request bus stop for all the buses entering Kanyakumari.
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TAMILNADU CIRCLE UNION WISHES
HAPPY AND SAFE JOUNRNEY TO KANNIYAKUMARI !