Many centuries ago, according to Hindus legend, a virgin goddess fell in love with Shiva .Believing that if she performed an arduous penance she would attract his attention, the goddess subjected herself to harsh authorities. Although Shiva did eventually acknowledge her devotion and agree to marry her he insisted they wait until a later incarnation.

Furious, she hurled the already prepared wedding feast into the sea. Kanyakumari, at the extreme southern tip of India, is named after this goddess. Hindu Pilgrims believe that the beach's multi - coloured sands are the washed -ashore remnants of her wedding feast. In India, where every confluence of water is held to be sacred, Kanyakumari is especially regarded, for it is the meeting place of the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, and here Mahatma Gandhi's cremated ashes were brought immediately after his assassination in 1948 . Before they were scattered upon the seas, the urn that contained them was placed on the spot where the Gandhi Memorial now stands. In 1892, one of India's greatest religious philosophers, Vivekanada, came to Kanya Kumari. The Vivekananda Memorial , built in 1970, now occupies a rock on which he meditated. Kanyakumari is noted for its magnificent sunrises and sunsets.The other prominent place here include the twin temples of Kanyakumari and the Guganthaswamy Temple. Nagarcoil is situated 20 km from Kanyakumari.

The Nagarcoil Temple here is unique in many aspects. Then there is Vattakottai Fort just 6km from Kanyakumari. The Padmanbhapuram Palace is 45km from Kanyakumari. Thirupparappu Waterfalls is a lovely picnic spot 60km from Kanyakumari.