Kanyakumari is located at the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. With an area of 1672 sq.km. Kanyakumari occupies 1.29% of the total extent of Tamil Nadu. The district name is spelled as ' Kanniyakumari ' in official records which are in tune with the spoken name of the district in Tamil language. The District is bound by Tirunelveli District on the North and the east. The South Eastern boundary is the Gulf of Mannar . On the South and the South West, the boundaries are the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea . On the West and North West it is bound by Kerala. Kanyakumari takes its name from the Kumari Amman or Kanyakumari Temple, situated in the town, on the sea-shore, the very confluence of the three water-bodies - Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. In his work on ancient India, Ptolemy had identified Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) along with the Gulf of Mannar as a centre for pearl fishery. He also identifies Korkai, a place to the east of Kanyakumari as an emporium of pearl trade.The small temple dedicated to Kanyakumari , or the youthful form of the primeval energy Shakti (Mother Goddess) is located on the seashore, in the town known by the same name. Kanyakumari was referred to by the British as Cape Commorin. Kanyakumari represents the site where the spiritual leader Swami Vivekananda spent days in meditation upon a rock off of the coast. A memorial built in his honor is accessible via ferry. There is also a recently built memorial to Tiruvalluvar, the author of the philosophical work Tirukkural - a treatise on the Indian way of life.
Kanniyakumari district, once known as "The Granary of Travancore" lies at the southwestern part of Indian peninsula. It was in Travancore for a long time and then merged with Tamil Nadu in 1956 under the State Linguistic Reorganisation Act.By its very location, Kanyakumari occupies a unique place among the tourist centres of India. It is one of the important pilgrim centres of India.This is the only place in India where one can enjoy the unique experience of watching the sunset and moonrise simultaneously on a full moon evening.A fine beach landscape with sands of different colours is another interesting aspect of Kanyakumari.Palm leaf articles of Kanyakumari are very famous.
Kanyakumari was once referred to as the "ALEXANDRIA OF THE EAST".This place has been a great centre for art, culture, civilization and pilgrimage for years.It was also a famous centre for commerce and trade. During the early part of the 8th century A.D,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 52 A.D. Islam,Christianity and Jainism religions have greatly contributed to the Architectural wealth and literal heritage of this place.Kanyakumari was also under the control of the Cholas,the Cheras,the Pandyas and the Nayaks who were the great rulers of South India.The architectural beauty of the temples are the beautiful work of these rulers.
The shore temple in this famous Pilgrim centre is dedicated to the virgin goddess Devi Kanyakumari, who eternally protects the country.The temple is a symbol of unity and sanctity.One can also see "SRI PADAPARAI", the footprints of the virgin goddess.From the light house one can see the panoramic view of the landscape of Kanyakumari.The Guganathaswamy temple is a 1000 year old temple which was built by Raja Raja Cholan.Beginning the early part of the 1970s, tourism has been an important activity in the town. Today, it is one small town in South India where one can see different languages of India spoken at different street corners, among the tourists and traders. Of late, Tourism is increasingly being promoted in the district also, apart from the town, with several beautiful natural landscapes, historic and religious places found around the district.Though there are several places of tourist-interest in the town and district, Kanyakumari is especially popular in India for its spectacular and unique sunrise and sunset. The confluence of three ocean bodies - the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea - makes the sunrise and sunset even more special. On balmy, full-moon evenings, one can also see the moon-rise and sunset at the same time - on either side of the horizon.