Harvinder standing in the long que to reach the monument.
Our visit to the Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari was a landmark experience. Despite being in mid-October 2023, the heat was almost unbearable. Yet, it was a nostalgic moment to touch the farthest end of the country.
The memorial stands on of the two rocks located about 500 meters off mainland of Vavathurai. The rocks are surrounded by the Laccadive Sea, where the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea converge. The memorial comprises two main structures: the Vivekananda Mandapam and the Shripada Mandapam.
The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument and popular tourist attraction located in Kanyakumari, India's southernmost tip. The memorial stands on one of the two rocks situated about 500 meters off the mainland of Vavathurai. Built in 1970 to honor Swami Vivekananda, it is believed he attained enlightenment on this rock. According to legends, Goddess Kanyakumari (Parvathi) performed tapas here in devotion to Lord Shiva.
Walking towards the Ferry terminal
As we walked through a street full of merchandise on either side, we saw a very large and elegant Elephant walking on the road. It was a thrill to see mammoth animal among so many small creature like us.
Goddess Kali
Enjoying the ferry to the Memorial, we had no option but to wear mandatory these dirty and smelly life jackets. Anxiety is writ large on my face. A/C ferry was not available. The ticket was dirt cheap though.
As we walked through a street full of merchandise on either side, we saw a very large and elegant Elephant walking on the road. It was a thrill to see mammoth animal among so many small creature like us.
Goddess Kali
Enjoying the ferry to the Memorial, we had no option but to wear mandatory these dirty and smelly life jackets. Anxiety is writ large on my face. A/C ferry was not available. The ticket was dirt cheap though.
The memorial includes a meditation hall known as Dhyana Mandapam, designed with architectural styles from temples across India, for visitors to meditate.
At Vista point
Sean Kapoor my brother-in-law enjoying his turn for picture shot.
As luck would have it, a sudden downpour caught us off guard, and we had to hire an auto to get to our car, parked just 250 feet away.
Seeking shelter and refreshments, we found a fine restaurant nearby. It was neat and clean, with excellent restrooms. We ordered pakoras, enjoying them so much that we reordered, this time with another nice cup of tea.
Having worked with Government of India for 25 years, you can take out Govt of India from me but I cannot take out Govt of India from my heart. May be my erstwhile colleagues would like to use this facility for their vacation with their families and enjoy this wonderful place.
The journey back was equally memorable. We traveled along a wide, multi-lane freeway that gave us the feel of a Californian freeway back home. It was a day trip from Thiruvananthapuram and back, passing through the bustling yet clean streets of small towns in Tamil Nadu.
2 comments:
Very nice for this narration of your visit. Who else joined with you to this place. I will also plan a visit in near future.
Nice photographs . Your photographs reminded me of my visit to kanyakumari more than 10 years ago .
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