Day 80 - Another Sunset

A sunset as I experienced it at Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu

Day 23 - Tribal Art

This is a framed fabric painting at the Vivekananda Kendra at Kanyakumari. It said this is a tribal art form from one of the North East states of India.

Day 20 - Vatta Kotai

This is the interior of a fort on route to Kanyakumari from Trivandrum. Its a circular structure, and stands on top of a cliff. Its called ' Vatta Kotai'.

Going on a holiday :)

I am going to be taking a holiday for 5 days and head out of Bangalore. I am so looking forward to it ! 

Visiting family at Trivandrum primarily and from there we have also managed to squeeze in a short visit to Kanyakumari with my parents. We are planning to go on Sunday and return by Monday evening, the distance between Trivandrum and Kanyakumari being just about 4 hours by road. This time around we are planning to do the quiet calm relaxing stay, and we have chosen to stay at the Vivekananda Lodge which has sea facing cottages and a private beach too. I even have a book which is perfect for this calm sea front. I am reading Watership Down by Richard Adams, its about a bunch of rabbits who run away from their burrow in light of an impending disaster. Its been very interesting to note their lives and I am hoping to finish it by the time I am back in Bangalore.

I have been to Kanyakumari before, blogged about it too, so there is nothing new for me as far as the place goes. B has not been there, so my parents thought, why not? I am hoping to sit by, relax and read. My recent gtalk status message has been " I want a vacation where I just swim, eat and drink." I have got the sea but where I can't swim as the current is too strong. I am not too sure how I would enjoy simple veg meals, at least that was not what I had in mind when I wrote that status message! And,  there shall be no drinks whatsoever, firstly being at the Vivekananda Lodge and secondly being a family trip! But, nevertheless with the way work has been going crazy and the transport situation driving me nuts, I am just glad to get away from Bangalore for a while. 

So, that means I have to come up with a vacation plan soon, which comprises of the three! And, the more I think of it, the perfect place is none other than Goa!

Suchindram & Kanyakumari

On route to Kanyakumari from Trivandrum, you would come across many broken bits of the ghats, almost close to their end as we edge towards Kanyakumari

On the way, falls Suchindram, where is a very famous Sthanumalayan Temple. This temple is famous for its stone workmanship, with musical pillars and extraordinary pillars and statues of gods and goddesses. This temple has a Hanuman statue, which is 22 feet tall and carved from a single granite rock. This is said to be one of the biggest statues in India.

This picture below is taken outside the temple.

When you reach Kanyakumari, there is the temple which is the alter of Goddess Kanyakumari. Mythology says that Goddess has played a very important role in diverting ships from the rocks of the Indian mainland during heavy storms and winds. Her diamond nose ring is said to have reflected the moonlight and cast long beams which ships mistake to be a lighthouse beam and anyhow steer clear of disaster.

Another entity that you see is the Vivekananda Rock and statue which is out at sea. These are almost inaccessible during the high tide or stormy moods of the Indian Ocean.

The first picture shows both the statue and the rock with its small temple.

The second picture shows the statue alone.

The third one is a very zoomed picture of the temple on the rocks out at sea.