The impressive sunrise behind Vivekananda Memorial

Kanyakumari, on the southern tip of India, is not so much a childrens travelling place, but it is a fine and surprisingly relaxed place, where you could easily spend two or three nights even with kids.

The town is small and very popular with Indians on pilgrimage. As in many other pilgrimage places the town retains a quiet atmosphere, even though thousands of Indians pour through.

The southmost part of the town is marked by Kumari Amman temple directly north of it, the bazaar starts and north of the bazaar three or four lanes harbour most of the hotels in town. Everything, including the train station, is in easy walking distance. If you anyhow prefer a rickshaw, you reach most of the places for 20Rs only.

Since Kanyakumari is not a beach town, forget swimming. Instead of that you got quite a few things to visit that please children and parents likewise.

Vivekananda Memorial seen from the platform afoot Thiruvalluvar-statue

Ferry trip to Vivekananda Memorial: It makes a nice excursion to go by one of the frequent ferries out to the little islands offshore Kanyakumari. A short 10-minutes-ride brings you to the first island, where Swami Vivekananda used to meditate for three days around Christmas 1892, before he set off as a spiritual teacher to the west. The mandapam revering this event was built in 1970 and still emanates tranquility - despite the huge through flux of visitors
From there you can ferry across to the other island that harbours the impressive statue of the Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar, finished in 2000 by more than 5000 stonemasons. The legendary writer lived around 200 BC and left behind his main opus Thirukkural, comprising 133 chapters. The statue celebrating this work has therefore a hight of exactly 133 feet. The view from the platform at his feet is marvellous.
The ferry costs only 20 Rs, but you will have to pay another 10 Rs to enter Vivekananda Memorial. map

Open: 9am to 4pm
Price: 30 Rs, children below 5 and under 107 cm are free

Gandhi Memorial at full moon rise

Gandhi Memorial: The singular pink building right next to Kumari Amman Temple is Gandhi Memorial, which is worth a short visit. The walls are decorated with pictures of Gandhis life. map

Open: 7am to 12:30pm and 3pm to 7 pm
Price: free

In the children's pool shallow water and different slides entertain the kids.

Swimming in Baywatch: If you want to have an easy day away from sightseeing, you could take the riksha and head for Baywatch, a fun-area just 2 km from the bus stand. You will find a wax museum, a fairground and a fun-bath. The wax museum hosts, besides others, surprisingly vivid copies of Amitab Bacchan, Saddam Hussein and Mother Theresa. The fairground offers rides in a chairoplane. But the biggest attraction of course are the four water basins, where you can swim with children or have fun yourself by going down slide that would never pass European safety inspections. If you decide to swim, dress like the indians: Full dress for women, shorts and t-shirt for men. On weekends this place can be full, during the week you might be one of very few visitors.

Open: 10am to 7pm
Price: 190 Rs, camera 10 Rs, children under 137 cm free

At sunset a big crowd gathers at India's southmost beach.

Horse Riding on the beach: If you come to the beach around sunset you can also indulge in a typical Indian attraction: riding up an down the beach on the back of a horse. Children love that. map

If you don't mind staying in middle-class hotels, accommodation is easy to find in Kanyakumari - at least if you come outside the Hindu festivals, when the town gets flooded by pilgrims and prices rocket high. If you come in season times, it's good to book in advance.

Hotel Samudra: The characterless Hotel Samudra is just two minutes away from the entrance to the temple and offers average rooms. The more expensive ones come with sea-view. map

Address: Sannathi Str
Price: 370 - 570 Rs

Saravana lodge just next to the entrance of Kumari Amman temple

Saravana Lodge: Saravana Lodge, just next to the temple is a basic, but unfortunately unsuitable place to stay with children. The lodge is very noisy and the rooms are not clean enough if you are accompanied by small children. map

Address: Sannathi Str
Tel: 04652 246007
Price: 250 - 400 Rs

Hotel Madhini: This middle class hotel has some decent rooms with balconies to the sea, from where you can watch the sunrise and the returning fishermen. The hotel in a way sits over the local village, so you have the impression of being with the fishermen personally. In the basement there is a decent veg and nonveg restaurant. map

Address: East Car Street
Tel: 04652 246787 / 246887
Email: hotel_maadhini@sancharnet.in
Website: hotelmaadhini.com
Price: 450 - 750 Rs non A/C / 1200 - 1500Rs A/C

Hotel Seaview: One of the best hotels in town. Rooms with sea view are more expensive, but all of them are clean and well furnished. The hotel has a roof terrace. map

Address: East Car St
Tel: 04652 247841, 2347841
Email: seaview@sancharnet.in
Price: 1400Rs to 1800Rs, A/C 2000Rs

Vivekananda Kendra: This big ashram guest house offers space for more than 1000 persons and is situated 2 km north of the town. It has a big garden and clean rooms, is peaceful and quiet. If you don't mind shuttling with the free hourly bus to town, it can be a good choice. The stay is limited to 3 nights and can be extended only on request. They have 24-hours checkout.

Address: Vivekanandapuram 629 702
Tel: 04652-246250
Email: ngc_vkenda@sancharnet.in
Website: www.vkendra.org/accommodations
Price: 150 Rs

Hotel Tamil Nadu: This government hotel, run by TTDC, is of great value. In a quiet location, you are out of the frenzy of the town, but not too far to walk. Many rooms have balconies and you have a wonderful view over the sea and sunrise and sunset. The cheap rooms are small and basic and facing the back. The surrounding gardens make it nevertheless a good choice for parents with children. map

Tel: 04652 246257
Email: ttdc@md3.vsnl.net.in
Price: 500 Rs, A/C 800 Rs

Manickham Tourist Home: Now, that the renovation is over, this mid-range hotel is of good value. Many of the spacious rooms are facing the sea and Vivekananda Memorial and overlook the fishermen's village at the feet of the hotel. The restaurant is also recommended. map

Address: North Car St
Tel: 04652 246387
Price: 600 Rs, A/C 1200 Rs

Parvathi Nivas: This old-style lodge offers basic rooms. Might be a little bit noisy. map

Address: West Car St
Tel: 04652 246352
Price: 300 Rs

Along Main Bazaar Road you find some decent eating places, all of them prepared to feed the hungry pilgrims crowd. You can expect quick service and huge thalis.

Archana Restaurant: Situated in the basement of Hotel Maadhini, this place offers good and tasty food, and in the evening the garden section will be opened. Artificial flowers give some extra atmosphere to the place. map

Address: East Car Street

Anapoorna Restaurant: This typical Indian restaurant offers good thali, and the full choice of north and south Indian food. map

Address: Sannathi St

Saravana Restaurant: Very much of the same quality as the nearby Anapoorna Restaurant, this place offers also the full variety of Indian food. Service is quick and the place is often full map

Address: Sannathi St

There is a daily train to Madurai and Chennai at 5:15pm, but it is notoriously booked. There are two daily trains to Trivandrum.
Buses are much more frequent: Seven daily buses go to Chennai via Madurai, two to Rameshwaram, one each to Kodaikanal and Bangalore. They all start at the government bus stand and can only be booked there. The SETC-booking office near the bazaar closed recently.