History
Kanyakumari takes its name from the Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, situated at the shore on the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea. According to the local lore, Kanya Devi, an avatar of Parvati, was to marry Shiva, but he failed to show up to the wedding. The rice and other grains meant for the wedding feast remained uncooked. Today tourists can buy tiny stones which look like rice, in r
emembrance of the marriage that was never solemnized. The princess Kanya Devi is a virgin goddess who blesses pilgrims and tourists.According to another local myth, Lord Hanuman dropped a piece of earth as he was carrying the mount with the life-saving herb, Mrita Sanjivani from the Himalayas to Lanka during the Rama-Ravana war. This chunk of earth is called Marunthuvazh Malai, which is literally translated to "hills where medicine is found".This is said to be the reason for the abundance of unique native medicinal plants in the area. "Marunthuvazh Malai' is about 7 kms from Kanyakumari town on the Kanyakumari-Nagercoil highway. The district is home to many practitioners of various branches of ancient India's health tradition, including siddha, ayurvedha, varma kalai.
Kanyakumari has been a great centre for art and religion for centuries. It was also an area of great trade and commerce. It was ruled by the Cholas, the Cheras, the Pandyas and the Nayaks. The architectural beauty of the temples is the work of these rulers. Later Kanyakumari became part of the Venad kingdom with its capital at Padmanabhapuram. The king of Venad, Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma established Travancore by extending his domain further north up to Aluva, during his reign from 1729 to 1758. By this, the present Kanyakumari District came to be known as Southern Travancore. King Marthanda Varma defeated the Dutch East India Company at the famous Battle of Colachel in 1741. Kanyakumari was under the rule of the Kings of Travancore under the overall suzerainty of the British till 1947. Travancore joined the independent Indian Union in 1947. Obviously, the royal reign came to an end. In 1949, Kanyakumari became part of the reconstituted Travancore-Cochin State. By this time, the popular agitation for the amalgamation of Kanyakumari District with Tamil Nadu by the Tamil majority under the leadership of Thiru M.A. Nesamani intensified. Eventually, in 1956, Kanyakumari was integrated with Tamil Nadu (then known as Madras State) as per the language-based reorganisation of States.
According to legend, Christianity arrived in South India around AD 52 through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. However, European missionaries, who arrived in the 16th century, propagated Christianity in the area. St. Francis Xavier (April 7, 1506 – December 2, 1552)was the pioneer in preaching Christianity in the present day Kanyakumari district. Islam is believed to have entered the southern part of India through Kanyakumari during the early part of the eighth century AD through the sea route with traders and missionaries. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have also contributed to the architectural wealth and literary heritage of the region.
It is very popular to watch the sunrise/sunset here. This is the only place in India where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. Because of the meeting point of three ocean bodies - the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea - the spectacular sunrise/sunset sight is considered to even more special. During Chitra Pournami one can see the spectacular view of sunset and moon rise at the same time.
According to legend, Christianity arrived in South India around AD 52 through St. Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ. However, European missionaries, who arrived in the 16th century, propagated Christianity in the area. St. Francis Xavier (April 7, 1506 – December 2, 1552)was the pioneer in preaching Christianity in the present day Kanyakumari district. Islam is believed to have entered the southern part of India through Kanyakumari during the early part of the eighth century AD through the sea route with traders and missionaries. Islam, Christianity and Jainism have also contributed to the architectural wealth and literary heritage of the region.
It is very popular to watch the sunrise/sunset here. This is the only place in India where both sunrise and sunset can be seen. Because of the meeting point of three ocean bodies - the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea - the spectacular sunrise/sunset sight is considered to even more special. During Chitra Pournami one can see the spectacular view of sunset and moon rise at the same time.
sites within the town
The Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, located on the shore, is a Shakti Peetha dedicated to a manifestation of Parvati, the virgin goddess who did penance to obtain Lord Shiva's 
hand in marriage. The temple and the adjoining ghat, situated overlooking the shore, attract tourists from all over the world. The sparkling diamond nose-ring of the deity is said to be visible even from the sea.
Two rocks reach out of the ocean, southeast of the Kumari Amman temple. At one of these, Sri Padaparai, which is said to bear the footprints of the virgin goddess. Swami Vivekananda is said to have sat in deep meditation. It is also the site of Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in 1970. There is a dhyana mandapam, an area for meditation. Ferry services are available to reach the memorial.
On an adjacent rock is the towering statue of the great Tamil poet-saint Tiruvalluvar. It is 133 ft tall and one of the biggest statues in Asia.
The Gandhi Memorial has been built on the spot where the urn containing the Mahatma's ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form, the memorial was designed so that on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, October 2, the first rays of the sun fall on the exact place where his ashes were kept.
hand in marriage. The temple and the adjoining ghat, situated overlooking the shore, attract tourists from all over the world. The sparkling diamond nose-ring of the deity is said to be visible even from the sea.Two rocks reach out of the ocean, southeast of the Kumari Amman temple. At one of these, Sri Padaparai, which is said to bear the footprints of the virgin goddess. Swami Vivekananda is said to have sat in deep meditation. It is also the site of Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in 1970. There is a dhyana mandapam, an area for meditation. Ferry services are available to reach the memorial.
On an adjacent rock is the towering statue of the great Tamil poet-saint Tiruvalluvar. It is 133 ft tall and one of the biggest statues in Asia.
The Gandhi Memorial has been built on the spot where the urn containing the Mahatma's ashes was kept for public viewing before immersion. Resembling central Indian Hindu temples in form, the memorial was designed so that on Mahatma Gandhi's birthday, October 2, the first rays of the sun fall on the exact place where his ashes were kept.
The Land & Geographical Features
Kanyakumari is the smallest District in Tamil Nadu, with a land spread of 1,684 km² and has almost all ecosystems - forests, wetlands, freshwater resources, marine, etc.
The district, once called 'The Granary of Travancore' is fertile, with hundreds of water bodies and an excellent canal irrigation system. Rubber and spice plantations are found on the hilly terrain, while paddy fields, plantain (banana) and coconut plantations are found on the plains, near the coast.
The district is generally hilly, with plains found near the coast. The land from the sea-coast gradually rises from sea-level to the Western-Ghats hills in the deep interior of the district. The Dist
rict has 62 km of coast on the western side (Arabian Sea coast) and 6 km of coast on the eastern side (Gulf of Mannar/Bay of Bengal coast).
There are three important riverine ecosystems, which confluence with Arabian Sea. They are :
1. Thengapattinam estuary, formed by the confluence of river Tampirabarani in between Thengapattinam and Eraiummanthurai. 2. Valliyar estuary formed by the river Valloiyar near Kadiapattinam. 3. Manakudy estuary formed by the confluence of river Pazhayar in between East and West Manakudy villages.
Apart from these, are two minor estuaries also: they are Pambar estuary near Colachel and Pantri estuary near Rajakkamangalam. These are formed by excess water in the drainage canal during monsoon and the water drained from the irrigational fields.
Soil types -
(1) Laterite soil is found at Thiruvattar, Killiyoor, Munchirai, Rajakamanagalam, Thuckalay blocks.
(2) Red and Alluvial soil are found at Agastheeswaram and Thovalai blocks.
The soil pH is between 4.5 to 8.0. The minerals in soil - nitrogen: low to medium, phosphorus: medium, potassium: high
Land Use - 48.9% under cultivation and 32.5% under forests.
Demography
The district is generally hilly, with plains found near the coast. The land from the sea-coast gradually rises from sea-level to the Western-Ghats hills in the deep interior of the district. The Dist
rict has 62 km of coast on the western side (Arabian Sea coast) and 6 km of coast on the eastern side (Gulf of Mannar/Bay of Bengal coast).There are three important riverine ecosystems, which confluence with Arabian Sea. They are :
1. Thengapattinam estuary, formed by the confluence of river Tampirabarani in between Thengapattinam and Eraiummanthurai. 2. Valliyar estuary formed by the river Valloiyar near Kadiapattinam. 3. Manakudy estuary formed by the confluence of river Pazhayar in between East and West Manakudy villages.
Apart from these, are two minor estuaries also: they are Pambar estuary near Colachel and Pantri estuary near Rajakkamangalam. These are formed by excess water in the drainage canal during monsoon and the water drained from the irrigational fields.
Soil types -
(1) Laterite soil is found at Thiruvattar, Killiyoor, Munchirai, Rajakamanagalam, Thuckalay blocks.
(2) Red and Alluvial soil are found at Agastheeswaram and Thovalai blocks.
The soil pH is between 4.5 to 8.0. The minerals in soil - nitrogen: low to medium, phosphorus: medium, potassium: high
Land Use - 48.9% under cultivation and 32.5% under forests.
Demography
Kanyakumari District is the third-most advanced district in Tamil Nadu. It had a population of 1,676,034, as of 2001. It is 71.27% urbanised as per Census 2001. [1]
The district has a literacy of 91.11%, the highest in the state.
Climate
The district has a literacy of 91.11%, the highest in the state.
Climate
Based on a 50 year study, it is found that during the North-East monsoon, between October and December, a precipitation of 549 mm is received in 24 rainy days and during the South-West monsoon 537 mm is received from June to September in 27 rainy days. In summer, 332mm of rainfall is received in 11 rainy days between March and May. The annual average rainfall in the district is 1465 mm with a maximum of around 247 mm in October and a minimum of 21 mm in February. Relative humidity ranges between 60 to 100%.
People, Culture & Religion
Language
People, Culture & Religion
Language
The main languages spoken by people of the district are Tamil and Malayala
m. English is widely understood in the urban areas. While the majority in the district speak Tamil, Malayalam is an important language, and spoken by many, in the northern and western areas of the district.
People of the district celebrate both Tamil and Keralite (Malayalam) festivals, apart from religious festivals. Tamil Pongal festival and keralite Onam festival are both popular in the district.
Religion
m. English is widely understood in the urban areas. While the majority in the district speak Tamil, Malayalam is an important language, and spoken by many, in the northern and western areas of the district.People of the district celebrate both Tamil and Keralite (Malayalam) festivals, apart from religious festivals. Tamil Pongal festival and keralite Onam festival are both popular in the district.
Religion
The religions of Christianity, Hinduism and Islam are represented in the district, with Christians forming close to 45% of the population. The district has the third largest Christian population among all districts in India.[1] Also, about one-fifth of the Christian population of Tamil Nadu live in this district.
Hindus form the other sizeable percentage of the population and there are a number of Muslims dominated belts in the district. Roman Catholic Christianity was introduced in Kanyakumari area by the great European saint-missionary, St. Francis Xavier, who resided at Kottar, while doing missionary work in the neighbouring areas. Later, with the coming of the British in India, Protestant missionaries introduced Protestant Christianity. The Christian Missionaries, as elsewhere in India, were the pioneers of English Education in the erstwhile Travancore State and more particularly in the then South Travancore areas (including Kanyakumari District).
This district is the birth place of Ayyavazhi (Hindu-sect) religion. Apart from the role in the religious universe, Ayyavazhi also plays a major role in the social history of Kanyakumari in the mid-nineteenth century.[2]
Food
Hindus form the other sizeable percentage of the population and there are a number of Muslims dominated belts in the district. Roman Catholic Christianity was introduced in Kanyakumari area by the great European saint-missionary, St. Francis Xavier, who resided at Kottar, while doing missionary work in the neighbouring areas. Later, with the coming of the British in India, Protestant missionaries introduced Protestant Christianity. The Christian Missionaries, as elsewhere in India, were the pioneers of English Education in the erstwhile Travancore State and more particularly in the then South Travancore areas (including Kanyakumari District).
This district is the birth place of Ayyavazhi (Hindu-sect) religion. Apart from the role in the religious universe, Ayyavazhi also plays a major role in the social history of Kanyakumari in the mid-nineteenth century.[2]
Food
Rice is the staple food of the people, though for some people in the hilly areas, Tapioca is the main food. Though there are some vegetarians among the populace, a majority of the people use agro, meat and fish products. Fish caught in the seas around the district during the night or early morning hours reach the markets in the interior towns and villages in the early morning. Though the food is spicy, it is less spicy than the food prepared in the other districts of Tamil Nadu.
