Trip to Kanyakumari, vivekananda rock memorial, Anantha padmanabha temple
Our enthusiasm knows no bounds when our family with our cousins families decided to go on a trip to Kanyakumari. It was all of a sudden decision although we were discussing about the trip for a long time, it was not happened until then. It was a two days and 3 night trip. Our journey was from Bangalore to Thiruvananthapuram by air and we booked a TT for the trip from Thiruvananthapuram and Kanyakumari to and fro.
As the flight tickets were confirmed, we shopped necessary items. The day came we were waiting and we were picked up by a TT to Kempegowda International Airport in the afternoon. We left for the airport early since we had to be in the airport two hours before the flight boarding for check-in process. On the way to airport, we all had lunch in a hotel near the airport and reached airport.
Towards Thiruvananthapuram
We were allowed to enter the airport when airport authorities checked our Aadhaar card. Selfie is the priority by ladies and children in our group inside the airport as we entered. Single photos, family photos, group photos all were captured. Then we had a glimpse of shops there and then the check-in process started After check-in we collected our belongings and we carried only handbags with us which contains our essentials.
After check-in we entered waiting lounge and continued photo sessions. Then the announcement came that the flight arrived and they allowed us towards the entry passage one by one. We boarded our flight and we were excited to enjoy each moment of the flight journey. when flight took off we clicked images of our land, clouds and made videos of that. It was one hour fifteen minutes journey from Bangalore airport to Thiruvananthapuram airport. Flight landed in Thiruvananthapuram airport and we were picked up by TT that we booked already for the further journey towards Kanyakumari.
Visit to Sri Anantha Padmanabha Temple
We left for Sri Anantha Padmanabha Temple from the airport and it was only about 6 km from there. Sun was already set and we reached the temple. As it is a custom to wear dhothi, shalya to enter the temple there, we ladies wore dhothi on our dress, gents wore dhothi and shalya and security allowed us to enter the temple. Temple is architectural marvellous and stone pillars are geometrically arranged and speciality here is the carving of stone lamps everywhere. Each pillar is again with a statue of Devi holding lamps.
Watching the outer hall we joined the queue which was leading inside the temple towards sanctum sanctorum. When we entered inside all devotees were packed up around the sanctum sanctorum to have a glimpse of the Arathi ritual to be held at the evening. We watched Arathi and had a glimpse of Lord Anantha Padmanabha.
It was a huge statue of Lord Padmanabha, carved in stone in sleeping posture where sanctum sanctorum has three main entrances. Lord's face is visible in the first entrance, the body of Lord is visible in the second entrance and his feet are visible in the third entrance. It was mesmerizing experience there to watch the Lord in the oil lamp light. We felt blessed after lord Darshana and then we came out of the temple, then only we realised that was the entrance of the temple through which we exited.
It was might be around 8 P.M. we were all hungry and had dinner in a hotel nearby where they served tasty parota and hot water in brass cups. After our dinner, we headed for Kanyakumari where were decided to stay in a lodge in which rooms were already booked. It was about 90 km from Thiruvananthapuram. We were glad to see the rooms were clean and nice and had a good night's sleep there. It was decided that we get up early in the morning and be ready at about 5.30 A.M. since we had to be on the beach to witness the sunrise.
Kanyakumari beach
We took bath early in the morning and left for the beach by walk. There were many tourists already gathered there to witness the sunrise. We were at the Southernmost point of the Indian peninsula, unbelievable for a moment and we clicked many selfies in waiting time. In Kanyakumari ocean roars like anything as the Indian ocean, the Arabian sea and the Bay of Bengal meet. Some women devotees worshipping shivalinga situated in the middle of the sand.
We eagerly waited for the sun to rise, but the clouds disappointed us. Sun played hide and seek behind the clouds. We waited for some more time but in vain. Then we returned from there to visit Kanyakumari temple which was nearby.
We entered the temple in the queue and had Darshana of Devi Kanyakumari and took her blessings. Outside the temple, there were shops selling conch and other articrafts. we bought a conch and some sunglasses there. We had our morning coffee there and by that time sun was shining spreading its morning rays as clouds were disappeared. Vivekananda rock memorial was attracting us from there itself.
Then we had our breakfast in Hotel Sharavana which is near the beach and it was a tasty breakfast served there which is our favourite dosa, pongal and idli. Coffee in brass cups was too tasty, we loved it.
Ferry ride to Vivekananda Rock Memorial
Then it was ferry ride time to Vivekananda Rock memorial which is about half kilometre from the mainland. The ferry ride starts from the beach near Kanyakumari temple and after buying the tickets for the ride we entered the ferry and it was carrying about 60-70 commuters from Kanyakumari beach to Vivekananda Rock memorial.
We are excited about the ferry ride and we sat on the ferry wearing life jackets and enjoyed the ride as the sun kissing blue water was around us. It was an amazing experience for us in the ocean. Vivekananda rock memorial is a unique place to visit in the middle of the ocean and we visited Vivekananda mandapam and Sripada Mandapam there. We sat calmly in Dhyana Mandira for some time and it refreshed our mind. We saw statue of Thiruvalluvar on the top of a small island near Kanyakumari.
It was the time for selfies, captured many images of blue ocean and rock memorial, spent some time there and returned to Kanyakumari beach in next ride. Then we returned to our lodge and took rest for some time and had lunch in the afternoon. Afternoon we visited Sri Balaji temple and wax museum which is situated nearby. Wax statues of celebrities like Gandhi, Charlie Chaplin and many more were amazingly looking real and we clicked many selfies with them. 3D images are so real, we thought it worth to visit there. After watching the 3D show, we returned from there and decided to watch the sunset in the nearby beach.
After having coffee, we left for a beach in autos and to our disappointment, there were no playing beaches in Kanyakumari and we were informed by the locals that it is not safe to play in the water there. The ocean roars there and we could see the waves are rough.
We spent some time on one of the beaches and had a glimpse of a beautiful sunset and captured the same as our memory. Then we had some khara avalakki which was brought by one of our trip members and returned to our room. We had our dinner at night and were excited for the next day trip and had good night's sleep.
Vattakottai Fort, remains of history
The next day we were ready in the early morning for the second-day place visits, we were picked up by TT and as informed by the locals, we decided to visit the Vattakottai Fort nearby Kanyakumari on the way to Thiruvananthapuram. The fort was about 8 km from Kanyakumari which is covered by the ocean on one side and the lush green of Western ghats on another side. The Vattakottai Fort was built in the period of the Travancore kingdom in the 18th century.
Vattakottai Fort is a coastal fort where one side of the fort, beautiful view of the roaring sea. We were surprised to see the fort which is very intact to date and which has strong walls, is in a rectangular shape and watchtowers, weapon rooms and a slope made of stone which may be used to carry weapons to the lower side of the fort. A beautiful pond was present in the centre of the fort where we sat nearby and spent some time there. Again ladies continued on their selfie session.
Padmanabhapuram Palace, a wooden palace
Next, we left for Padmanabhapuram Palace, in Padmanabhapuram village, a wooden palace which was residence belongs to the Travancore dynasty. This majestic palace is the masterpiece of history and we were speechless when we watched a wonderful piece of architecture with its interiors, which includes murals, floral rose carvings, black granite floors, beautiful windows, old weapons, a kitchen with large grinding stones, large halls where lunch was served, king and queen bedrooms, kings meeting room.
The wooden carvings are gorgeous and we clicked many images as trip memory. The guides and security men explained untold stories about the palace, kings, queens. It is an amazing palace to visit. Lost in the history, we came outs and outside the palace there were many shops with local items where we bought a cute earthen lamp, some jaggery with ginger taste, some snacks and other items.
Ride to Poovar Island
Now we left for Thiruvananthapuram and had our lunch in the afternoon in a hotel on the way. It was then decided that we would visit Poovar Island. Poovar Island is surrounded by a river called Neyyar and it joins the Arabian Sea, where it looks like a lake. There were motorboats ready for the ride to the sandy beach through backwaters. But at the beginning ladies were scared about the ride although all were interested to visit the beach. Finally, it was decided that we would visit the beach and there were many motorboats were operating and they were charging heavily for a ride.
After negotiating about the charges for the ride, we left for beach, wearing life jackets, in three motorboats where one motorboat ferries only four members. It was an amazing experience in the backwaters, which is surrounded by mangrove forests, with many water birds were seen. We clicked beautiful images of surroundings and made videos of them too. As we moved on our fears began to fade and we enjoyed each and every moment. There we saw a floating restaurant on the way to the beach.
Floating cottages are situated on the banks of the river. The beach there was awesome and roaring waves sound was deafening our ears. The beach there was very clean with golden sand. Nobody was allowed there to play with waves deeper in the beach because it is dangerous there. We spent some more time there watching the roaring ocean and it looked like it is angry. When we were returning to the the Poovar Island, boatmen showed us elephant shaped stone. As we reached the island, we thanked God for taking us to a beautiful beach safely.
We were on the way to Thiruvananthapuram where we had to board the flight at 9 P.M. When reached Thiruvananthapuram we had our coffee and light snack there and left for the Airport. We bought banana chips in the city as the special available there and reached the airport at 7 P.M. It was drizzling at that time and our flight took off one hour late. With lots of memories of the trip, we returned to our place at midnight.
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