Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin District is located on the southernmost tip of Indian peninsula marked by the confluence of the Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal. The Thiruvalluvar Statue, located atop a small island is a popular tourist destination in Kanyakumari District.

The statue was designed and sculpted by Indian sculptor Dr. V. Ganapathi Sthapati and unveiled on 1st January 2000 in commemoration of Saint Thiruvalluvar. Thiruvalluvar was a renowned poet and saint who wrote Thirukkural, an ancient legendary Tamil work on secular morality.

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Features of Thiruvalluvar Statue

The Thiruvalluvar Statue is designed in such a way that it depicts the structure of Thirukural. The Thirukural is structured into 133 chapters, each containing 10 couplets (or Kurals), totaling to 1,330 couplets. The 133 chapters are grouped into three cantos/books – Aram (Book of Virtue or Dharma), Porul (Book of Polity or Artha) and Inbam (Book of Love or Kama). The three fingers on the right hand that points skywards denotes the three cantos – Aram, Porul and Inbam.

The statue and pedestal together is 133 feet high denoting the 133 chapters of the Thirukural. The pedestal on which the sculpture of Valluvar stands is 38 feet high representing the 38 chapters of Aram. The statue itself represents the Book of Porul and Inbam. The entire design artistically symbolizes that it is on the foundation of virtue or Dharma that one can earn wealth and love.

The statue weighs 7,000 tons and the head stands at a height of 200 feet above the sea level. There is a bend around the waist of the statue signifying a dance pose of the deity Nataraja ( a form of Lord Shiva). Visitors are permitted to climb up around 140 steps to reach the feet of the statue.

Construction of the majestic Thiruvalluvar statue

The foundation stone for the statue was laid by the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai on 15th April 1979. However, the installation and sculpting work led by Dr. V. Ganapathy Sthapathy, started a decade later in the year 1990. The project constructed at a cost of more than INR 6.14 crores employed around 150 workers, 500 sculptors, supervisors and assistants. The stones were arranged from workshops in Kanyakumari, Ambasamudram and Sholingannallur.

The striking feature of the statue is that the all-stone monument has been carved by hand and is designed to withstand natural calamities like earthquakes. The striking feature of the statue is that the all-stone monument has been carved by hand and is designed to withstand natural calamities like earthquakes.

The statue was placed on its pedestal on 19th October 1999 and was inaugurated on 1st January 2000 by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. M. Karunanidhi.

Thiruvalluvar Statue – Visiting Hours & Fee

The visiting time of Saint Thiruvalluvar Statue is from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Ferry services are available from the mainland charging Rs. 20 per person. No separate entry fee is charges from the tourists.

How to reach Thiruvalluvar Statue

Kanyakumari District is well connected with all modes of transportation. Regular buses from major South Indian cities take you to Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari Railway Junction is the nearest rail head (1.5 kilometres away). Trivandrum International Airport (95 kilometres away) is the nearest airport.

Epilogue

The immaculate sculpture of Thiruvalluvar is a symbol of the ancient classic Thirukural and its valuable teachings. The spiritual atmosphere of the place amidst the vast spread of ocean is a destination one cannot afford to miss in Kanyakumari.

Located at the southernmost tip of the nation is the Kanyakumari Beach, marked with the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. The Kanyakumari Beach is one of its kind with its rocky shoreline and long stretch of differently coloured sand. The beach provides tourists with some breathtaking views making it a very popular tourist spot in Kanyakumari.

About Kanyakumari Beach

The sheer beauty and magnificence of the beach with its hue-changing feature added to the Triveni Sangamam at the backdrop creating rough waves on the shores ensures a fascinating experience on the whole.

The beach is a photographer’s paradise, especially during sunrise and sunset. During Chitrapurnima (full moon day in the Tamil month of Chithirai), both sunset and moon rise is simultaneously visible from the beach.

The lighthouse at the beach offers a panoramic view of the sea stretching till the horizon. The Vivekananda Rock and the Thiruvalluvar Statue is also visible from the beach.

The best time to visit the beach would be from November to March. The beach attracts lot of tourists to witness the breathtaking view of sunrise and sunset.

Enticing Activities at the Beach

Tourists can engage themselves in adventurous activities such as trekking, swimming, surfing and biking. They can also take part in the festivities and fairs held in and around the beach. One can indulge in buying seashell art pieces, handcrafted trinkets and some unique palm leaf drawings etc from the local shops. It is an ideal place to collect souvenirs from the stalls near the beach area. Kanyakumari has accommodation facilities that suit every pocket.

How to reach Kanyakumari beach

Kanyakumari is well connected by road with all major cities in South India. Kanyakumari Railway Junction is the nearest rail head (1.5 kilometres away). There are regular trains connecting Kanyakumari to Trivandrum, Chennai and Tirunelveli.

The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (95 kilometres away).

Vivekananda Rock Memorial built in the year 1970 as a memorial to Swami Vivekananda, is located 500 meters east of the mainland of Vavathurai in Kanyakumari.

Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin District is located on the southernmost tip of Indian peninsula covered with the sea on three sides (Indian Ocean, Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal).

The magnificent memorial was built in honour of Swami Vivekananda or Swamiji, the Indian Hindu monk who was the disciple of Indian mystic Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. This place is considered sacred as Swamiji is believed to have attained enlightenment meditating on this rock. Also according to legends, Goddess Kanyakumari performed austerities on this rock and so the rock is known as ‘Sripada Parai’.

The Memorial can be reached through a ferry service that is operated by the Tamil Nadu Department of Tourism. The design of the memorial is a conglomeration of different architectural styles of India.

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Installation of the Memorial

Swami Vivekananda, during his visit to Kanyakumari on 24th December 1892 (prior to his Chicago trip to take part in the “World Religious Conference”), is said to have meditated on the rock for two days and attained enlightenment. Later on, Swami Vivekananda became the most illustrious philosopher and Hindu spiritual reformer and a major force in the revival of Hinduism.

The Kanyakumari Committee was set up in January 1962, marking the birth centenary of Swamiji, to establish a memorial of Swamiji on the rock. Simultaneously, the Ramakrishna Mission in Madras also conceived of such a memorial. However, the local Catholic fishermen showed a strong dislike for the idea and put up a big cross on the rock. On the other hand, protests by the Hindus led to volatile situations and the Rock was declared a prohibited area. It was on 17th January 1963, with government permission, that a tablet was installed on the Rock that mentioned its association with Swami Vivekananda.

Shri Eknath Ramakrishna Ranade & his Role

Shri Eknath Ramakrishna Ranade, popularly known as Eknathji, was a social reformer and a senior pracharak of the ‘Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’. Ranade was deeply influenced by the teachings of Swami Vivekananda. Ranade established the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Organising Committee and became its Organising Secretary. The Committee soon opened up several branches across the country to build support and raise funds for the memorial.

Ranade had to face political hurdles such as the rejection of the project by the Minister of Education and Culture, Humayun Kabir. Ranade soon managed to collect 323 signatures of the Members of Parliament in support of the memorial, following which Smt. Indira Gandhi (the then Prime Minister of India) approved the project.

Once the project got approved, Ranade led a team of volunteers to raise funds from donors across the country. The State and Central Governments also contributed towards the fund total of Rs. 12.5 million.

Ranade’s strong belief in the Memorial mission led to the completion of the construction work in a short period of six years. It was inaugurated in 1970 by President of India V. V. Giri.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial – An Architectural Excellence

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a blend primarily of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu style of architecture. The Memorial houses two main structures namely Vivekananda Mandapam and Shripada Mandapam.

Vivekananda Mandapam – The structure of Vivekananda Mandapam is, erected in honour of Swami Vivekananda consists of the following sections:

• Dhyana Mandapam or the meditation hall has six adjacent rooms, featuring the temple architectural styles of India.
• Sabha Mandapam or the Assembly Hall consists of the Pralima Mandapam (statue section) with two rooms, a corridor and an outer courtyard encompassing the Sabha Mandapam. The statue of Swamiji is positioned such that his vision directly falls on the Shripadam.
• Mukha Mandapam
• Namastubhyam to the son of Jagadamba

Shripada Mandapam – This is a square hall consisting of:

• Garba Graham or the sanctum sanctorum
• Inner Prakaram
• Outer Prakaram
• Outer Platform

Vivekananda Kendra – The Living Memorial

Vivekananda Kendra, a spiritual organization situated alongside the Rock Memorial was officially founded on 7th January 1972 marking the 108th birth anniversary of Swamiji. Shri Eknath Ranade decided that young men and women joining Vivekananda Kendra as Karyakartas (social workers) would have a platform to serve God in man. The organization involved in activities such as rural development, Yoga classes and seminars.

Vivekananda Rock Memorial – Visiting Hours & Fee

The Rock Memorial can be visited throughout the year from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Charges for entry is Rs. 10, still camera is Rs. 10 and video camera is Rs. 50 and ferry charges Rs. 20 per head. Bountiful lodging and accommodation facilities are available for tourists to avail.

How to reach Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari

Kanyakumari located at a distance of 19 kilometres from Nagercoil and 90 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram is well connected by bus with major South Indian cities. The nearest rail head is Kanyakumari Junction (around 1.5 kilometre away) and nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport (around 95 kilometres away).

Epilogue

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is one of the most revered rock monuments providing its visitors a serene and peaceful experience. The cultural and religious significance of the place clubbed together with its architecture attracts visitors throughout the world. The Memorial Rock depicts our country’s cultural values and is considered a must visit destination of Kanyakumari.