To The Southernmost Tip of India
There are some parts of the world that, once visited, get into your heart and won’t go. For me, India is such a place. – Keith Bellows
I explored the Spiritual South with Gate 1 Discovery tours, 19 people who become great friends along the way and @Jayachandran who was a wonderful ambassador to his part of the world. As the trip wound down in beautiful historic Kochi the group prepared for their homeward trips or onwards to new adventures.
I had not had my fill of the South and knew there was no better opportunity to explore Kanyakumari the southernmost tip of India than now while I was already close. So off I headed to Trivandrum the launching point for this part of my adventure.
I was met by a car and driver at the airport and prepared to enjoy the 2 plus hours trip to Kanyakumari with multiple stops along the way. The next day would be good for me to catch up on the sunrise and the sunset at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.
Beachgoers were soaking in the sea, the sun and the sand stretched out under the umbrellas on Kovalam Beach when my driver dropped me off at the parking lot.
Fishing boats were pulled up on the shore and fisherfolk wandered along mending nets and doing other maintenance types of things, fruit sellers, ice-cream sellers and other vendors wandered along selling their wares. I met a lady with a basket of fruit and the most dazzling smile who tried me to buy some of her wares of pineapples and bananas. When I declined the fruit but tried to pay her for posing for me, she declined but allowed me to capture her dazzling smile on my phone.
After a refreshing drink of fresh coconut water and an amazing lunch of freshly grilled prawns we were on the road again.
The Thiruparappu Falls accessed through a busy marketplace were full of people enjoying the cool refreshing water on a hot and humid day.
I might have never made it here except for my travel arranger Ann’s advice telling me to insist on going where I wanted to go. My driver originally told me that there was no point in venturing here since the falls were dry due to no water. Hmm perhaps our ideas of dry and wet were a bit different. He later clarified to say that there is a lot more water in the rainy season.
I almost did not do the small boat cruise along the Neyyar River to the meeting point of the river with the Arabian Sea since we had done back water cruising in Alleppey, but my driver insisted it was the best thing since sliced bread and I succumbed. I wonder if he was getting a cutback since it was not on my original itinerary.
The water along the back waters was so clear and tranquil that it worked like a mirror. I really enjoyed the quite tranquility and the ocean waves at the confluence of the river with the Arabian Sea.
The golden sands beach where the water of the Arabian Sea foams over the sand and people enjoy a bit of a carnival atmosphere with camel rides and floating restaurants.
Punjabi’s of course find their home everywhere as evidenced by this Punjabi Dhaba right at the confluence of the Arabian Sea. No, I did not stop here, I was still full from lunch and really, I had to move along since I still had a long drive ahead of me.
The elephant rock, no surprise it looks like a sleeping elephant.
And a southern version of the Pieta facing the Arabian Sea. Watch out Michael Angelo you might have some competition in these Indian backwaters.
The Mathur Aqueduct which again according to my driver was a bit of a waste of time but I insisted and so he did take me there. Of course, in the process I did miss stopping at the Padmanabhapuram Palace, but then you can’t do everything even if you wish you could.
We finally made it to Kanyakumari int he dark and I had to make do with being somewhat full from my big lunch and few snacks from the mini bar and a cup of tea for dinner.
Early AM while it was still dark, we drove to the Sunrise beach for the sunrise. The beach was crowded, and people kept arriving all the way until the sun was rising.
As the sky began to lighten, chants from the temple and the church right there began to sound in the air and the lights from the strategic island and monuments around us began to flicker off.
The sun rose in all its glory. Sadly, it was a bit cloudy and overcast and the spectacular oranges and pinks that I had anticipated did not really materialize but nevertheless it was a satisfying sight.
People around me cheered and commiserated in turn as the sun rose. Vendors selling shell necklaces and coffee and snacks came circling around us tourists and the Unik’s came around picking up babies and fondling old men, clapping their hands and singing their songs and generally looking for tips.
Close to where I found a perch a young man set up and altar and set out all his idols in anticipation of the sunrise. A true sun salutation to the Gods as the sky brightened and the fishing boats began to come into the harbor and the nearby monuments appeared out of the darkness.
There was a large variety of fish that I saw coming in, getting packed in ice and leaving the crowded port area as we tried to make our way out back towards our hotel and breakfast.
The Thiruvalluvar Statue is a colossal statue of a celebrated Tamil poet and philosopher situated on a rock right in the harbor.
The Swami Vivekananda rock memorial is another memorial located right in the Kanyakumari harbor.
After a day relaxing in the spa getting a massage and a facial and a nap it was time to venture out to the Sunset point to watch the sun set over the water. Like the morning there were a lot of people finding perches on the rocks scattered along this rocky beach.
As the sun began to disappear along the horizon, there were chants of it’s going, going, gone and goodbye.
Great balls of fire. I actually made it to Kanyakumari and enjoyed two sunrises and a sunset before heading onwards to my next adventure.