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Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu) - Census Data on Population, Households characteristics, Amenities, Forest Cover, Literacy, Schools, Healthcare, Density, Piped Water, Sewerage Connection, Drains Covered, Healthcare with comparative charts on Rural vs Urban profiles. Industrial and Employment Profile (Agriculture vs Industry Vs Services), including labor vs capital, Fuel, Industrial Input vs Industrial Output, Mobility, Action Groups and related stakeholders.
Kanyakumari district also known as Kanniyakumari formerly known as Cape Comorin is a town in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu state in India. The name doesn’t strike as a common name and definitely has a story behind it. Kanyakumari name comes from Goddess Kumari Amman or the Kanyakumari Temple, which is situated at the shore on the union of the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea.Actually, Kanya Devi, an avatar of Parvati, was to marry Shiva, but she could not marry him, she vowed to remain virgin all her life.The princess Kanya Devi is a virgin goddess. Hence, the name Kanyakumari.
LOCATION:
Kanyakumari is a place with breath-taking beauty and serene environment. Taking its name for an Indian Goddess, Kanyakumari is geographically the end of Indian mainland. Kanyakumari looms large in India’s imagination — and with good reason.Located on 8.078° North latitude and 77.541° East longitude. It is the southernmost tip of mainland India and is the meeting point of the three seas surrounding India: the Indian Ocean, the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Kanyakumari is the terminating point of the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats. It is bounded by the Tirunelveli district on the North and the East. This state is also the second largest district in terms of population density and second most urbanised, next only to Chennai. The tourists who visit this southern most tip of India would certainly enjoy the exuberant scenes of the sunsets, the sunrises especially on full moon days. The nature of the sand in the beaches of Kanyakumari is unique as it is multicoloured.
PEAK TOURIST PERIOD:
Kanyakumari is one of the most important tourist destinations in Tamil Nadu. It is famous for its moonrise and sunset. Best time to visit Kanyakumari is in the Tamil month of Chitthirai (April - May). We can see the moonrise and sunset in the same hour of full moon days during these months. This sunset and moonrise takes place when the sun and moon are face to face in a straight line along the horizon.Lakhs of tourist, round the year are lured by the serene beauty of this place and the spectacles of sunrise and sunset. Though sunrise can be viewed throughout the year, sunset is visible only from October 15 to March 15 from this southernmost tip. But one can view both sunrise and sunset throughout the year from atop a hill called “Murugan Kundram” which offers a panoramic view of Kanyakumari. The sunset and moonrise can be seen almost simultaneously on full moon days from the same spot. It is a unique spectacle. Amidst the sea there are two rocks known as ‘twin rocks’ both contributing to the rich Indian heritage with the monuments of Swamy Vivekananda and Saint Thiruvalluvar.
HISTORY:
Ptolemy's geography describes commercial relations between western India and Alexandria, the chief eastern emporium of the Roman Empire. He identified Kanyakumari along with the Gulf of Mannar as a centre for pearl fishery. He also identifies Korkai (assumed to be the present day's Tuticorin ), a place to the east of Kanyakumari, as an emporium of pearl trade. The Kalkulam and Vilavancode taluks were under the rule of the Chera Dynasty. When the power of Chola declined due to the rise of Hoysalas and western Chalukyas, the Venad (Travancore) Chieftains (descendants of the central Chera family) took advantage of the situation and gradually established their hold on considerable areas in Nanjilnadu. Veera Kerala Varma, one such chieftain, styled himself as "Nanjil Kuravan". The annexation commenced by Veera Kerala Varma was to a large extent continued by his successors and completed by AD 1115. Sanda Sahib of Arcot took advantage of this situation and attacked Nanjilnadu. Although Marthanda Varma was victorious in the battle of Colachel and defeated the Dutch armouries who helped the local feudatories, he could not cope with the threat from Sanda Sahib, which forced him to withdraw from the battlefield. After Marthanda Varma, Venad had weak rulers and as a result there was frequent interference by the British (who knew it as Cape Comorin) whose control was completely established over Venad and continued until 1947. From 1947 to 1956, it was under the personal rule of Maharaja of Travancore. During the period between 1956–1961, the administrative system has fallen in line with that of other districts in Tamil Nadu. In 1949, Kanyakumari became part of the reconstituted Travancore-Cochin State. Around this time, a popular agitation by the Tamil-speaking people of the district for the amalgamation of Kanyakumari District with Tamil Nadu intensified under the leadership of Marshal Nesamony who is called as 'Kumari Thanthai' (Father of Kanyakumari district). Marshal Nesamony was instrumental in the merger of Kanyakumari district with Tamil Nadu (then known as Madras State) in 1956 during the linguistic reorganisation of states.
DEMOGRAPHY:
As of the census of India 2001, Kanyakumari had a population of 19,739 comprising 9,884 males and 9,855 females, making the sex ratio (number of females per thousand males) of the town to 997.
A total of 2,403 people were under six years of age and the child sex ratio (number of females per thousand males under six years of age) stood at 1,024.
The town had an average literacy of 88.62%, higher than the national average of 59.5%.There were total of 4,236 households in the town.
As of 2001, Kanyakumari had a total of 5,929 main workers: 11 cultivators, 78 agricultural labourers, 66 in house hold industries and 5,774 other workers. There were a total of 119 marginal workers: 4 marginal cultivators, 3 marginal agricultural labourers, 11 marginal workers in household industries and 101 other marginal workers.
ADMINISTRATION, OFFICES AND OFFICIALS:
POLICE:
The police administrative structure in Kanyakumari is divided into 4 subdivisions each in charge of an officer of rank of ASP/DSP. The police station is the basic unit of police administration in a district. Under the Criminal Procedure Code, all crime has to be recorded at the police station and all preventive, investigative and law and order work is done from there. A police station is divided into a number of beats, which are assigned to constables for patrolling, surveillance, collection of intelligence etc.
MUNICIPALITIES:
The municipalities make more or less accurate census of the population and the data given here is the latest:
SL.NO NAME OF URBAN LOCAL BODY TOTAL SC ST
1 NAGERCOIL 208179 7084 370
2 COLACHEL 23787 602 -
3 KUZHITHURAI 20503 341 27
4 PADMANABHAPURAM 20075 2112 7
TOTAL 272544
10139
404
PUBLIC GRIEVANCE CELL:
1 Public Grievance Day:
The Collector is receiving Petitions from the Public on every Monday. All the District Officers/Second Level Officers are attending the Monday Grievance day, as per Government Orders. The petitions received are given to the concerned Department officers and most of the grievances are redressed on the day itself. The other petitions which are received for grant of benefits under various welfare schemes are sent to the Officers concerned with instructions to dispose them off within one month. Nearly three hundred to four hundred petitions are received, every Monday. The Collector is also reviewing the pendency of Grievance Day petitions at 1.00 pm on every Monday with all Departmental Officers who attend for Grievance Day. No officer is allowed to keep a petition pending for more than one month.
2 Mass Contact Programme:
The Mass Contact Programme is conducted by the Collector, the District Revenue Officer in every alternate month. The petitions collected from the public at firstPhase are given to the concerned department officers in the village spot itself and replies to the petitions are given to the petitioner on the date of 2nd Phase Mass Contact Programme of that village. In addition the Mass Contact Programme is conducted by the Revenue Divisional Officer also every month in a Revenue Village.
During the second phase of the Mass Contact Programme, the benefits to the beneficiaries are given free medical camp, free veterinary hospital service are also organised in the centres. Exhibition like small savings posters, Agricultural informations to farmers explaining the need and importance of Rainwater Harvesting and the display of Nutritious Vegetables, the products of SHG are also displaced.
3 Chief Minister Special Cell Petitions:
The petitions received from the Chief Minister’s Special Cell are registered in a special Register maintained in the Collectorate, and sent them in original to the concerned officers for early disposal. Periodical review on the progress of disposal is taken up by the Collector and District Revenue Officer, every week on Mondays.
The following is the list of Revenue Department officers, who assist the District Collector, in the General Administration of the District.
• District Revenue Officer at Nagercoil.
• Personal Assistant (General) to the Collector, Nagercoil
• Personal Assistant (Accounts) to the Collector, Nagercoil
• Sub Collector, Nagercoil
• Revenue Divisional Officer, Padmanabhapuram
• District Supply Officer, Nagercoil
• District Backward Classes Welfare Officer, Nagercoil
• District Adi-Dravidar Welfare Officer, Nagercoil
• Assistant Commissioner (Excise), Nagercoil
• Deputy Director, (Mines), Nagercoil
• Tahsildar, Vilavancode
• Tahsildar, Kalkulam
• Tahsildar, Agasteeswaram
• Tahsildar, Thovalai
• Taluk Supply Officers in each of the 4 Taluks.
• Special Tahsildars (DRS) in each of the 4 Taluks.
• Divisional Excise Officer, Agasteeswaram
• Divisional Excise Officer, Kalkulam
COURTS:
Law is an instrument of social control. It is a rule of conduct. The object of law is to give everyone his due. Whenever wrongs are committed against the society or individuals law steps in . Wrongs committed against the society are called crimes. It is the duty of the State to protect the society from offenders. So crimes are considered as offences against the State and prosecutors have been appointed by the Government to conduct criminal cases before Courts of Law. However, disputes relating to property, breach of contracts, wrongs committed in money transactions, minor omissions etc are categorised as civil wrongs. In such cases civil suits should be instituted by the aggrieved persons. Courts of law administer justice by considering the nature of the wrong done. Criminals are convicted and punished before criminal courts. Civil wrongs are redressed before civil courts by granting injunctions or by payment of damages or compensation to the aggrieved party.
The District Courts are presided over by a judge. These courts are under administrative and judicial control of the High Court of the State to which the district concerned belongs. Judicial independence of each court is the characteristic feature of the district judiciary. In each district there is a strong bar which ensures that courts decide cases according to law and without fear or favour.
The hierarchy of courts in the district in case of Civil cases is as follows
· District Court
· Sub Court
· Munsiff’s Court
Every suit should be instituted before the court of lowest jurisdiction. In the civil side the Munsiff's Court is the court of lowest jurisdiction. An appeal from the decisions of the Munsiff is filed before the District Court. Appeals from the decisions of the Sub Court is filed before the District Court if the subject matter of the suit is of value up to rupees two lakhs. If the value is above two lakhs, the appeal should be filed before the High Court and next to the Supreme Court.
In the criminal side the hierarchy in the district as follows.
· Chief Judicial Magistrate's Court
· The First Class Magistrate's Court
· The Second Class Magistrate’s Court
Administration of criminal justice is carried out through Magistrate - Courts and Sessions courts.
RELIGIONS IN KANYAKUMARI: According to Hindu legend, Kanya Devi, an avatar of Parvati, was to marry Siva, but as he failed to show up on his wedding day, the rice and other grains meant for the wedding feast remained uncooked and remain unused thereafter. As the legend goes, the uncooked grains turned into stones as time went by. Some believe that the small stones on the shore today, which look like rice, are indeed grains from the wedding that was never solemnised. Kanya Devi is now considered a virgin goddess who blesses pilgrims and tourists who flock the town. According to another Hindu legend, Lord Hanuman dropped a piece of earth as he was carrying a mountain with his life-saving herb, Mrita Sanjivani, from the Himalayas to Lanka during the Rama-Ravana war. This chunk of earth is called Marunthuvazh Malai, literally "hills where medicine lives". This is said to be the reason for the abundance of unique native medicinal plants in the area. Marunthuvazh Malai is located near Kottaram about 7 km (4 mi) from Kanyakumari town on the Kanyakumari-Nagercoil highway. The sage Agasthya, who was himself an expert in medicinal herbs, is believed to have lived around this site in ancient days. Some believe this is why so many medicinal herbs are to be found on these hills near Kanyakumari. A nearby village is named Agastheeswaram after the sage. Today, there is a small ashram on the middle of the Maruthuvazh Malai hill, which tourists visit (after a short trek from the base of the hill), both to visit the Ashram and also to take a glimpse of the sea near Kanyakumari a few kilometres away, and the greenery below.
There a significant number of Christians too. This has been prevalent since the 16th century. This is confirmed by the existence of the St.Xavier’s Cathedral and the Our Lady Of Ransom Church dedicated to Mother Mary and built in the 15th Century. This will be discussed in detail in the Architecture section.
TOPOGRAPHY:
Kanyakumari Forest Division forms the southern part of Agasthiamalai region and is located between the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of Kerala and the Kalakkad - Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve of Tamil Nadu. It encompasses the southern most forest tracts of the Western Ghats. The tract has its significance in possessing peculiar types of micro-habitats due to its geographical location, physical structure and varying altitudes. At Varaiattumudi, the Western Ghats ridges turn almost towards east until it reaches the Mahendragiri peakand again continues towards south in scattered hillocks until it reaches ground level at Nilapparai near Vattakottai. Moreover, the Kanyakumari Forest Division has a peculiar constitution of the eastern, western as well as southern slopes of the Western Ghats into its territory. The terrain is undulated with steep valleys and ridges rising above 1000 MSL at many places like Varaiattumudi, Samikuchi, Inchikadavu, etc. It has an overall altitudinal range of about 50 MSL to 1650 MSL at Mahendragiri peak. A number of vegetation formations like Grassland-Shola, Tropical evergreen forests, Reed brakes, Riparian formations, Swamps, Moist and
Dry Deciduous forests, Scrub Jungles, Reservoirs, Secondary growth and Plantations of various kinds could be seen in this region. Grassland-Sholas found on the slopes of high ridges forms a number of first and second order streams that supply to the two major rivers of the district, Kothaiar and Pazhaiar. The nature of vegetation formations together with climate and physical features of the landscape contributes to the habitat pattern of a region. The habitat pattern in turn determines the character and distribution of life forms of a given area. Biodiversity of a tract thus depends largely on the number of microhabitats available within the region. The tract of Western Ghats under the Kanyakumari Forest Division is particularly rich with its large
number of microhabitats due to its exposure to wide range of climatic conditions and its southern most geographic position in the subcontinent. Microhabitats provide specific conditions favourable to different species for feeding, nesting, roosting, etc., and thus biodiversity of the area will be high.
CLIMATE AND RAINFALL:
The general climate of sanctuary is pleasant. Both the south-west
and north-east monsoon winds, the proximity of the sea and the
dwindling heights of Western ghats greatly influence the climate. In
Kanyakumari rainfall is distributed over four seasons,
(a) south-west monsoon (June-Sept) 37 % and 33.7 rainy days
(b) north-east monsoon (Oct- Dec) 37.9% and 26.5 rainy days
(c) winter (Jan-Feb) 2.7% and 2.7 rainy days and
(d) the hot weather summer seasons 21.7 % and 16.8 rainy days. In the hill region the rainfall is uniformly distributed in both monsoons and maximum rainfall occurs during October and November. On the whole this district gets an average annual rainfall of 1369.5 mm with 79.7 rainy days.
RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES:
Contrary to the popular (and sensational) belief that Kanyakumari lies at the meeting point of three bodies of water, it borders only one: the Laccadive Sea to the south west, south, and to the southeast. It is the confluence of the Western Coastal Plains and Eastern Coastal Plains.
The major river in the district is Thamirabarani locally known as Kuzhithuraiar. This river has two major tributaries, Kodayar and Paralayar, with the Pechiparai Dam and Perunchani Dam, respectively, built across them. There are many tributaries for the Kodayar River of which Chittar I and Chittar II, with their dams, are the major ones. The origin of Tambaraparani River is in the Western Ghats and the river confluences with Laccadive Sea near Thengapattanam, about 56 kilometres (35 mi) west of Kanyakumari town.
Valliar, another small river, along with its tributary Thoovalar, originates from the Velimalai Hills, collects drainage from P.P. Channel and its branches, ayacuts (irrigated area under a tank) and confluences with the Laccadive Sea in Kadiapattinam.
The Pazhayar River, another small river, starts at Shorlacode, about 18 kilometres (11 mi) north-west of Nagercoil. This is polluted as it collects drainage of Thovalai, Ananthanar and Nanjil nadu puthanar channel passing through Thazhakudi, Vellamadam villages. The Pahrali River also flows through the district. The Mathur Hanging Trough, the highest and longest aqueduct in Asia, was built over it near Mathur.
FOREST COVER:
The forests in Kanyakumari District are about 75 million years old. Of the total district area of 1671.3 km2, government forests occupy an area of 504.86 km2 which comes to about 30.2 percent of the geographical area of the district. The forests of the district are administered through the Kanyakumari Forest Division, with headquarters at Nagercoil, the capital of Kanyakumari District.
There are 14 types of forests from luxuriant tropical wet evergreen to tropical thorn forests. This variety occurs in the district because of diverse locality factors. Rainfall varies from 103 cm to 310 cm elevation from sea level to 1829 m. The forest area is 30.2% of the total district geographical area which is next to Nilgiris district with 59% and Dharmapuri District with 38% in Tamil Nadu State. 52% of the district's forests are classified as dense forests, which is second only to Dharmapuri District with 58%. The forests contain species such as Mesua ferrea, Bischofia Javanica, Vitex altissima to smaller trees of Dillini a species festooning climber, shrubs, valuable herbs, variety of orchids, two types of canes, many indigenous palms and cycas. The important timbers are teak, rosewood, vengai and aini. Various types of forest products like bamboos, reeds, canes, soft wood, tamarind, lemon grass, rubber, coconut, arecanut, terminalia chebula, cinnamon bark, cardamom, mango and many medicinal plants are harvested in this district. The Maruthuvalmalai, a hill located among green paddy fields and coconut palms, is famous for valuable medicinal plants. This is the only district in Tamil Nadu where rubber and clove plantations have been raised in reserve forests in an area of 47.857 km2 and 1.1 km2 respectively. The district is rich in wildlife with at least 25 types of mammals, about 60 species of birds including 14 species of migratory birds and many species of fishes, reptiles and amphibians listed.
The following are the reserve forests in Kanyakumari Forest Division:
1. Therkumalai East and West - 17.4 km2
2. Thadagaimalai - 7.9 km2
3. Poigaimalai - 12.4 km2
4. Mahendragiri - 43.6 km2
5. Veerapuli - 281.9 km2
6. Velimalai - 11.2 km2
7. Old Kulasekaram - 6.9 km2
8. Kilamalai - 81.06 km2
9. Asambu - 43.10 km2
PEOPLE AND CULTURE:
The people are the human resource of the District. Their culture, religion, aptitude, habits, beliefs, talents etc have a bearing on how the district presents itself to others. Tamil and Malayalam are the main languages of this district. Hindus and Christians form a sizeable percentage of the population of the district and there are a number of Muslims dominated belts in the district. The caste system in the Society has weakened to a great extent especially after independence because of growth of education and improvements in transport and communication. Some of the communities in the district are Nadars, Nanjil Nadu Vellalars, Paravas, Mukthavas, Vilakki Thalanayar, Kammalar or Asari, Nairs, Chackarevars, Kerala Mudalis etc. Rice is the staple food of the rich and poor alike in the district. Some among the poorer section also use tapioca. Beverages like tea and coffee are widely spread even in to the rural area of the district.
EXPORTS:
Kanyakumari has been exporting items in various sectors thus contributing to a major part of the Indian Economy. Being a coastal town, the most prominent export is seafood ranging from fishes of various varieties and sizes to prawns and crabs. Apart from that since there is a lot of vegetation and coconut groves, they chiefly export agricultural commodities such as coir ropes, socks, and other herbal products of high medicinal values and also for aesthetic purposes.
TRANSPORT AND CONNECTIVITY:
Transport is available via both rail and road. You can choose the best mode of transport be it public modes of commuting such as buses, autos or even share autos. Cabs are of easy availability these days so there is not much of a problem there. And apart from that the best mode of transport is by train. National and State highways are well maintained. The railway board has also done justice by keeping the trains and train stations clean.
FOOD AND CUISINE:
This regional cuisine is famous for its sea foods.Also as this region is at the borders of Kerala. It also endorses rich Kerala cuisine which is evident from the rich use of coconut oil in cooking. Some of the famous items specific to this town are Avial, Erissery, Maravazhi kilangu poriyal, Munthiri kothu, Nentharam chips, Ulli theyal and the Therali. If you ever get the chance to, these are definitely a don’t-miss.
This is what Kanyakumari is all about, for the foodies, of course. But even the not-so-foodies will not be able to turn away from the sight and the aroma of such delicacies. Try it and take back a little part of Kanyakumari with you.
• Coconut Rice
The already known, important but plain rice is given a coconut twist in Kanyakumari with this dish. The thinly grated strands of fresh coconut blend share the same abode of rice with the crunchy cashews and the spicy green chillies. As the light, nutritious, colourful preparation in the shape of a dome graces the green banana leaf it is a sight worth admiring for an eternity but the aroma of the cumin and the coconut is hard to resist and the next second, you will be taking a spoonful and admiring the taste also.
• Meen Kolumbu
Coconut seem to be everywhere, from the seaside grooves to the basket in the kitchen of Kanyakumari. And when tamarind, yes, the famous South Indian tamarind combines with the coconut and poppy seeds to cook a tangy-coconutty-aromatic fish curry, you can imagine the effect it will have on you. The taste of the place will come alive and you will not want to stop ordering the same dish. You might want to bring a friend along to have this dish. There are chances that you will need someone to pull you up from your table!
• Avial
Yes, coconut again, as expected. But this time it is with vegetables, including banana, drumsticks, carrot among others. Packed with all the nutrients of the town, this dish will win the heart of every vegetarian. Have it with piping hot rice and give yourself a treat.
With dishes to delight every tourist, Kanyakumari is a foodie’s heaven as it a pilgrim’s. The distinct taste that is hidden in the kitchens of the local households seem to welcome you with open arms. Embrace it and savour the aroma of Kanyakumari.
ART, DANCE AND MUSIC:
Many folk arts are popular in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu state of India. They play an important role in essaying the culture of their rich tradition. Some of the popular folk art forms of the district comprise of Kalial, Kathakali, Bow Song, Karagam Dance, and Kalari. They are exhibited during the time of festivals in temples and also different celebrations in schools etc.
Kalial: This is a folk dance played by group of men or boys in the countryside. A group leader sings songs and keeps time with cymbals. The players stand in a circle with sticks in their hand and dance round a lighted lamp repeating the songs sung by the leader. In course of time they turn, twist, lean forward and backward, squat and move round singing to the tune. At the beginning the steps are elaborate and at times, they are also very quick. When invited to perform in a function, the players generally begin the dance with an invocation for heavenly aid and conclude the dance with a torch-dance using lighted torches. This folk dance exhibits the artistic and recreative life of the countryside a swell. This dance is very refreshing to perform as well as to enjoy.
Kathakali: This is a unique form of drama, which has its origin in Travancore. Kathakali or story-dance is relatively a recent development of earlier dances. This happened during fifteenth or sixteenth century. This dance form arose out of religious expression through symbolical action. In this art form, the characters express their ideas not by words, but by significant gestures like eye movement, lip movement, etc. The movements are adopted from the Bharatha Natya with suitable modifications. The Bhagavathar recites the conversations between the characters as well as the narrative portion of the story in a loud voice. This is always accompanied by musical instrument. All these conversations should invariably be in verse. The action is promoted by his words.
The costume and make up of the actor are also important aspects in Kathakali. There are standard make up for the different types of actors. Mainly red, yellow, green, black and white are the colours used in this art form. The headdresses are made of lightweight wood and are decorated with pieces of mirror, spangles, and coloured stones. Usually, a Kathakali performance extends from eight to ten hours. With the advent of the cinema, the popularity of this art has declined. It is now played in the temples at Thiruvattar, Thirparappu, Ponmana, Kuzhithurai, Neyyoor and Munchira in the Kanyakumari district twice a year during the time of festivals. But this art form is popular worldwide and people from different parts usually come to see the presentation.
ARCHITECTURE AND TOURISM:
VIVEKANANDA ROCK MEMORIAL:
Built in 1970, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial is one of the finest pieces of human endeavour at architecture in Southern India. Situated on a rock island, Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a major tourist attraction in Kanyakumari and houses the statue of the great preacher Swami Vivekananda.
People believe that Swami Vivekananda swam to this small rocky island and meditated here in his quest for enlightenment. The Shripada Mandapam, having a study hall and a museum, and the Vivekananda Mandapam add to the spiritual significance and purity of the memorial.
PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE:
The Padamanabhapuram Palace is a sight to behold. Located on the foothills of the Velli Hills, the palace is spread across 4 kilometres. The palace is built of granite and offers the most stunning views against the backdrop of towering hills and lush foliage. Perhaps, the most enticing part of the palace is the mica coloured, dark and ornately decorated King’s Council Hall.
OUR LADY OF RANSOM CHURCH:
A pristine and exquisite example of Gothic architecture, Our Lady of Ransom Church is dedicated to Mother Mary. It was built in the 15th century and forms a scenic picture against the backdrop of the blue ocean. There is a gold cross on the central tower of the church.
The foundation stone for the new church was laid on 31 May 1900 by Fr. John Gonsolvez. Mr. Pakiam Pillai of the Vadakkankulam was the architect of the new church. It is the model of ancient Gothic Art and culture. The length of the new Church is 153 feet, breath 53 feet and height is 153 feet. All these depict the breads of the Holy Rosary.
When entering to the church a beautiful idol of Mother Mary derived from Italy clad in a sari – like in most South Indian churches and a little Cross on the altar. The beautiful paintings of four disciples of Jesus Christ and writers of new testaments of bible namely Mark, Matthew, Luke and John paintings is exquisite in the main altar and the lenient mother Mary statue is located in the middle of the main altar. The colourful light patterns thrown by the stained glass windows on side of the church gives a rainbow appearance inside the church. The mother Mary statue situated in the old Church is derived from Rome and is the main attraction of this church.
KAMARAJAR MANIMANDAPAM:
Kamarajar Manimandapam is a monument dedicated to Sri Kamarajar, in the district of Kanyakumari. Popularly known as the 'Black Gandhi', he was the erstwhile Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, who served the state for a long period.
He played a major role in the Indian freedom movement and was the President of the Indian National Congress before independence. He was also awarded India's highest civilian honour - Bharat Ratna, for his work in the field of education (free education to rural kids). After his death, his ashes were kept at the site of the present-day memorial before being immersed in the sea, for people to pay their homage.
MATHOOR HANGING BRIDGE:
The Mathoor Hanging Trough is the tallest as well as the longest trough bridge in Asia, having a height of 115 feet and a length of one kilometre. Constructed in 1966, this bridge has become a place of tourist importance and hundreds of tourists visit this place. This is situated in Mathoor, hamlet of Aruvikkarai revenue village in Thiruvattar Panchayat Union.
The bridge has been constructed at Mathoor across the river Parazhiyar at a cost of Rs. 12.90/- lakhs and the trough canal (Pattanamkal canal) on the bridge carries water for irrigation from one side of a hill to the other side of a hill. The trough has a height of seven feet with a width of seven feet six inches. The canal is being shouldered by 28 huge pillars.
By the unrelented efforts of late Thiru. K. Kamaraj, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, this canal was constructed as a drought relief measure and for the development.of agriculture in Vilavancode and Kalkulam Taluks. The District Administration has recently put up a staircase from top to the bottom of the bridge and also built a children's park and bathing platforms over here.
SOURCES:
http://www.indianetzone.com/18/folk_arts_kanyakumari_district.htm
http://kanyakumari.org.in/
http://www.nameaning.net/both/Kanyakumari
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanyakumari
http://www.kanyakumari.tn.nic.in
https://www.ixigo.com/which-are-the-popular-local-food-items-in-kanyakumari-fq-1001853
