Cape Festival: A Cultural High down South

Planning a holiday to South India this October? Don’t forget to include Kanyakumari in your trip, especially during the Cape Festival. Scheduled in the month of October, this three-day long festival paints the town with celebration and merriment. The southernmost tip of India, Kanyakumari or Cape Comorin is an important tourist place for different reasons. Hindus believe that the place got its name from an ancient legend of a girl, Kanya Devi whom Shiva promised to marry but never fulfilled his promise (Kunwari means an unmarried girl in Hindi). Ever since, devotees come here to worship Goddess Parvati in the form of a Shakti Peeth at Kanyakumari Temple. Kanyakumari is also considered extremely sacred as it is the confluence of the three great water bodies; Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and Indian Ocean. A dip in the sea here is considered to be extremely pious.

The Thiruvalluvar Statue (Right) and Vivekananda Rock Memorial (Left), two of the most iconic structures in Kanyakumari | Photo Credit: Ravivg5 / Wikimedia

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial at the sea is yet another famous site in Kanyakumari where people from far off places come to seek solace. The memorial is an important meditation centre where Swami Vivekananda himself meditated for a few days. Indeed, watching the gentle waves lap on the rocks in the sea makes for a tranquil and beautiful sight. Another visual treat to be enjoyed in Kanyakumari is the sunset that coincides with the rising moon. Watching the sun set in one corner of the sky and the moon rise from another at the same time in the background of the endless sea, is a sight to behold, especially for photographers! The spectacle becomes even more beautiful during full moon days.

While Kanyakumari’s natural beauty impresses visitors in daylight throughout the year, during the Cape Festival, the shimmering lights bordering all the monuments at night make for an even more spectacular sight. The market is abuzz with several activities, sales and performances. Local dances are also performed at community centres which one can enjoy while relishing some scrumptious Tamil delicacies like idli, sambhar vada and dosa.

Gorge on delicious Tamil delicacies while in Kanyakumari

A great deal of Kanyakumari shall be missed if you do not travel beyond the beaches, temples and the carnival and return to the comforts of your hotel room. Kanyakumari is not just a confluence of three water bodies but also of several beliefs and cultures. It has a history dating back to a few centuries and was ruled by the famous Cheras and Chalukyas. Christianity set its foot in Kanyakumari very early in 1^st century A.D. Therefore, a large number of churches and cathedrals can also be found here. The Thiruvalluvar Statue, Vattakotai Fort and Padmanabhapuram Palace are places you must visit during your visit to the Cape Festival.

With MakeMyTrip, opt for an all-inclusive holiday package to South India or just make your flight bookings to the closest airport in Trivandrum and get ready for a rejuvenating break to Cape Comorin during the Cape Festival.