Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
during his five years as a wandering monk around India from 1888 to 1893. The spiritual
Vivekananda's teachings, has its headquarters at Vivekanandapuram, an ashram 1km
north of town with some tourist accommodation.
Kamaraj Memorial
MAP
MONUMENT
(admission free; 7am-7pm)
This memorial near the shoreline commemorates K Kamaraj,
known as the 'Gandhi of the South'. One of the most powerful and respected politicians
of post-Independence India, Kamaraj held the chief ministership of both Madras State and
its successor, Tamil Nadu. The photos inside do have captions.
Sleeping
As befits a holiday destination, many Kanyakumari hoteliers have gone for bright, cheer-
ful decor; after the bland sameness of midrange hotels around the state, it's quite exciting
to find a large neon-coloured tiger painted on your bedhead.
Hotel Narmadha
MAP
( 246365; Kovalam Rd; r ?300-500)
This long concrete block conceals some friendly staff and a
range of cheap rooms, some of which are cleaner and have less dank bathrooms than oth-
ers; the ?500 sea-view doubles with spearmint-stripe sheets are decent value.
HOTEL
$
Saravana Lodge
MAP
( 246007; Sannathi St; r ?300-500, with AC ?1000; )
It's basic, but you can get a reasonable deal
here, just outside the temple entrance. All rooms have private bathrooms, though there's
no hot water. The better rooms are on the upper floors of the new block at the far end from
the entrance.
HOTEL
$
Hotel Tri Sea
MAP
( 246586;
www.triseahotel.com
; Kovalam Rd; d ?800-1800; )
You can't miss the high-rise Tri
Sea, whose sea-view rooms are huge, spotless and airy, with particularly hectic colour
HOTEL
$$
