Kanyakumari is a beautiful place blessed with abundance. From forests and beaches to temples, churches, and great food, there’s much to enjoy and experience. If you are visiting our city for the first time, here is a small Kanyakumari trip guide outlining what you must expect during your travel.
Kanyakumari is Hot
We would like to believe that we have moderate weather. But that’s only when compared to other hotter districts in Tamil Nadu. In reality, Kanyakumari has a hot and humid climate. True, it rains magically to calm everyone when the sun becomes unbearable. But when it’s hot, it is hot. The good thing, however, is that there are plenty of trees the wind has a cooling effect, making things a little bearable. November to January are a little pleasant as the sun isn’t as harsh. If the hot weather makes you irritable, we suggest you book hotels in Kanyakumari around winter.
Men Have to Remove Their Upper Body Clothes Before Entering the Temple
Kanyakumari temples adhere to the practices and rituals of the Travancore Kingdom and the corresponding dewaswom board. It is a common practice in Kerala temples to require devotees to dress modestly and decently. In the earlier days, men did not wear an upper body garment; instead, they only covered themselves with a cloth called angavastram. Within the temple, not wearing a shirt symbolises that everyone is equal before God and is a mark of respect for the deity. Not long ago, these temples didn’t allow men to wear trousers; they had to wear the traditional mundu, while the women had to wear sarees or half sarees. Today, a lot of these rules are relaxed women can wear a salwar and jeans as long as they are modest. As for men, you cannot enter wearing shorts. There’s another belief that temples attract cosmic rays not wearing an upper body garment helped attract these rays.
Beef is Not Taboo Here
I know this is hard to digest for many people, especially if you are from North India, where the belief against beef is especially firm. But we were part of the Travancore Kingdom for centuries and have a close cultural identity with South Kerala. Besides, we have a substantial Christian and Muslim population the two communities that aren’t generally averse to eating beef. Not everyone eats beef, but it isn’t frowned upon, and we don’t judge you for your food choices. Places that serve beef mention it clearly on their menu it’s not done on the sly. We only request that tourists respect this and not judge anyone eating their favourite parotta and beef. In fact, on a Sunday, you’ll even find a few pork stalls.
Coconut Oil is the Staple
Everything from fish curry and fry to chicken roast is made using freshly milled coconut oil. We’re crazy about coconut oil and use it on everything from food to even our hair. In fact, don’t be surprised if an old ammachi (grandma) suggests applying coconut oil on a bruise or chafed skin. If it’s not coconut oil, then it’s coconut milk. Did you know coconut milk is an excellent home remedy for mouth sores?
Kanyakumari isn’t only about Temples
There’s so much more to Kanyakumari than beaches and temples. For instance, the Thiraparappu Falls is famous for its manmade waterfalls. The Keeriparai Wildlife Sanctuary is renowned for its Vattaparai Falls. There are plenty of such small and large waterfalls within the city waiting to be discovered. Some of them include Kalikesam, Kuttiyar, Olakaruvi, and Karumpaarai. Manmade attractions in the city include the Vivekananda Memorial, the Thiruvalluvar Statue, and the Mathoor Aqueduct.
Visit us if you are looking for affordable accommodation in Kanyakumari.
