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Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial

Located in the midst of the ocean, just 400 meters from Kanyakumari, is the magnificent Vivekananda Rock Memorial. This colossal structure was built in the year 1970, under the guidance of Shri Eknath Ranade. The Vivekananda rock temple is dedicated to one of the greatest spiritual philosophers of India, Swami Vivekananda. It is said that Swami Vivekananda meditated here before setting out on one of the most crucial religious campaigns in India in 1892. The idea of building Vivekananda Memorial Rock temple was conceptualized on his birth centenary in the year 1962. Vivekananda Rock Memorial was built

with a blend of traditional as well as contemporary architectural styles of India. A life size statue of Swami Vivekananda has been set up inside the memorial. The rock has always been considered as holy and according to Hindu mythology, Goddess Devi Kumari has blessed the rock with the touch of her sacred feet. It is thus known as 'Sripada Parai'. In fact, there is a projection on the rock that resembles a human foot and is brownish in color, which is regarded as Sri Padam.

Gandhi Mandapam:

In the year 1948 the ashes of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi was immersed in the sea confluence in Kanyakumari. Before immersion, homage was paid to the ashes in the pot with flowers. Gandhiji’s disciple Acharya Kripalani took efforts for the construction of a memorial for him. The foundation stone was laid in 1954 and a beautiful Mandap came into being in the year 1956. It is noteworthy that sunlight falls on the Peeta in the Mandap on the 2nd October of the year, the day of Mahatmaji’s birth.