The Southernmost Point...

---

This is India’s most southernmost point, where she rises out of the jade sea, at the confluence of the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea, and climbs steadily northward for two thousand miles to the barrier that is greatest mountain range in the world, the Himalayas.
I arrived, finally, on Wednesday and found a place to stay near the temple, in the middle of the bazaar. The town rises gently from the shore; adjacent is the old fishing village where none of the higher caste visiting Hindus would ever set foot. Kanyakumari is a place full of people coming to worship at the temple and to visit the monument on the offshore rock where the Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892. It’s a madhouse, to say the least, beggars and hawkers line the streets to the temple, and being the only westerner here, (that I know of) I stand out like a sore thumb. Mostly though it’s school kids and students who just want a photograph (oh and my life history as well). Found a place to eat (not so good) and had a walk round the bazaar, bought a cheap watch (100 rupees - 1.20p) to replace mine which had given up the ghost. Early night and was up this morning to catch the rust bucket that ferries pilgrims across the water to the rock. There’s a big statue opposite the rock, of Thiruvalluvar, a Tamil poet; it’s 133 ft high and the work of 5000 sculptors, apparently. No photos are allowed inside the monument, but there’s some interesting stuff including a meditation hall where you can sit and ponder on the meaning of, well whatever you want really…I missed the boat back because I kept being waylaid for photos and conversations. One thing I’ve learned about India is that you can never be alone; stand still for more than a few seconds and someone will appear at your side - guaranteed. I got back eventually and wandered through the ancient fisherman’s settlement where life hasn’t changed for thousands of years, little stone huts with no electricity or plumbing and boats hewn from coconut logs.
Just one Internet connection in this place so I can’t hang about. I’m booked in here tonight then I plan to make my way west to Madurai sometime tomorrow. I’m going to trek to the station now and find out the train times, I think there’s an early one about 6.30 am - eek. See you soon…

---

Photos

Turn your back to the ocean...
..and watch you don't fall in..

Jolly Boys Outing..
The nearest you get to chavs in India. This bunch I met on the train and they were on holiday, yep to visit the temples, and ogle the girls..

Kanyakumari from the rock
The temple is in the foreground.

Fishing Boats Kunyakumari
Vivekananda Monument and the Poet statue in the background.

Fishermans Village Kunyakumari
Vivekananda Monument and the Poet statue in the background.

Comments

[pauline]

looks good
Hope to follow in your footsteps in january. Have you found the transport manageable and did you need to book trains?