Kanyakumari
It was ten months I have visited my parents in Nagercoil along with my family. In between I had gone twice alone. So this time my wife and daughter accompanied me in the visit. After two days of rest along with my sisters family we went to Kanyakumar. On the way our first stop was in the Pothayadi Sai Baba temple early in the morning for the Aarti. My sister visits their regularly and is a peaceful place.
The next place was the sunset point in Kanyakumari. There was a slight drizzle and the climate was good so we spend sometime there enjoying the angry waves pounding the rocks. We had our breakfast of idli and vada with sambar purchased from a local hotel in Nagercoil. We found a nice place by the side of the road near beach to have our breakfast.
We went to the boat jetty after our breakfast. It was a long time since my sister visited the Vivekananda rock, though myself, wife and daughter have visited the rock many times. Being a Sunday the boat house was crowded but they plied three boats into service instead of two boats . So the wait was not longer. We reached the rocks saw the "Amman padam" the imprint of the goddess Kanyakumari on the rock, the Vivekananda rock and the meditation hall. My sister was in deep meditation inside the hall. After taking some photographs we were back to the land. The boat ticket costs Rs.50/- per person and the Rock entry costs Rs.20/- per person.
Our next stop was Sothavilai beach, though it was 1 pm, the cloudy sky and the drizzle made us go the beach. Sothavilai beach is around 15 km west of Kanyakumari.
Marunthuvaazh malai
Our next day's program was little adventurous , we planned to go to Marunthuvaazh malai in Pothayadi on th eway to Kanyakumari from Nagercoil. It is a small hill with a temple in the hill, with the followers of Saint Shri Narayana Guru visiting the temple. There are steps leading to the temple requiring 10 to 15 mts of uphill climb. But the real adventure is trekking to the top of the hill where the cave in which Shri Narayana guru meditated is situated. Further up in the hill top is a small Hanuman temple. The view is magnificent and Kanyakumari, sea on three sides are visible. The trek is moderate and one has to walk over a rocky surface for most of the part. Take food and water with you and start early in the morning. Avoid trek in heavy rains.
By the time we climbed down it was around 1.30 pm. We had a glass of sherbath and were back in Nagercoil in another one hour for lunch.
Kaali Mala
After two days of rest in Nagercoil we were on another small adventure cum holy trip to Kaali Mala. Kaalimala is nearly 55 km from Nagercoil off the Kulasekaram-Nedumangad highway and nearly 13 km from Thirparappu falls. It has a history related with the erstwhile king of Travancore, who was helped by the Kaanis or the tribals of this place and by the goddess Kaali.
The car goes only upto the beginning of the trek or end of the village. After that it is a steep climb and one has to walk for nearly 2 km. In the rainy season the place is beautiful.
The car goes only upto the beginning of the trek or end of the village. After that it is a steep climb and one has to walk for nearly 2 km. In the rainy season the place is beautiful.
At the top of the hill there is a Kaali temple and a Sastha temple. After the puja we were given gruel (Kanji) as Prasad. After having the kanji we climbed down and were back in Nagercoil after an hour long journey