Temple MarvelsWhere Every Temple Tells a Story
Open Now

Kumari Amman Temple

Kanyakumari, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu
Goddess Kanyakumari
More in Tamil Nadu

Type

Hindu Temple

Deity

Goddess Kanyakumari

Pincode

629702

The southernmost Hindu temple in India, situated at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal, and Indian Ocean. Goddess Kumari (a form of Parvati) guards the tip of the subcontinent; her nose ring is said to be visible far out at sea on clear nights.

History & Significance

Significance

Kumari Amman Temple stands at the very tip of peninsular India where three seas meet — this confluence (Triveni Sangam) is one of the holiest spots in Hinduism. Sunrise and sunset here, with the sea on three sides, are extraordinary experiences that no pilgrim forgets.

History

The temple's origins are traced to the Sangam age. The presiding Goddess Kumari is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Raja Raja Chola and later the Pandya and Travancore kings were major patrons. The famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial is visible 500 metres offshore.

Plan Your Circuit

Nearby Temples

Closest temples by distance — worth combining into the same trip.

Shiva

A unique 'Sthalasayana Perumal Temple' where Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva are worshipped together as one deity (Thanumayan). The 46-metre gopuram and the 4.3-metre monolithic Hanuman statue are remarkable. Located 13 km from Kanyakumari.

Thanumalayan Temple

Suchindram, Tamil Nadu12 km
Lord Shiva

Ranganatha

One of the 108 Divya Desams, located on the banks of the Tamirabharani river near Tuticorin. The presiding deity Vaikuntanatha (Vishnu) is in a unique standing posture (a rare form called Thayar Sannidhi). The Shanmukha Nadhi is a sacred water channel here.

Vaikuntanatha Perumal Temple

Srivaikuntam, Tamil Nadu73 km
Lord Ranganatha

Shiva

The principal temple of Tirunelveli city, dedicated to Lord Nellaiappar (Shiva as lord of the paddy field) and Goddess Kanthimathi Ambal. Famous for its exceptional golden lily tank (porthamarai kulam) and a musical pillar hall where 48 of the 161 pillars emit musical tones. One of the finest Pandya-era temples in Tamil Nadu.

Nellaiappar-Kanthimathi Ambal Temple

Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu74 km
Lord Shiva
Thiruchendur Murugan Temple

The second Arupadaiveedu — a seaside Murugan temple where the deity defeated the demon Soorapadman. The temple stands directly on the Bay of Bengal shore, making it one of the most dramatic temple settings in South India.

Photo: Wikipedia article "Subramaniya Swamy Temple, Tiruchendur" — CC-licensed via Wikimedia Commons

Thiruchendur Murugan Temple

Thiruchendur, Tamil Nadu78 km
Lord Subramanya