Kanyakumari Bhagavathy Amman Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Thiruvananthapuram International Airport is about 90 km away.

• By train

  Kanyakumari railway station is about 1 km away.

• By road

  Buses run from Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai, Coimbatore, Puducherry and Chennai to the Kanyakumari Bus Stand, Puthugramam.

Rules to know

• Visitors enter through the north gate.
• The eastern gate opens on special days, such as the new moon in Vrischikam, Edavam and Karkidakam.

Why devotees come here

The Bhagavathy Amman Temple stands in Kanyakumari town, Tamil Nadu. It is one of the 108 Shakti Peethas, dedicated to Devi Kanyakumari, the virgin deity. Its sanctum holds her idol, and the temple is linked to the legend of the demon Banasura.

Legend says the demon Banasura had a blessing that only a virgin girl could kill him. It is believed that Devi Bhagawati stood here as a spinster and killed Banasura on Vijaya Dashami, the last day of Navratri.

Kanyakumari is a town and municipality in Kanyakumari district. Parasurama is said to have built the temple by the ocean and installed the idol. Some accounts say it was built about 3000 years ago and later renovated by a Pandya king. The temple was once part of the Travancore kingdom. Strong stone walls still enclose it.

The idol of Devi Kanyakumari is in the sanctum sanctorum. Step inside the temple complex to find shrines to Balasundari, Vijaya Sundari, Surya Deva, Ganesh and Ayyappa. The most significant celebration here is the Vaisakhi festival, typically observed in May.

Festivals

• MayVaisakhi festival

  The most significant celebration at the temple.

• NavaratriNavaratri

  The last day, Vijaya Dashami, is when Banasura was killed according to legend.

Tips for your visit

• Watch the abhishekam, when sacred water is drawn from the Moola Ganga Theertham well inside the temple.
• The morning session opens at 4:30 AM and the evening session at 4 PM.
• The temple also holds Float, Car and Kalabham (Sandal) festivals.

Questions people ask