VIVEKANANDA ROCK

VIVEKANANDA ROCK

AT

KANYAKUMARI

Located at the southern most tip of the Indian Peninsula where the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet, is Kanyakumari, the place famous for its spectacular sunrises and sunsets.

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 Mandapam with a dimension of 534' x 426',consists of a Meditation Hall ( Dhyana Mandapam) with six adjacent rooms where visitors can meditate peacefully and an Assembly hall (Sabha Mandapam) with two rooms and a corridor. A statue of Swami Vivekananda in a standing posture, has also been installed in the Assembly hall, with its vision directed towards the 'Sripadam'. 

The sacred Hindu Symbol 'aum' or 'om' is written above the main entrance of the memorial, in Tamil. The design of the mandapa incorporates different styles of temple architecture from all over India. Wide entrance steps lead to the main entrance. The cost of construction of the memorial came up to 1 crore 35 lakhs. The rock on which the memorial stands measures about 164 mtrs. x 130 mtrs. at the water level and has a spacious level top at an altitude of 17 mtrs.

Swami Vivekanada (1863-1902),  the spiritual genius renounced the world and traveled widely as a wandering monk after the death of his guru Sri Ramakrishna. 

He came to Kanyakumari in 1892, swam in the ocean up to the 'Sripada' rock, and spent the whole night there meditating. It is believed that he received enlightenment here which transformed him into one of the most charismatic spiritual leaders of this century.

Air

The nearest airport is at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), 86 kms away, with regular flights to Bangalore, Mumbai, Cochin, Delhi, Goa and Madras.

Rail

Kanyakumari railway station on broad gauge line is situated at a distance of 1km from the port and is connected to Trivandrum. Tirunelvelli (83 km) is the other nearest railway junction.

Road

Kanyakumari is connected by Road to Nagarcoil ( 19 kms), Trivandrum (86 km), Tirunelvelli (83 km), Tiruchendur (95 km), Tuticorin (129 km), Rameshwaram (300 km), Courtallam (130 km), Tenkasi (138 km), Madurai (242 km), Thekkady (358 km), Kodaikanal (362 km), Ootacamund (576 km), Chennai (679 km), Cochin (309 km) and Coimbatore (478 km).