Gandhi Mandapam

Amongst its scenic beaches and majestic churches, Kanyakumari also boasts of being home to a large memorial that is dedicated to the Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi. This memorial, which was built to honour this eminent personality, is located in the same spot where the urn of the ashes of this renowned individual was kept for the public to pay their homage. After the leader's death, his ashes were divided into 12 different urns and were scattered throughout the country for the general public to pay their last respect to this important figure. Kanyakumari was one of them.

Gandhi has close connections with Kanyakumari, and perhaps these associations rendered it necessary to construct a memorial in his memory in this place. Mahatma Gandhi visited Kanyakumari twice in his lifetime, once in 1925 and then later on in 1937. After his tragic assassination in January 1948, when his body was cremated, his ashes were brought to Kanyakumari to be immersed in the Triveni Sea on February 12, 1948.

Inside the Gandhi Mandapam, visitors can witness a myriad of photographs of Gandhi, which were taken at different points in his life, and also his pictures with other famous personalities. The responsibility of this memorial was transferred to the administrative control of the Public (Information and Public Relations) Department, from the Public Works Department of Government of Tamil Nadu in the year 1978, and one must say that the memorial is quite well maintained. Located close to the Kumari Amman Temple, the Gandhi Memorial is a must visit tourist spot in Kanyakumari, and is especially loved by patriots and followers of the Gandhian philosophy.