Travel photos: Kanyakumari, a cape at the confluence of three water bodies

Kanyakumari, or Cape Comorin, is the southernmost tip and one of the best known parts of India. It is located at the confluence of the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean.

The waves of the three water bodies converge at the narrow cape jutting into the sea. It has been a sacred place in India since ancient times.

Two islands sit adjacent to the cape. The first is home to a 40-meter (133-ft) high statute of Tiruvalluvar, a celebrated Tamil poet who wrote the Thirukkural, a work on ethics which local residents consider to be sacred.

The second island’s attractions include the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, a sacred monument to the great philosopher and spiritual teacher Swami Vivekananda, and a temple to a local virgin goddess, Kanya Devi.

The view of Kanyakumari from the ocean is breathtaking. The town has some ancient temples and also the Gandhi Memorial at the spot where the vase holding Gandhi’s ashes was kept for public viewing before submersion. When approaching the cape from the sea, one first notices an off-white Gothic cathedral with a distinct Portuguese feel. It is the Church of Our Lady of Ransom built in 1872.

According to legend, the cape was named after Kanya Devi, an avatar of Parvati, who was to marry Shiva, one of the top three gods in the Hindu religion. Many opposed the planned marriage, so when Shiva went to his bride on the appointed night, one opponent turned into a rooster and crowed as if it was morning. Shiva turned back thinking he was late for the wedding.

The goddess was outraged. She threw the rice and sweetmeats meant for the wedding feast into the water, and they turned into beautiful shells.

Seashell crafts are now a major source of livelihood in Kunyakumari, which has one of the most famous shell markets in South Asia.

Singing shells are used in religious rituals in India.

Shell collectors as well as tourists come to Cape Comorin, lured by traders’ offers of rare shells, including illegal shells.

Festively bedecked elephants often take part in religious processions in Kanyakumari.

The festivals invariably include dancing and singing, and include the seashells that were once meant for the virgin goddess’s wedding.