Swamithoppe
Discover Swamithoppe
Swamithoppe (alternate spelling Swamithope) is a town that lies southeast of the City of Nagercoil, the capital of the District of Kanyakumari in the State of Tamil Nadu, at the extreme southern tip of India. Swamithope lies about half-way between the cities of Nagercoil and Kanniyakumari on the Nagercoil-Kanniyakumari road. It also lies 8 km (5 mi) north-west of Cape Comerin. Swamithoppu is a synonym for this town, as used in the holy book, Akilathirattu Ammanai of the Ayyavazhi religion. Swamithoppu is the name earned by the village Tamarikulam being the origin of the Ayyavazhi religion in the mid-nineteenth century.
Taste of Swamithoppe...
Note:-The ritual foods are offered in the Pathi and are restricted to ritual limits. This being a small town contains only a few lodging facility, though traditional vegetarian South Indian food is available in small restaurants located near the temple. The town nearby to stay is Nagercoil or Kanyakumari, though it would be better to stay in Nagercoil due to reasonable costs and varieties of facilities available there.
Festivals & Events
Experience the vibrant festivals and cultural celebrations of Swamithoppe.
The temple is usually crowded during the three major festivals every year and the Tamil month Masi 20, the famous festival for Ayya's incarnational day (Ayya Vaikunda Avatharam). There is a reasonable number of devotees attending prayers every Sunday for Uchchi padippu (noon session), but the crowd is much bigger on the first Sunday of every Tamil month. However, there is prayer in the temple at least thrice a day, everyday. If someone wants to take something to the temple while going for prayer, they can offer fresh fruits, fresh flowers (flowers of the day), coconuts or tender coconuts. Ayya Vaikunda Avatharam - The incarnational day of Ayya Vaikundar from the sea at Tiruchendur. This is the most important festival of Ayyavazhi and on this day the celebrations in Swamithoppe is considered with high religious importance. Though it was celebrated with processions all over Tamil Nadu, its celebrations are in grand scale in the south.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsFor people coming from Trivandrum, Madurai, Coimbatore or Chennai, convenient trains are available to reach Nagercoil. If one arrives at the Nagercoil railway station, taxis are available at the station to travel to Swamithope. From Nagercoil, town buses are available (route numbers 34, 2, 1-D); alternatively, visitors can use auto or taxi as well. If someone is already staying in Kanyakumari, it is best travel to Swamithope by taxi or by Bus (about 10 km/6 mi). Getting around Swamithoppe is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and taxis available in plenty. The temple preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikundar, including a rattan cane (perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. The Palliyarai is surrounded by inner corridors. There is a 16.7 m (55 ft) tall flag mast at a distance of 15 m (50 ft) from Palliyarai. And in north of flag mast there is an Unpanpurai. Here, they cook the food and distribute it to the devotees....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Getting around Swamithoppe is easy. There are public transport buses, auto rickshaws and taxis available in plenty. The temple preserves some articles believed to have been used by Ayya Vaikundar, including a rattan cane (perampu) and a pair of wooden sandals. The Palliyarai is surrounded by inner corridors. There is a 16.7 m (55 ft) tall flag mast at a distance of 15 m (50 ft) from Palliyarai. And in north of flag mast there is an Unpanpurai. Here, they cook the food and distribute it to the devotees. Muttirikkinaru - The historical well is situated some 300 meters (980 ft) from the main Pathi. This was the first well in this part of the sub-continent where all castes are allowed freely to use the water during mid-nineteenth century. It was considered sacred to bathe in and to drink the water from that well. Paal Kinaru - The well situated in the extreme east of the main Pathi. It was from this well the water (the holy Patham) for ritual usage for the Pathi is fetched off.
Where to Stay
This being a small town contains only a few lodging facility, though traditional vegetarian South Indian food is available in small restaurants located near the temple. The town nearby to stay is Nagercoil or Kanyakumari, though it would be better to stay in Nagercoil due to reasonable costs and varieties of facilities available there.
Money & Budget
Note:-The ritual foods are offered in the Pathi and are restricted to ritual limits. This being a small town contains only a few lodging facility, though traditional vegetarian South Indian food is available in small restaurants located near the temple. The town nearby to stay is Nagercoil or Kanyakumari, though it would be better to stay in Nagercoil due to reasonable costs and varieties of facilities available there.