Tourists throng Tirparappu water falls in Kanniyakumari district on Saturday.
| Photo Credit: N. RAJESH
Over 26,000 tourists used the ferry service in Kanniyakumari on August 15 and 16 to visit Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the district’s newest attraction, a glass bridge connecting the memorial and Tiruvalluvar statue.
This sudden surge of visitors during the off season in Kanniyakumari was largely due to a long weekend. While Kanniyakumari district enjoys a steady flow of tourists throughout the year, extended weekends are giving a significant boost to footfall.
Since the inauguration of the glass bridge, tourists visiting Kanniyakumari have been eager to experience the unique thrill of walking above sea on a transparent pathway. On August 15, a total of 12,337 people used the ferry service, including 10,147 counter ticket holders and 2,190 online ticket users.
On August 16, the number rose further to 13,959 with 10,555 tickets sold at counters and 3,404 online bookings.
However, the surge in demand has resulted in long waiting hours, as only four ferries are currently operational. Tourists feel that deploying additional ferries would help reduce delays and improve the overall experience.
T. Muruga Boopathy, Manager, Poompuhar Shipping Corporation Limited, Kanniyakumari said that although the online ticketing facility has been launched, many people are still unaware of it. “We are planning to advertise through the tourism department and by installing prominent signboards in Kanniyakumari,” he added.
“Due to the heavy tourist flow we have temporarily suspended the online ticketing facility, which normally allows people to book on spot. However the current system will allow booking before two hours of the boarding time,” he added.
Other tourist attractions such as Thirparappu waterfalls, Padhmanabhapuram palace, Pechiparai dam also witnessed a high turnout of tourists.
At Thirparappu waterfalls, which is undergoing major renovation work, including new dressing rooms and cloak room, visitors were seen enjoying the drizzling weather of the Western Ghats, while bathing at the falls.
Published – August 16, 2025 09:13 pm IST
