Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Memorial on a rocky island in Kanyakumari, India

Vivekananda Rock Memorial is a monument on a rocky island about 500 metres off Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. It has two structures: the Vivekananda Mandapam, with a large ribbed central dome and smaller domed corner pavilions, and the Shripada Mandapam. The warm golden-brown stone buildings have tall arched windows and columns, and a broad ramp leads up from the water.

In January 1962, on Vivekananda's birth centenary, the Kanyakumari Committee and the Ramakrishna Mission planned a memorial on the rock. Catholic fishermen who used the rock, called Kurusu Paarai, protested; a cross there was removed secretly at night. After a judicial probe, the government allowed only a tablet, installed on 17 January 1963. Eknath Ranade gathered signatures from 323 MPs, and the memorial was inaugurated on 2 September 1970 by President V. V. Giri.

The name honors Swami Vivekananda, who meditated here for three days in 1892 before traveling to America. Visitors today see the rock where he sat and can find quiet reflection in the meditation hall.

Boats run regularly from the shore to the island during the day, and the crossing takes about ten minutes. Wind and waves can be strong, so sturdy footwear and a light jacket are useful.

The site sits at the point where three major bodies of water meet: the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean, and the Arabian Sea. On clear days, visitors see the different colors and currents of the three water masses around the island.