Tirunelveli, about 85 km from Kanyakumari, is known for the Nellaiappar Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva who is worshipped in the form of a lingam. His consort, Goddess Parvati is also worshipped here. The temple sees a large footfall, especially during the month of Navratri (a holy nine-day festival of Hindus). If you're coming down here, try to time your visit to the festivities of Pongal, Easter, Utsavam or Annual Festival and Saraswati Pooja. The annual festival is celebrated on the day of Pushya in February or March to purify and revitalise oneself with the powers of the deity.

One can also visit the Kanthimathi Temple, which is one of the most famous temples in the city, dedicated to Lord Shiva. Visitors can also get to Sri Vardharaja Perumal Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. A not-to-be-missed site is the Kalakad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve that is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna. While on a visit to Tirunelveli, do no miss tasting the famous Tirunelveli halwa, which is made from wheat cooked in water taken from River Tambiraparani, known for its herbal properties. The District Science Centre is another tourist destination in the city that attracts many visitors and offers them a different way of looking at science and technology. Not too far away from the city are some beautiful spots to enjoy natural beauty amidst waterfalls and hills. Tirunelveli is also known for its locally made handicrafts, which you can pick up as memorabilia. The best time to visit Tirunelveli is between the months of October and February.

The city of Tirunelveli is said to be over 2,000 years old and is believed to be an ancient settlement that was ruled by early Pandyas, the medieval and later Cholas, the later Pandyas, the Ma’bar, the Vijayanagar empire, the Madurai Nayaks, Chanda Sahib, Carnatic kingdom and then the British. The temple town of Tirunelveli has been derived from three Tamil words – thiru, nel and veli, which mean sacred paddy hedge.