Kanyakumari's beaches face east and west, which means sunrise and sunset are both sea events — an unusual situation that draws visitors who would not otherwise travel to the tip of India just to watch the light change. The sunrise beach faces the Bay of Bengal; the sunset beach faces the Arabian Sea. The coloured sand, which mixes red, yellow, and white mineral deposits carried down from different river systems, adds to the visual interest at both ends of the day.
The beaches are not swimming beaches — the currents at the convergence of three seas are strong and dangerous. They are watching and walking beaches, and on busy weekends they fill up with Indian tourists who have come specifically for the geographic experience. Arrive early for sunrise and the scene on the cape itself; late afternoons bring the biggest crowds for the sunset.