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This is Kerala's gracious capital city with its palaces, museums and the beautiful beaches. Located in the southwest tip of India, having an area of 2192 sq. kms, is bordered on the west by the Arabian sea and TamilNadu on the east. It has a long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches, making it a much sought after destination.
Thiruvananthapuram, a 1000 years old city, of legends and royalty, is the capital of Kerela. It is believed to be one of the cleanest and well planned cities in India. This city, built on 7 low coastal hills, was constructed by the then Maharaja of Travancore in 1733.
Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Located inside the East Fort, this beautiful temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Dominating the city is the Padmanabhaswamy Temple with its tall gopurams or gateways.
Built in Dravidian style, the temple has within its sanctum an immense image of the Lord Vishnu reclining on the coils of the sacred serpent Ananta.
Thiruvananthapuram (the abode of Anantha) derives its name from this patron deity.
It is known for its mural paintings and the stone carvings.
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Sree Mahadeva Temple
Situated in Kazhakuttom, this temple is believed to date to the 14th century.
Padmanabhapuram Palace ( 63 Km -2 ½ hour)
The seat of erstwhile rulers of Travancore, this splendid palace is situated at Thuckalai, on the way to Kanyakumari. The extra ordinary murals, exquisite floral carvings and the black glossy granite floor have withstood the test of time.
Koyikkal Palace, Nedumangad (18Km-1/2 hour)
Located on the way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtallam waterfalls, this ancient palace dates back to the 15th century. Here you can see a double storeyed traditional Nalukettu building with slanting gabled roofs, an inner courtyard and museums of folklore and numismatics set up by the Department of Archeology.
Displayed in the Koyikkal Palace, they focus attention on the cultural background of the State.
The Numismatics Museum houses rare and historically valuable coins denoting the trade relations of the State.
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Kanakakkunnu Palace
The Palace and its sprawling grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets and programmes. The Palace in particular, is a spectacular piece of architecture
PuttamMalika( Kuthiramalika) Palace Museum
Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma-the King of Travancore built this palace. It is built in the traditional Travancore style of architecture also has exquisite wood carvings. The single stone carved pillars, makes the palace more attractive.
The Palace museum displays paintings and priceless collections of the royal family and is located near The Padmanabhaswamy Temple. On the southern portion of the palace there is a beautiful monument of 122 horses which is in position of ready to jump towards the south.
Thus the palace got the name Kuthiramalika. Swords, guns etc. of olden ages are also exhibited here. 'Dantasimhasana' is the most prominent sight in this palace. The palace museum has on display, enchanting paintings and other priceless collections of the royal family.
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Napier's Museum
Located in a park like complex with the Sree Chitra Art Gallery and Zoological Gardens, it was formerly known as 'Napier Museum', named after a former Madras Governor General, John Napier. It is an absolute gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good doses of Chinese and Mughal influences.
It has an excellent collection of bronze images, historical ornaments, ivory carvings and temple-chariots. In the 19th century, an English architect, Chisholm threw in a few torches and ended up with a building that is guaranteed to leave you smiling at its electric charm.
The interior is every bit as intriguing as the exterior, with pink and blue stripes, alternating with stripes of yellow and cherry red, scalloped arches of a banana yellow, interpreting elaborately carved balconies, the whole linked together with red ad white lattice work and mock friezes. The collections are a varied and electric as the building and one likes to spend a pleasant few hours browsing through them.
Chithira Art Gallery
Located near the Napier Museum compound, the gallery has one of the best collections of the work of Raja Ravi Varma, a great force in Indian Art. Notable among the collection are several Roerich landscapes, copies of Rajput and Mughal paintings, works from the Tanjore school of Art and copies of paintings from the Ajanta caves. The gallery also has a fine collection of miniature paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.
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Nehru Children Museum
Established in 1980,this museum displays, 2000 vast range of dolls, both traditional and dolls, stamps and masks from all over the world. a mini aquarium and the fist issue of children's literature in Malayalam are on display
Science & Technology Museum
Located near Hotel Mascot in Thiruvananthapuram city, the museum is of high educative value for students of Science and Technology.
Zoological
park
One of the first zoos in India, it is strategically placed in the well-planned botanical garden, with frangipani and jacaranda dotting the sprawling lawns. You can also see wild fowl swimming in the lake. It is like a small jungle in the heart of the city. A reptile house with different species of snakes is also located in the premises. The Aquarium nearby, on the beach, presents an attractive selection of fish and other marine creatures and plants.
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Shankhumukham beach
The beach is just 8 kilometers from the city and forms an ideal retreat for sunset watchers. It is right next to the airport and the Veli tourist village. It has an indoor recreation club, the Matsyakanyaka, (a gigantic,35m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant, shaped like a starfish are the some of the attractions here.
Kovalam beach
A beautiful, curving, palm fringed beach having golden sand and is the apt place for safe bathing. It is an internationally known holiday destination and a beach resort. It is also ideal for surfing and kayaking. The more adventures can ride out in to the sea on acatamaran. Among the many attractions here are water sports, a theatre that stages traditional Kathakali dance dramas, a Yoga center and facilities for traditional oil bathing and massages according to the ancient Kerala Ayurvedic System of medicine.
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The Marari Beach (Mararikulam)
160 kms from Trivandrum Right in the heart of the "spice coast" just an hour from Cochin and even less to Alappuzha is the most fabulous stretch of soft sandy beach fringed with palm, an idyllic retreat for those who want to "get away from it all". Marari originates from "mararikulam", one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. Completely new to the holiday maker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience to local charm and traditional hospitality at its best.
Papanasam beach
41 kms from Thiruvananthapuram Papanasam is a holy beach which means 'Destroyer of the sins'. Mineral water springs come gushing out from the cliffs bordering the beach and are known for their medicinal qualities.
The narrow road leading to the beach from Varkala is flanked by paddy fields and tall palm trees, on both sides. A Nature Cure Center and a Jagannath Swamy (Vishnu) Temple are situated near the beach. Visitors can pay homage to Kerala's saint and reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
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Varkala
Varkala is a seaside resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu center of pilgrimage. The final resting place of the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru is near Varkala, atop hill cliffs with mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. In addition to the Papanasham Beach, the 2000years old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre are the main attractions here.
Kombaikani & Meenmutti Waterfalls
These are two magnificent waterfalls on the upper reaches of the Neyyar Reservoir. A trek of 2 kms through dense forests, would take one to Meenmutti waterfalls and a further 2 kms, to the Kombaikani waterfalls. The waterfalls and forecasts around them are worth experiencing
Aruvippuram (24Km)
Several pilgrims are visit the Siva Temple built by Sri.Narayana Guru during the festival of Sivarathri. An added attraction is the waterfall nearby.
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Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
It is about 32 Kms. away from the city. The Neyyar dam is navigable and extends to about 9 Kms. In the sanctuary, one can see elephants, wild boar, Niligiri Tahrs, Sloth bear etc. A crocodile breeding center, a lion safari park and the deer farm are the other attractions here. The best way to explore the sanctuary is by boat.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
About 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Lying on the outskirts of the capital city, the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is spread over an area of 53 sq. km. on the Western Ghats and was established in 1938. The place is fascinating for its dam site, thick forest areas, eucalyptus plantations, crystal clear streams and rocky terrains ideal for adventure expeditions.
The sanctuary has a rich population of mammalian fauna and is emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts and ornithologists. Elephants, sambar, leopard, lion-tailed macaque and cormorant are commonly seen here.
Recently, Kerala Tourism with the State Forest Department and the Kerala Water Authority to beautify the dam site and provide more entertainment/leisure facilities here has made a joint effort.
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Neyyar Dam (32Km-1 hour)
A popular picnic spot, Neyyar Dam has a watch tower, crocodile farm, lion safari park and deer park. Boating facilities are available at the reservoir.
Agasthyakoodam
Part of the Sahyadri range of mountains, Agastyakoodam is the second highest peak in Kerala, at a height of 1890meters above sea level. Teeming with wildlife, the forests of Agastyakoodam abound in rare medicinal herbs and plants, and brilliantly hued orchids. A bird watcher's paradise, this legendary mountain is accessible by foot from Kotoor, near Neyyar Dam, as also from
Bonacoud.
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Veli Tourist Village
The Veli Tourist Village is sandwiched between the Veli lagoon and the Arabian Sea. It is 8 kms. Away from the city. Facilities at the village include water sports and an 18-acre waterfront park, with a floating bridge that connects the village to the beach. Pedal boats and paddle boats cab be hired to explore the charms of the lagoon in a leisurely manner.
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Tourist Village At Akkulam
10 km from Thiruvananthapuram. Akkulam is one of the first picnic spots in the suburbs of Trivandrum City. This place is only 10 kms away from the Central Railway Station. The spot is developed on the banks of Aakkulam Kayal (lake), which is an extension of the Veli Kayal (lake). The calm and serene atmosphere and its unique natural beauty is fascinating for the tourist. The village consists of the Boat Club, Swimming Pool, Children's Park, an Anthurium Project and a Snack Bar.
Ponmudi
An idyllic hill resort situated about 61 Kms away at about 915 meters above sea level. It has narrow winding pathways, and cool green wooded environs. Along with a variety of beautiful mountain, flowers, exotic butterflies small rivulets, springs and the deer park. It also has excellent trekking trials. The drive to this hill station will take about two and a half hours from Trivandrum .
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Vizhinjam
Vizhinjam is 17 Kms. from Kovalam, and is famous for its rock cut caves. There are rock cut sculptures of the 18th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam. The granite cave here encloses a one-called shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half complete relief's of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi. An aquarium having the rarest species of marine life. An important fishing port near Kovalam beach. Here, one can see fishing boats return with their catch in the mornings.
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Thiruvallam Backwaters
6 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The stunningly beautiful and serene stretch of the Thiruvallam backwaters is temptingly close to Thiruvanthapuram. The renowned canoe rides make Thiruvallam popular with the tourists. You may even enjoy the water sports in the lagoon and the move to the beach from the village using the floating bridge in the waterfront park. The short village cruises using the country boats are the perfect ways to enjoy the backwaters of Thiruvallam, the meeting point of two rivers - Killi and
Karamana.
Aruvikkara Dam
Situated on the bank of the Karamana River, this pilgrim center has an ancient Bhagavathi Temple built on a rock. The stream in front of the temple is filled with large fish that fearlessly come close to the shore to be fed by the visitors. Aruvikkara is also a picnic spot.
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