THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - TRIVANDRUM TOURISM, TOP ATTRACTIONS

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), the capital of Kerala makes an ideal tourist place for both a weekend ramble and longer holiday. Well connected by air, rail and road, Trivandrum is famous for many tourist attractions. Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, one of the richest temples in the world, the Kanakakkunnu Palace and the Kowdiar Palace are some of the last remaining royal insignia of this city, which will remind you of the erstwhile kingdom of Travancore.

Some of the other stopovers in the city include the Observatory, the Science and Technology Museum, Trivandrum Zoo and museum, the Government Secretariat and the Tagore Centenary theatre, where live shops and entertainments take place regularly. Sree Chitra Art Gallery is famous for its impressive collection of exquisite paintings, with separate sections for Ravi Varma paintings, murals, water and oil painting.

Trivandrum tours will take you to some of the popular tourist attractions in and around the city. The most popular in the list is undeniably the iconic beach resort of Kovalam.  Highly rated by foreign tourists, Kovalam is one of the finest beaches in India. The rocky promontory extending into the sea has created a beautiful bay of calm waters for bathing and swimming. Kovalam has a range of convenient accommodation options, cottages and resorts for every budget..

TOP ATTRACTIONS IN THIRUVANANTHAPURAM

Kovalam Beach

            Kovalam – the ultimate beach holiday destination, finds a place on the global tourism map amongst the most breathtaking exotic beaches of the world. The three crescent-shaped naturally sheltered beaches of Kovalam videlicet – Hawa, Lighthouse and Ashoka are equally awe-inspiring. But the most preferred and the famous of the three is the southernmost one –Lighthouse beach, because of its safe shallow waters – ideal for swimming and water sports. In the near vicinity of the beaches there are hotels, beach-side shacks, shopping area, yoga centre etc – managed by the State Tourism Department and other private players. For those who crave for beachside fun and adventure Kovalam offers opportunities to indulge in a variety of beach sports and activities. 

The Padmanabhapuram Palace

            A marvel in wood, this spectacular palace was the abode of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore before it was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram in the 18th century. The palace, built by Maharaja Iravi Varma in 1601 AD, is a fine example of Kerala’s architectural grandeur. The dreamy location with scenic river Valli flowing gently near by and the verdant Veli Hills in the backdrop, further accentuates the aesthetic opulence of the palace. The palace complex is quite remarkable with its exquisite-woodcarvings and elaborate-ornamentation work. The king’s bedchamber – ‘Mantrasala’, is built with perfection which keeps heat and dust out while maintaining the chamber cool. The chamber also houses a luxurious, ornamental bedstead which is made of 64 kinds of herbal and medicinal woods. The palace is located at a distance of 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram en route to Kanyakumari.

The Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple

            Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple, which combines the fine elements of Dravidian and traditional Kerala temple architectural styles, stands in awe-inspiring grandeur right in the heart of the city. The sprawling temple complex, built by the erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore, has numerous murals, stone carvings and a seven storied tapering entrance-tower or gopuram adorned with an array of idols - gods, goddesses, demons, celestial beings, heavenly maidens etc. The idol of Lord Vishnu, the main deity, is 18 feet long and depicted in a reclining posture on the sacred seven-headed serpent god Anantha. Recent restorations on the idol revealed parts of it to be covered in gold sheets and studded with rare jewels that were blackened under centuries of smoke from camphor and lamps. Non-Hindus are not permitted inside the temple.  

The Koyikkal Palace

            This palace, built in the 15th century in the traditional Kerala ‘Nalukettu’ style of architecture, was once the abode of the Venad chieftains. The palace in its heyday served as a seat of power for the great queen Umayamma Rani who ruled the kingdom from 1677 AD to 1684 AD. Koyikkal Palace, maintained by the Department of Archeology, now houses a folklore and numismatic museum. It is located in Nedumangadu - at a distance of 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

Shanghumugham beach

            This quite beach is an ideal spot to enjoy and unwind without the interference of any crowd. This spectacular beach lying near the International Airport is popular among tourists for its cleanliness and peaceful surroundings. On the beach is the huge sculpture of a mermaid or ‘Jalakanyaka’ made by the prominent sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman.

The Napier Museum

            The museum, one of the oldest in the country, was built in 1855 by the then Maharaja of Travancore. Reflecting the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, the present museum complex was completed in 1880 AD and houses an exhaustive array of artifacts collected through the years since its establishment. The collection comprises of bronze and stone sculptures, ornaments, idols, carved figures in wood and ivory etc., dating between the 11th and the 18th century.  The bronze images of Shiva, Vishnu, Parvathy and Lakshmy are some of the rare treasures showcased in the museum. Kuftgiri works, traditional musical instruments of the olden days and a numismatic collection are also on display. An ancient temple chariot is another attraction of the museum.

The Zoological Park

            Thiruvananthapuram zoo is one of the best kept zoos of India. Established in 1857, the zoo is spread across 50 acres of lush green foliage right in the heart of the city. The zoo houses around 75 different species of animals, collected from different parts of the world. The collection includes lion-tailed macaques, Nilgiri tahrs, Manipuri deer, Indian rhinos, Asiatic lions, royal Bengal tigers, giraffes, hippos, zebras etc.  The zoo also boasts of an extensive collection of reptiles housed in a separate section.  

Sree Chitra Art Gallery

            This art gallery is housed inside the same walls of the museum and zoo complex. The gallery has on display original works of a number of artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova, Nicholas Roerich etc; along with a number of works of art in the traditional Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore styles. The museum also showcases a vast collection of works done by contemporary artists from India and abroad.

Ponmudi

            Ponmudi, a scenic hill station located at a distance of 62 km from the city, is favored for its salubrious climate. The round-the-year mild and cool weather and the verdant mountains encapsulating the region make it a preferred choice for a countryside escapade. The hill slopes are covered with vast stretches of tea and rubber plantations. Ponmudi is also an ornithologist’s paradise; many rare varieties of birds including the Malabar Hornbill, Paradise Flycatcher etc. are spotted in the region. For the adventure and fun lovers Ponmudi offers numerous trekking trails. The Agastyakoodam peak, one of the highest in the Western Ghats is located here. The mountain, which once served as an abode of Saint Agastya, is also famous for its medicinal herbs and plants. On the way to Ponmudi is the famous Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Varkala

            Varkala finds a place in the world tourism map for its gorgeous beach – ‘Papanasam’. Set against rocky cliffs, charming surroundings, gentle waters lapping against golden sand, and whispering coconut palms, this beach is definitely a must-see beach destination of Kerala. To add to that, the waters and mineral-springs on the beach are considered to have healing properties. Varkala is also a famous Hindu pilgrimage centre - the ancient Janardana Swamy Temple and the famous Sivagiri Mutt are located here. Varkala also houses the Samadhi or tomb of Sree Narayana Guru - the reputed social reformer and philosopher of Kerala.

Trivandrum tours will take you to some of the popular tourist attractions in and around the city. Dont mis a chance to visit THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.