The clean, green, and serene capital of Kerala; Thiruvananthapuram, is better known by its colonial name Trivandrum. Laze at its beaches or cruise through the backwaters, pay obeisance at spiritual temples or check out the royal palaces- Trivandrum’s bounties of nature and historical monuments are sure to delight you.
The city, now a major IT center, is suffused with an easygoing vibe that keeps up its old world charm. Its intriguing sights, including a bunch of museums & palaces, and ancient Ayurveda practices attract thousands of visitors every year to its golden shores.
Lord Padmanabhaswamy, the reigning deity of Trivandrum, a form of Lord Vishnu presides in this ancient temple. A fusion of Dravidian and Kerala architecture, its 100ft tall seven-tiered Gopuramdefines the skyline of Trivandrum. The Vishnu idol in the inner sanctum is shown reclining on the holy serpant (Sheshnag) and is believed to have been built with over 10,000 sacred stones imported from Nepal.
This spectacular palace, where once the Travancore dynasty hosted royal galas & banquets, now plays host to various musical & cultural events organized by Kerala Tourism. Set in a gorgeous setting amid lush gardens and lavish interiors, Kanakakkunnu Palace is the cultural heartbeat of Trivandrum.
An exquisite contingent of 122 horses carved in the wooden wall brackets on the southern roof of the palace greets you on entering this beautiful double-storey building. It houses a priceless collection of crystal thrones, royal artifacts, portraits & murals and royal weapons. Built in teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite this palace is a fine specimen of Kerala architectural style.
A walk through this heritage building offers you a peek into the bygone era of the Travancore Empire. Built in the 19th century with natural air conditioning effect, this museum is home to archaeological artifacts from bronze idols and ivory carvings, to traditional ornaments and elegant temple chariot.
A gorgeous beach, located just 8kms from the city, Shanghumughan Beach is a perfect place to chill on the waves. A gigantic, 35m long sculpture of a leisurely reposing mermaid, is the highlight of the beach. Cafes, restaurants and kids’ park here offer excellent amenities for a fun day at the beach.
The gorgeous backwaters of Trivandrum are sprinkled across various locations in the form of crystal lakes and lagoons. Traditional houseboats, called Kettuvallam, offer you an enchanting experience on the backwaters of Trivandrum.
Veli, Akkulam, Thiruvallam, and Kappil are some of the preferred backwaters destinations around Trivandrum.
A perfect place to buy the best of Kerala handicrafts, Trivandrum offers you a great shopping experience. Elephant figurines carved in wood, miniature snake boats, coconut shell & coir handicrafts, Nettipattam- a glittering elephant-head ornament, white & gold Kerala Sari, Aranmula Kannadi – a Kerala special mirror, handcrafted jewelry boxes, Kathakali masks, and aromatic spices are some of the must buy souvenirs in Trivandrum.
A hotspot for Kerala cuisine, Thiruvananthapuram is the place to try delicious Puttu & Kadala curry, Appam & Mutton Stew, Idiyappams & Egg roast, Ghee Roast Dosa, Kerala Fish Curry, Kerala Prawn Curry and Varutha Kozhi Chicken Curry. Try the delicious curries with flaky Malabar Parotta for a tummy satiating experience.
The best time to visit Trivandrum would be in winter months from October to February.
By Air- Thiruvananthapuram International Airport connects the city with all major cities across the globe.
By Rail – The two railheads of the city, Trivandrum Central Railway Station and Kochuveli Railway Station are well-linked with major Indian cities.
By Road- A well-developed network of roads & highways connect Thiruvananthapuram to all major cities in the country.
Hurry and book your Kerala tour packages to explore the incredible beauty of God’s Own Country. From hills, to backwaters and beaches and from spectacular palaces to magnificent temples & museums, Kerala’s attractions are various and varied. Do check out Kathakali (traditional masked dance) and Kalaripayattu (Kerala martial art) performances for a complete Kerala experience. We offer various personalized tour packages to help you create beautiful memories of your India tour.
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We recently concluded a 12 day driving tour of New Delhi, Agra and Rajasthan with Caper Travel. It was most enjoyable !!
Just came back from an amazing 2 week trip to India. First we done the golden triangle which we chose to do the train trip from Delhi to Agra a must you have to do if not just for the experience.
