Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandram is
the capital of Kerala. It is so called as it
considered to be the abode of Anantha, according to
the Hindu mythology, who is the sacred serpent of
Lord Vishnu. The mesmerizing sunsets, lagoons
fringed by coconut groves bordering its beautiful
lagoons, aromatic spice and coffee plantations and
cool breeze provide the ultimate experience to all
the senses of a human body. Exotic seafood cuisines
of Kerala that tickles one's taste buds are not to
be forgotten. The city is also nicknamed as the
'City of Seven Hills' and was once a very popular
port where Romans, Jews, Arabs and Christians came
frequently. Still it is one of the biggest centers
of industries related to sea and marine trade.
The legend says that Lord Parashuram snatched this
land away from the sea by throwing his axe at it and
thus, sea fearfully receded. Thus, Kerala along with
Trivandrum emerged from the sea. The abundant
natural beauty of the city is inconceivable. The mix
of traditional and modern culture makes Trivandrum a
heavenly experience. The city has played an
important role in the maritime history and is today,
more popular among the tourists for its Ayurvedic
centers. The space research here is at par with rest
of the world while the gorgeous backwaters and
lagoon cruises and scenic beaches and seashores make
it the first choice for the sea and water sport
lovers. For lazier people, this Otiental paradise
has relaxing Ayurvedic massages to offer.
Trivandrum's Prime
Attractions
Zoological Gardens:
One of the Asia's best zoos, it has dense forests
and beautiful lakes.
Government Art Museum:
Napier Museum or Government Art Museum is a 19th
century edifice that is a delightful mix of Kerala,
Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles.
Its natural air-conditioning system makes viewing
the bronze statues, ancient ornaments and costumes,
ivory carvings and musical instruments, a
pleasurable experience. There is a whole temple
chariot on display too.
Sree Chitra Art Gallery:
Exhibiting the best of Roerich and Raja Ravi Verma
besides the Mughal, Rajput, Bengal and Tanjore
schools of paintings, this art gallery also boasts
of a rich collection of art from the Far East and
Bali.
Sree Padmanabhaswamy
Temple:
Accessible only by Hindus, this temple is 260 yr old
and has a 100-ft gopuram. Its edifice presents a mix
of Kerala and Dravidian architecture. The presiding
deity known as Sri Padmanabhaswamy is an incarnation
of Lord Vishnu in the reclining position on the
serpent Anantha.
Puttan Malika Palace
Museum:
Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balrama Verma of Travancore,
an eminent poet and musician conceived the palace
(now turned into a museum) as a rare example of the
traditional Travancore style of architecture. It
exhibits beautiful woodcarvings and art pieces along
with articles that are related to trade relations of
the region with China and Europe mainly because of
the spices that grew abundantly here.
Kalaripayattu:
The 5,000-year-old martial art of Kerala,
Kalarippayattu, has been kept alive and preserved
carefully by the institutions and the training
centers of the region. It is believed to be origin
of all martial art forms and also has its very own
branch of medicine known as 'kalarichikitsa'. The
institutions offer viewing the martial art
performances or the treatments in their special
healing centres.
Kovalam Beach:
One of the best beaches of the world, Kovalam offers
the best of tropical dream with swaying coconut
groves, safe seashores where one can swim or just
tan the body in the sun and delicious dishes in the
seafood special restaurants and food stalls. One can
also experience a visit to one of the Ayurvedic spas
here.
Trivandrum City Facts
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Location: |
Situated in Kerala, India. |
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Climate: |
Moderate climate all the year round though monsoons bring heavy rainfalls to the city. |
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How to Reach:
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By Air: |
Trivandrum has daily domestic flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore and international flights to Male, Colombo and the Middle East. |
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By Train: |
Thiruvananthapuram has direct trains to the major cities of Kerala and India. |
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By Road: |
Four National Highways 7, 17, 45 and 47, meet at Thiruvananthapuram connecting it to all major cities in India. There are regular bus services to Bangalore, Chennai, Kanyakumari, Madurai and Pondicherry. |
