Trivandrum At A Glance
Palm fringed beaches, sun-kissed sands, hills, rivers, scenic backwaters and a vibrant culture. Thiruvananthapuram or its more anglicized version Trivandrum, is one of the reasons why Kerala is famously known as 'Gods Own Country'. It has the distinction of being the capital of Kerala and it really is one of the prettiest capitals in the world. Enclosed by the mountains of the eastern and the western ghats on either side and the Arabian sea to one end, it truly has a wealth of natural beauty.
About Trivandrum
The city got its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. This city of the Sacred Snake, is built over the undulating terrain of seven coastal hills and encapsulates beautifully the charm of Kerala. Clean and well-planned it has an abundance of red-tiled roofs, never-ending stretches of palm trees, mazes of narrow, winding streets and above all an endless shoreline. It is an ancient city with a tradition dating back to 1000 BC when it was the capital of the Raja of Travancore in 1750. In recent years the city has grown as a tourist and commercial destination, with its international airport becoming the main gateway to Kerala.
Tourist Attractions of Trivandrum
Kovalam Beach :- The silver sands of the three crescent beaches at Kovalam have always been a huge draw for tourists and locals alike. The Lighthouse beach which is the southern most has always been the most popular. To make this seaside venue even more interesting a host of hotels, lodges and yoga centers have set shop here.
Padmanabha Swamy Temple :- In the city dedicated to to the sacred serpent anantha, it is only fitting that a temple should honour the same. The Padmanabha Swamy Temple shows lord Vishnu reclining on his steed anantha. The temple is a unique blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture and famous for its mural paintings and stone carving.
Thiruvallam :- 10 kms away this serene backwater stretch en route to Kovalam, is famous for its Canoe Rides and sun dappled palm fronds that border the waters.
Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) :- The land's end of India or the point where the three seas i.e. The Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean come together, is the enchanting kanniyakumari. It is the very tip of the Indian peninsula and very popular for its magnificent sunsets.
Kumarakoram Bird Sanctuary
The Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake. A favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal, it also gives sanctuary to the more common varieties like the woodpecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots. A cruise along the Vembanad Lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary. Pathiramanal, an enchanting island on the lake, is also accessible by boat.
Kuthiramalika Palace Museum :- This exquisite palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore. This multi talented king was famous for being a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. The palace showcases some rare wood carvings and is an example of the traditional travancore style of architecture. The palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal family.
Vizhinjam
Vizhinjam is believed to be an ancient port where the Dutch and the Portugese once had commercial establishments. Now it has been developed as a modern fishing harbour.
Veli lagoon
The Veli lagoon is quite popular since the boat club provides facilities for pedal boating, row boating and swimming in the placid waters of the Veli lake.
Sree Chitbra Art Gallery :- Located near the Napier Museum. This art gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. Other places of interest in Trivandrum include the Zoological Park , Priyadarshini Planetarium , Observatory, Shankhumugham beach and Connemera market.
Shopping
M.G.Road is the most popular shopping area located in the city. famous for its sandalwood, brass and oil lamps. The market has some unique stores devoted to art work and antiques. The Connemara Market is the other shopping attraction.
Accommodations
Trivandrum has a variety of hotels ranging from the most luxurious 5 star accommodation to the most reasonable budget hotels. The Muthoot Plaza is one of its more famous 5 star hotels, The South Park Hotel, Saj Lucia and Residency Tower fall under the 4 star category. Hotel Mascot and Hotel Pankaj are comfortable 3 stars and hotel Hazeen, Manacaud, Prasanth Tourist Home and Jas Hotel are few of the lodges and budget hotels that can be found here.
Climate
Trivandrum has a tropical climate and because of its proximity to the sea it has a pleasant weather throughout the year. The average temperature can go up to 36.2 degree Celsius in summer and minimum temperature does not go below 18 degree Celsius. Monsoon comes to Trivandrum in the month of May and remains there until November. Therefore, the best time to visit Trivandrum is between December and February.
How To Reach
Air :- Thiruvananthapuram has an international airport just 6 kms from the city. It is linked by flights to Cochin, Madras, Delhi, Goa and Bombay. International flights operate to and from Colombo, Mali, Dubai, Abudhabi and Kuwait.
Rail :- Thiruvananthapuram's main railway station is the Central station located at Thampanoor. It is a major railway junction of the Southern Railways. There are direct trains to almost all major centers of the country.
Road :- All long distance buses leave from Thampanoor which is the main bus terminal in Thiruvananthapuram. State and National Highways connect Thiruvananthapuram to all major Indian cities. Kerala State Transport operates a comprehensive service from Thiruvananthapuram, throughout the state and to Tamil Nadu. Buses operate regularly to destinations along the coast including Kollam, Allapuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur. Regular buses ply to Kanyakumari. There are buses daily to Thekkady (to Periyar Wild life sanctuary).
Most of the bus service to Tamil Nadu are operated by Tamil Nadu State Buses. It has services to Chennai , Madurai, Pondicherry, Coimbatore as well as Nagercoil and Erode.