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Trivandrum - The Capital City Of Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala. The wooded highlands on the Western
Ghats in the eastern and northeastern borders give Thiruvananthapuram some of
the most enchanting picnic spots. A long shoreline, with internationally renowned
beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage
make it a much sought after tourist destination.
Padmanabha Swamy Temple
The temple is located inside the East Fort. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple
is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is known for
its mural paintings and stone carvings. One among the 108 sacred Vishnu temples
in India, the presiding deity in here is Lord Vishnu reclining on Anantha the
Serpent
Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum
The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of
Travancore, who was a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. This
rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style of architecture
also has exquisite wood carvings. The palace museum displays paintings and various
priceless collections of the royal family and is located near the Sree Padmanabha
Swamy Temple.
The Napier Museum
Built in the 19th century, the Indo - saracenic structure boasts a "natural"
air conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic
artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings.
The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises.
Sree Chithra 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. The collection also includes
paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.
Shankhumugham Beach
Just 8 km from the city, this is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach
is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Veli Tourist Village. An indoor
recreation club, the matsya kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid)
and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are some of the attractions here. Chacha
Nehru Traffic Training Park here provides opportunity for children to learn
the traffic rules
Kovalam Beach
This internationally renowned beach resort has been a favorite haunt of tourists
since the 1930s. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The southernmost,
known as the Lighthouse Beach, is the most popular. Kovalam offers accommodation
options to suit all budgets.
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