About Trivandrum
Trivandrum or Thiruvanathapuram is the capital city of Kerala. The city
situated on the south western coast of India, is characterized by its
undulating terrains of low hills. Situated amidst the wooded highlands of
Western Ghats, the city has several enchanting picnic spots along the sea
coast. Trivandrum boasts of a rich cultural heritage, as the Travancore
rulers, took a deep interest in development of arts and culture. Trivandrum
is renowned internationally for its serene beaches, historic monuments and
backwaters.
Climate of Trivandrum
Trivandrum is located close to sea it has tropical climate. Trivandrum
enjoys a very pleasant climate round the year. The maximum temperature
during summers can go up to 35°C and min of 22.5°C, while in
winters maximum temp is 28°C and min is 20°C. Best time to visit
Trivandrum is between October and March.
Major Attractions of Trivandrum
Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple : The temple located
inside the East Fort is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is a mixture of the
Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. The temple is one of the 108
sacred Vishnu temples in India. It is popular for its Mural paintings and
Stone carvings.
Kuthiramalika Palace Museum : The palace was built by the
Travancore king -Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, who was a great
poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. Built in the traditional
Travancore style of architecture,
the palace has massive wood carvings. The palace museum houses the
paintings and various items of the royal family.
The Napier Museum : The Indo - Saracenic style museum was
built in the 19th century. The museum is famous for its unique air
conditioning system. It has a valuable collection of the archaeological and
historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments and costumes, a temple
chariot and ivory carvings etc.
Sree Chitra Art Gallery : Situated near the Napier
Museum, this art gallery has the collection of selected paintings of Raja
Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich. In addition it houses the
exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of Art in India.
Kovalam Beach : The internationally renowned Kovalam
beach, lies at a distance of 16 Kms away from Trivandrum. Kovalam beach
consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The Southernmost beach known as
the Lighthouse beach is most popular. Other beaches are Hawah and Samudra.
Varkala : Varkala is known for its beach and the
important pilgrimage centre of Hindus. Major attractions are the 2,000 year
old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre.
Vettukad Church : Situated at a distance of 7 Kms from
Trivandrum, Vettukad Church is also called 'Madre De Deus. People of all
religions visit the church, especially during the annual celebration of
'Feast of Christ, The King.'
Thiruvallam : The serene backwater of Thiruvallam, is
located 10 Kms away from Trivandrum. Thiruvallam backwater is popular for
its Canoe Rides.
Aruvikkara
Dam : This enchanting picnic spot lies 16 Kms away from Trivandrum.
Situated on the banks of the river Karamana, Aruvikkara is also a pilgrimage
centre.
The rock cut shrine dedicated to Goddess Bhagvathy is visited by a large
number of visitors.
Shopping
The specialty of Trivandrum is Arammula metal mirror, produced by mixing
certain herbs with molten metal to give it a clean reflective surface. The
must buy items include carved rosewood, teak furniture and decorative items,
masks depicting various characters of Indian mythology etc. Main shopping
area of the city is on the M.G. Road, stretches between the East Fort and
Palayam.
How To Reach
Air : Thiruvananthapuram international airport is located
6 kms from the city centre. The airlines operate domestic and international
flights.
Rail : Trivandrum railway station is directly connected
to all the major town of Kerala and the major cities of India.
Road : Trivandrum is well-connected to nearby city and
towns with good roads.
The buses ply from nearby destinations to Trivandrum.
Accommodation
The hotels well-equipped with modern amenities provide pleasant stay to
guests. Among the most popular hotels are Surya Samudra Beach, The Muthoot
Plaza, Garden, Hotel Saj Lucia and The Residency Tower.
