INDIALINE

Thiruvanantpuram Attractions

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Trivandrum- Kerala

Agasthyakoodam

This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and can be approached on foot from Bonacadu which is 61 km away from Thiruvananthapuram.

Akkulam Boat Club

3 kms away from the town it is a popular retreat for the city dwellers. The lake has boating facilities and has the largest children's Park in Kerala.

Aruvi Waterfalls/Vaiyanthol

Just 60 kms from Trivandrum and 7 kms from the Bonecaud estate in the Peppara forest range. This 4 ft cascade is one of the most verdant and un spoiled spots in Kerala. Road accessibility b only upto Bonecaud, thereon the Kaani tribesmen accompany trekkers along the mountain path. Prior permission from the Forest Department is required before approaching the area.

Aruvikkara

16 km north of Thiruvananthapuram and gifted with lavish scenic beauty is Aruvikkara, with an ancient temple dedicated to Durga on the banks of the river.

Chacha Nehru Children`s Museum

This Museum established in 1980 is named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru who is remembered for his great love for children. The Museum displays a vast range of objects. On view are dolls, both traditional and proclaim dolls from all over the world, a mini aquarium and the first issue of children`s literature in Malayalam.

Kodungalloor

Kodungalloor (Cranganore) 32 km away was formely called Muziris. This was in olden times the premier sea port on India`s West Coast. It was the capital of Cheraman Perumal, King of Kerala whose famous palace Allal Perumkovilakam was situated near the great pagoda at Tiruvanchikulam. St. Thomas is believed to have landed at Muziris in 52 AD. The Cheramanparambu where the King`s palace stood, the ancient Thiruvanchikulam Temple, the Bhagavathi Temple, the Portuguese Fort and the old mosque - very similar in appearannce to a Hindu temple and believed to be the first mosque built in India -are all situated nearby and worth a visit.

Kowdiyar Palace

The home of the late Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma and his family is off limits to visitors but you can have a glimpse from the main gate. If a friendly guard is on duty, he will let you walk a bit inside the grounds where you can get a view of the grand old building at the end of its long drive.

Neyyar Dam

29 km from Thiruvananthapuram is Neyyar Dam a picnic spot and dam site. There are facilities for boating at the reservoir. There is a lion safari park and a crocodile farm.

Observatory

The Observatory situated 60m above sea level is located on a hill near the Museum. It is one of the oldest in India. There is a well laid out garden in front of the hill, with a beautiful rose collection. From here one gets a bird`s eye view of the city

Padmanabhapuram Palace

This palace was once the capital of the State of Travancore and is 54 km from the city on the way to Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. The palace contains 17th & 18th century murals.

Peppara Wild Life Sanctuary

50 km from Thiruvananthapuram, Peppara is accessible from Vithurai on Thiruvananthapuram - Ponmudi road. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wild life enthusiasts. It is spread over an area of 53 sq. km on the western ghats. This is dotted with large hills and numerous hillocks with forests and eucalyptus plantations. Elephants, Sambar, Leopard and Lion tailed macque are commonly seen.

Ponmudi

An ideal hill resort situated just 54 kms from Thiruvananthapuram is an enchanting one for tourists. Best accomodation and restaurant facilities are available here.

Science and Technology Museum

Located near Mascot Hotel, the Museum is of high educative value for students of science and technology.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery

Has a rich collection of paintings of Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich. It also has copies of paintings of the Ajantha, Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore Schools besides some works from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.

Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple

The imposing seven storied tower makes it the most impressive landmark in the city. There are innumerable pillars, intricate carvings and, mural paintings. The temple is an excellent example of the Dravidian style of architecture. The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu reclining on the Serpent Anantha. Only Hindus are allowed entry inside and the dress regulations are strictly followed.

The Government Art Museum

Open from 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Monday. Located in a park like complex with the Sree Chitra Art Gallery and the Zoological Gardens it was formerly known as the `Napier Museum` named after a former Madras Governor General, John Napier. It is a gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good doses of Chinese and Mughal Influences. It has an excellent collection of bronze images, historical ornaments, ivory carvings and temple chariots

The Zoo

Open from 9 AM to 5 PM on all days except Mondays) Is one of the best maintained zoos in the whole of Asia and has beautiful sprawling lawns.

Veli Lagoon

The Veli Tourist Village on the outskirts of Trivandrum is a delightful waterfront park. An ideal picnic spot where the lake merges with the sea. The wadding pool, gardens, exquisite sculptures, a floating bridge and a wide range of aqua sports facilities.

Vizhinjam

Lying just 15 kms from the state capital, this is a historic spot, which was left unnoticed for a long time. The capital of Ay-Vel kings of the 8th - 9th century, the only thing that has withstood time is a rock temple, assigned to the period of the Cheras because of a strong influence to die Pallava Pandya architecture. The rock temple is just a little off the main junction, and is a protected monument under the Archeological Survey of India.