Tourist Attractions
Thiruvananthapuram
Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Shree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is a Hindu temple, dedicated to Vishnu, in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala, India. It is one of the 108 Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It is widely considered as the world's richest Hindu temple. The name of the city of 'Thiruvananthapuram' in Malayalam and Tamil translates to "The City of Ananta" (Ananta being a form of Vishnu). The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the Kerala style and the Dravidian style of architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century gopura.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in India. Similarly, the Museum and Botanical Gardens are also one of the oldest of their kind in the country. Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1816 - 1846), the ruler of Travancore during 1830 - 1846, was the visionary behind the establishment of the Thiruvananthapuram Museum and Zoo. It occupies 55 acres (22 ha) of woodland, lakes, and lawns. The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is home to 82 species from around the world. The zoo also includes a snake farm called 'The Reptile House', which exhibits both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes. It also houses 7 Anacondas too.
Kanakakkunnu Palace
It is said to be built by Sree Moolam Thirunal. In the past, it has been later used by the Travancore royal family to entertain its guests and serve non-vegetarian food as the royal family was vegetarian. Located about 800 meters north east of the Napier Museum in the heart of Trivandrum city, Kanakakunnu Palace is one of the last architectural vestiges of the colonial era. Now under the Kerala government's wing, the palace complex walls-in the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium and Sooryakanthi auditorium. A popular haunt of culture vultures in the city, the auditoriums are the venues for various cultural meets and programs.
Kovalam Beach
Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the crescent of the Kovalam beach. There are a large number of beach resorts in and around Kovalam. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, churches and a mosque.
Shankumugham Beach
The beach is on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) and is very close to Trivandrum International Airport. The vast stretch of white sand and the serene atmosphere, away from the crowd in the city, provide all the ingredients for relaxation and for spending an ideal evening with eating kiosks and open-air theatre with car parking facilities. Good food can be enjoyed at the Old Coffee House, just across the beach, which is also a vantage point for enjoying the sunset.
Varkala Beach
Varkala beach is the only place in southern Kerala where cliffs are found adjacent to the Arabian Sea. Varkala beach has adventure and leisure activities such as boat riding, parasailing, jetting, and horse-riding. There are also restaurants and cafes.
LuLu Mall Thiruvananthapuram
It is the largest mall in India and the fourth largest mall in South Asia. The mall has 300+ national and international brands and 12 anchor stores including a Lulu Hypermarket, largest indoor entertainment zone in the country.
Ponmudi
Ponmudi (the Golden Peak) is a hill station. The landscape of Ponmudi is an interspersing of valleys and hills with forestland and plantations. The last 18 km starting from Anapara has scenic views, as it winds through the mountains and tea gardens. The travel along this stretch provides a thrilling experience as drivers and riders have to navigate 22 hairpin turns.
Kallar and Menmutty Falls
Kallar is situated en route to the hill station of Ponmudi. Kallar gets its name from the River Kallar, which flows through the region. Kallu means 'stone' and Aru means 'river', hence the name Kallar. The river is well known for its abundance of attractive, round-shaped boulders and pebbles. Here one can take a dip in the crystal clear waters to cool off.
Vazhvanthol Waterfalls
Vazhvanthol Waterfalls is a scenic waterfall located inside Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state, India. It is situated around 46 km from Thiruvananthapuram on the way to Bonacaud.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary offers one of the best trekking options in the capital city. This trek starts from Kaanithara, near Vithura and the initial trek, through eucalyptus plantations could be easy. This 5 km not so hard trekking to Vazhvanthol is an amazing experience. A guide will accompany you for this one-day trekking programme.
Neyyar Dam
Neyyar Dam is a gravity dam on the Neyyar River in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, South India, located on the foot of the Western Ghats about 30 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It was established in 1958 and is a popular picnic spot.