Introduction:

Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Thiruvananthapuram is the largest and most populous city in Kerala. Flanked by the Arabian Sea in the west and the state of Tamil Nadu in the east, the Western Ghats are full of wooded highlands & scenic views making it an ideal destination for nature lovers & adventure buffs alike. Trivandrum's beaches are one of the most sorts after by tourists looking for some peace, calm & serenity. The pleasant climate & its numerous attractions make it well worth visiting. Thiruvananthapuram was ranked as the best city in Kerala to live in by a recent Times of India survey.The city is also ranked as the best city in India for Housing and Transport by a survey conducted by India Today.

Photo Credit:Binoyjsdk

Destination Facts:

Location: Kerala , In District Thiruvananthapuram
Altitude: 10 Meters (30 ft)
Area:  214.86 sq km (82.96 sq mi)
Temperature: (summer 28 to 37°C) & (winter 20 to 34 18°C)
Languages spoken: Malayalam, English and Tamil

Getting there:

Nearest Airports: Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport.
Main Railway Station: Trivandrum itself is the main railway station to center city.
Main Bus Station or Road: KSRTC buses are plenty which are connecting all the major cities in Kerala.
 

Distance of a few Major Towns from Thiruvananthapuram:

Nedumangad - 18.2km, Neyyattinkara - 19.2km, Attinga - l32.7km, Kuzhithrai - 36.4km, Kollam - 67.8km, Punalur - 74.7km, Paravur - 57.7km.
 

Eating Around:

Keralite cuisine is served here. Their food is characterized by an abundance of coconut and spices.

Places of Tourist interest:

Kovalam Beach:
16 kms away from beach resort famous for favorite haunt of tourists, 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.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple:
The temple is located inside the East Fort. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. It has a blend of 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 here is Lord Vishnu reclining on anantha the serpent.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum:
The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - King of Travancore. 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.

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.

Napier Museum

Sree Chitbra Art Gallery:
Located near the Napier Museum. This 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 zoological park , priyadarshini planetarium , observatory, shankhumugham beach & connemera market.

Thiruvallam:
10 kms away this serene backwater stretch enroute to Kovalam, is famous for its Canoe Rides.

Aruvikkara Dam:
16 kms away this picturesque picnic spot is on the banks of the River Karamana. Near the Durga Temple here is a stream full of fish that fearlessly come close to the shore to be fed by the visitors.

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin):
The land's end of India or the point where the three seas meet, is the enchanting kanniyakumari. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Part of the fascination is, of course, the fact that it is the very tip of the Indian peninsula and the confluence of the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian sea and the Indian ocean.

Getting around the destination:

Auto rickshaws are found here for local places to visit.
 

Shopping Areas & Entertainment:

Sari, dhoti, and traditional two piece neriyathu set , Nilavilakku, wooden artifacts, coir artifacts, spices, cashew, flowers, Sandalwood idols, sandalwood oil, incense sticks, coir artefacts, silk clothing materials, local handicraft items are the famous things to shop from this place and everything is available in a local market of the place.

Best time to visit:

October to March is the best time to visit the destination.
 

Festivals:

Onam, Vetta and Arattu, Flavour and Food festival, Attukal Pongala festival is celebrated over here.