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The capital of the state of Kerala, is a beautiful
seaside city built on seven hills. The city gets its name from
te word, Thiru Ananthapuram meaning the city of Ananth or the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha, on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. Thiruvanthapuram opens the gates to world of Beaches, Mountains, Back waters, wildlife Sanctuaries and Islands. The city of Thiruvanthapuram presides over one of the most scenic states, stretching along the southern coast of the country, with the backwaters of the Arabian Sea reaching deep into the verdant countryside, Kerala affords a fascinating experience.
The city once formed apart of the kingdom of Travancore, which had its capital at Padmanabhapuram (now in Tamil Nadu). The famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple, dedicated to Vishnu and a landmark in the city, was according to legend, built in stages to house an idol found in a forest by a devotee.Most of that royal heritage of fine buildings and palaces now houses the state secretariat and other offices. But the beauty of the city is still intact, in the wide open avenues, parks, gardens, cultural institutions and undulating countryside.
General information
Altitude: Sea level
Best Season:
October to March
Temperature:
Summer - Max.36.2, Min.20.6; Winter - Max.35, Min.18
STD Code:
0471
How to get there
Air
Trivandrum is connected by Air with Bombay, Madras, Cochin, Delhi & Colombo.
Rail
Trivandrum is directly connected by rail to Calcutta as well as all the major cities in India.
Road
Trivandrum is connected by road to several tourist centres in India. Calicut 448 km, Cochin 223 km, Kanyakumari 87 km, Madurai 417 km, Periyar 272 km, Ponmudi 61 km, Quilon 73 km, Varkala 55 km.
In and around
Padmanabhapuram Palace
A 'teak edifice' of yesteryears from where Maharaja Marthanda Varma ruled Travancore. Set in scenic surroundings along the Thiruvanthapuram-Kanyakumari route, the palace is well maintained. In use from 1550 to 1790, it has beautiful carvings, 17th and 18th century murals.
Kovalam
16 km away from Trivandrum, a sheltered bay endowed with unusual beauty. This natural bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves and surge. And the beach resort here is of international standard.
Kanniyakumari
87 km the tapering land's end of India where three seas meet the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. From here, one can see the sun rise from the Bay of Bengal and set in the Arabian sea. It is a holy place for Hindus because of Kanniyakumari temple. The Gandhi Smarak Mandir and Vivekananda rock Memorial are additional tourist attractions.
Varkala
The town is known for its 2,000 year old Vishnu temple of Lord Janardhana. Sivagiri Mutt, at an elevation 3 km east of the temple, is sacred for Hindus. Varkala is a sea side resort with mineral water spring.
Agasthyakoodam
This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and conspicuous by its height and isolation when seen from a distance. It can be approached on foot from Bonacadu (61 km from Thiruvanthapuram).
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