Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Page 1/14
Guide includes:About destination | Top things to do | Best accommodations | Travelling tips | Best time to visit
About Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala and also the third largest city.
Located in the south-western tip of peninsular India, Thiruvananthapuram is bordered by
Arabian Sea in the west and Western Ghats in the east.
Thiruvananthapuram city, situated at an average elevation of 6 meters above sea level, is the
administrative headquarters of Thiruvananthapuram District. Located on the banks of
Karamana and Killi Rivers, it is categorised under Seismic Zone III by the Geological Survey of
India.
History of Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram got its name from the deity Lord Anantha or Shesha of Sri
Padmanabhaswamy Temple of 7th AD, on which Lord Padmanabhaswamy (Vishnu) is seen to
be in a reclining pose. As per historical records, Thiruvananthapuram was a famous port city
during 1050 BC and it maintained trade relations with the Middle East and Mediterranean
countries.
The earliest known rulers of the region were the Tamil Kings called Yadavas or Ays, who ruled
from 3 AD to 10 AD. Later, it came under the Venad Empire. The region prospered in 1745
under King Marthanda Varma, who formed the princely state of Travancore and made
Thiruvananthapuram its capital.
Thiruvananthapuram was submitted to Lord Padmanabhaswamy, the presiding deity of Sri
Padmanabhaswamy Temple, and the Rajas of Travancore thence ruled the region on behalf
of Lord Padmanabhaswamy as Padmanabhadasas'.
Things to do in Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram also has historic monuments, backwaters, beaches and wildlife
sanctuaries. Tourists visiting the city can also plan excursions to Tripparappu Waterfalls,
Thiruvattar, Padmanabhapuram, Courtallam, Sabarimala, Thekkady, etc. Activities like river
rafting, canoeing and trekking can be done. Thiruvananthapuram holiday packages too have
a lot to offer to tourists. The best time to visit Thiruvananthapuram is between October and
February.
Travelling to Thiruvananthapuram
Tourists can easily reach Thiruvananthapuram by air as the city has an airport Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. It is also well connected to major cities in the country
by trains and national as well as state highways.
Information
State:
Kerala
Famous for/as: City
someone in your group retain all your belongings while the rest visit the temple.
Food :During my short stay I enjoyed the food at Hotel Annapoorna, a vegetarian eatery located close
to the temple and the East Fort bus stand. I have seen some good reviews about the India
coffee house located opposite the railway station, but could not go there owing to lack of time
and bad weather. A lot of road side eateries are present, they smell good and tasty, but not sure
how hygienic they are and personally I would not risk having any food at such places being a
tourist.
Overall a nice old clean city with some good attractions and relatively good local people." Saty, Bangalore, Aug 31, 2014
Page 5/14
The Attukkal Bhagavathy temple is another attraction for the devout, and is known as the
Sabarimala of women, since it is mostly frequented by women. The main deity is Bhagavathy or
Devi,in her incarnation as Kannagi. (Kannagi is well known in southern India as the herione of
the 'silapathigaram' a story about Kannagi and her husband, who undergo trials and tribulations
and finally are unfairly treated by the king of Madurai. When her husband is unjustly executed,
Kannagi brings forth the power of her righteousness and sets fire to the whole city. She is
believed to have passed through Kerala on her way back, and there are numerous temples
around Kerala dedicated to her. The temple is small, but beautiful, and well worth a visit.
The Museum complex, which comprises the Napier Museum, which houses beautiful sculptures
and collections of the royal family, the Sri Chitra art gallery, which have some beautiful works of
art, including paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, and the zoo, is a must-visit. More about these
later....
Activities & things to do: You can set aside a day just for the Museum complex. Whether you
are an art lover, or just like to see beautiful things, or if you have kids and have to keep them
engaged, this is the place for you.
We were enchanted the minute we entered the complex, when the sounds of the traffic were
replaced by birdsong, and my son was thrilled by the sight of kingfishers and babblers flying
about happily. There is a huge garden/park, where you can lounge around for ages without
anyone disturbing you. The place is large enough for you to remain at peace even in the
crowded holiday season. Children can run around without being told not to walk on the grass.
The zoo, especially, is great for kids, one of the better ones in India. The animals are not in
cages, but in huge enclosures separated by moats. My son loved his fist sight of ostriches,
zebras and giraffes, while being thrilled by the lions, leopards and the huge variety and number
of deer.
The bird section and the snake house are disappointments, and can be ignored, but even then,
be prepared to spend half a day in the zoo itself!
The memory that I shall carry of the zoo is the sight of hundreds and hundreds of bats all over
the trees, making a noise like nothing I have heard before. This was the first time I realised that
bats could be seen in the day, and it was just great!!!!!
The Museum complex is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9AM to 6PM. It is closed on
Mondays.
There are lots of other places to visit around Thiruvananthapuram.
Foremost among these, and also the most popular is Kovalam Beach, about 15 Kms away,
probably the most famous in Kerala, and with due reason. The beach is not just beautiful, it is
also among the safest, with life guards all over the place. While we amused ourselves making
Page 6/14
sand castles and playing in the water, there are also other things to do. There are lots of
boatmen who take you to see corals and coloured fishes. While we did not have time to take up
the boatman's offer, it is something that must be tried out!
Another interesting beach is Shanghumugham Beach, just on the outskirts of Trivandrum. Less
known than the other beaches around, this beach is a wonderful attraction with its white sands.
The Padmanabhapuram Palace, the seat of the Travancore Empire and the home of its royalty
is about 55 Kms from Thiruvananthapuram, and is known for its beauty and rare articles
preserved in it.
These are by no means the only places to visit around Thiruvananthapuram. As the capital of
Kerala, it is very well connected by road, rail and air to all parts of the state, and there are lots of
other interesting places to visit.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc: Thiruvananthapuram is well connected by road,
rail as well as air to all parts of the country. As to accommodation, there are plenty of options all
over the city, to fit all budgets.
If you plan to visit temples in Thiruvananthapuram, or anywhere in Kerala, carry suitable
clothes. Men are not allowed to wear pants, and have to only wear Dhotis. Shorts are not
allowed even under the dhotis, so beware of the guards at the entrance trained to see what you
are wearing!!!!
Women can wear sarees or long skirts, but salwar kameez are not allowed.
Only small-sized purses are allowed inside the temple, so it is better to leave your mobile and
cameras at home.
However, the good news is that, if you are caught unprepared, there are cloak rooms to keep
your valuables, and even dhotis on hire are available.
So, go ahead, and enjoy a vacation in the capital of God's own country!!!" - Anu, Mumbai, Jun
5, 2009
Activities & things to do: wander about & gaze. Good non-veg food.
Travel tips, How to reach, travel warnings etc: Get into an Auto from anywhere in Trivandrum
and say 'Gandhi Park, East Fort'. Sit for a while in the Park and absorb the atmosphere.
Wander about. Head for food. Wander a bit more. Head home." - Reality, Bangalore, May
26, 2006
Read 115 Thiruvananthapuram reviews on HolidayIQ.com
Type:
Temple
Entry: Free
Ranked: 1 Of 31
Ratings: 6.45/7 (75 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 08:30 To 19:30 , Saturday - 08:30 To 19:30 , Sunday - 08:30 To
19:30 , Public Holidays - 08:30 To 19:30
"I am not a religious person..and besides, it was a family holiday and we landed on Trivandrum
befr scheduled date. So had paid a vist to Shri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. And the very 1st
impression was like- What an Architecture!! Is it man-made!!..." - Gulmi Chakraborty,
Siliguri, 1 week ago
Shanghumukham beach
Type:
Beach
Entry: Free
Ranked: 2 Of 31
Ratings: 5.33/7 (17 Reviews)
"It is advisable to enjoy this beach in the early morning time . you can walk on the beach with
gentle waves lapping on your feet. there are the usual beach kiosks selling food items and
cocunut water. Nice to go to for a brief time. " - Vandana Mahajan, Bangalore, 2 weeks ago
2
Page 8/14
Poovar Island
Type:
Island
Entry: Free
Ranked: 4 Of 31
Ratings: 6.54/7 (12 Reviews)
"It is the best place to visit in kerala. The boatig was amazing. The place was used for shooting
Anaconda film. The island was very beautiful. There were many birds and the beach was
superb." - Barun Mandal, Bokaro, 2 months ago
4
Zoological Garden
Type:
Garden
Entry: Paid
Ranked: 5 Of 31
Ratings: 6.36/7 (11 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 10:00 To 17:00 , Saturday - 10:00 To 17:00 , Sunday - 10:00 To
17:00 , Public Holidays - 10:00 To 17:00
"One of the best place to see . Anaconda is the most attractive. different types animals . one of
the best zoo in Asia. Animals fro different states also." - Asheem , Kannur, 2 weeks ago
5
Padmanabhapuram Palace
Type:
Palace
Entry: Paid
Ranked: 6 Of 31
Ratings: 6.17/7 (10 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 09:00 To 17:00 , Saturday - 09:00 To 17:00 , Sunday - 09:00 To
17:00 , Public Holidays - 09:00 To 17:00
"The first thing to mesmerise is the complete wood based ancient Kerala architecture. A guide
is optional as you can navigate yourself till the end, unless you are detail oriented. The toilets
inside the palace are clean and tidy. The ones near..." - Kiran Bavimani, Bangalore, Aug
23, 2015
Light House Beach
Type:
Beach
Entry: Free
Ranked: 7 Of 31
Ratings: 5.92/7 (8 Reviews)
"The beach is good for spending evening and relaxing.The approach is very congested.Sea
shore is to be cleanly maintained.Some people swimming in deeper areas is very risky.Only two
gaurds were there and they were not able control the crowd...." - Prabhakar Rao, Tirupati, 1
month ago
7
Secretariat
Type:
Page 9/14
Type:
Heritage Site
Entry: Free
Ranked: 8 Of 31
Ratings: 5.59/7 (5 Reviews)
"The Secretariat is the Capitol Building of the State. All the Minster's offices are in this building.
It is also home to all departments of the Government of Kerala. Public Entrance is from 3 pm
only. You have to take a pass from the Information..." - Rahul Rj, Thiruvananthapuram, May
7, 2014
Napier Museum
Type:
Museum
Entry: Paid
Ranked: 9 Of 31
Ratings: 5.86/7 (5 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 10:00 To 16:45 , Saturday - 10:00 To 16:45 , Sunday - 10:00 To
16:45 , Public Holidays - 10:00 To 16:45
"it is next to Government art office, one of the oldest construction, ancentral items like chariot
items, idols , food for purchase timings morning 10 AM, I booked a cab and entered this
musuem." - Chenchu Mareddy, Hyderabad, Aug 23, 2015
9
10 Kanakakkunnu
Palace
Type:
Palace
Entry: Free
Ranked: 10 Of 31
Ratings: 5.75/7 (4 Reviews)
Timings: Monday - Friday - 10:00 To 17:00 , Saturday - 10:00 To 17:00 , Sunday - 10:00 To
17:00 , Public Holidays - 10:00 To 17:00
"The main thing to be noticed here is the acres of land it covers. Right in the heart of
Trivandrum city, it is a breathing space with good park area and wonderful trees. You may relax
here in the shelter of some medicinally important trees. The..." - Si Va, Thiruvananthapuram,
Oct 31, 2014
HYCINTH by Sparsa
Price:
Rs. 5,000 - 8,000
Ranked: 1 Of 250
Ratings: 6.22/7 (67 Reviews)
Phone: 471-2552999
Website: Www.hycinthhotels.com
"Very good amenities and well furbished place with ample outdoors and parking
facilities.Good team of personnel to attend to the guests. Rooms are very good
,proper housekeeping and good quality linen and quilt. Strongly recommend the
Page 10/14
Vivanta by Taj
Price:
Rs. 9,500 - 12,000
Ranked: 3 Of 250
Ratings: 6/7 (56 Reviews)
Address: C V Raman Pillai Road
Thycaud
Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: 4706612345
Website: Www.vivantabytaj.com
"It was a comfortable stay...staff was very good especially amu and mani who
very helpful. Since the hotel was located in heart of city was very convenient to
roam around the city. breakfast menu could be little more elaborate however the
live..." - Vivek tyagi , , Yesterday
Read 56 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
Page 11/14
hotel and it seems they are improving towards the best. Very good food and
courteous staff made the stay really awesome. Special mention to the restaurant
staff for their..." - Prasad Np, Bangalore, Today
Read 99 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
5
Classic Avenue
Price:
Rs. Upto 4,500
Ranked: 5 Of 250
Ratings: 5.46/7 (73 Reviews)
Address: Manjalikulam Road
Thampanoor, Trivandrum
Phone: 471-2333555
Website: Www.classicavenue.net
"It was Nice stay, We got Value for Money. Staff is very good and helping in
nature. Service is very appropriate. Nice..." - Febin pappachan , , 1 week ago
Read 73 hotel reviews on HolidayIQ.com
Uday Suites
Price:
Rs. 3,500 - 4,500
Ranked: 7 Of 250
Ratings: 6/7 (42 Reviews)
Address: T.C. 34/757/3. Watts Lane Beach P.O
Shangumugham
Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: 471-2504333
Website: Www.udaysuites.com
"We stayed only for 1 night, so I could not write more about the Uday
Page 12/14
10 Mascot
Hotel
Price:
Rs. 5,500 - 20,000
Ranked: 10 Of 250
Ratings: 6/7 (42 Reviews)
Address: Mascot Square
Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: 4702318990
Website: Www.ktdc.com
"Situated in the middle of the city covered with greener environment, is a place.
Rooms are awesome. With a hiegtt of more than 10 meters and a double sided
rooom of five star hotel, with a balcony as big as double room is an awesome
property...." - Anoop varma , Cochin, 3 days ago
Page 13/14
Thiruvananthapuram weather
Best Season / Best Time to Visit Thiruvananthapuram
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
About HolidayIQ.com
HolidayIQ.com is a premier holiday information portal powered by India's first & biggest travel
community; enabling travellers to first discover numerous vacation choices, then plan holiday
trips in full detail
Page 14/14