Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of the state of Kerala. The district is also known as Trivandrum and Ananthapuri. The city is located at the southern tip of Kerala. The city is notable for its busy streets, commercial areas and geographical diversity. That is why Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation of India, described Thiruvananthapuram as an evergreen city. Thiruvananthapuram is located at sea level between the Sahyaparv Range and the Arabian Sea. Agasthyakoodam is located at an elevation of 1890 m above sea level in the district. Ponmudi and Mukkunnimalai are the two major hill stations near the city. Akkulam is the headquarters of the Southern Air Force Command (SAC) of the Indian Air Force. The Gorkha Regiment at Pangode and the CRPF at Pallippuram. The headquarters of the Army and Paramilitary Forces are located at Thiruvananthapuram. In addition, the International Shipping Line and the East-West Naval Axis lie close to the city. The city of Thiruvananthapuram and its environs are home to a number of tourist attractions.
Varkala
Varkala is located 40 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram and 26 km from the port city of Kollam on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kollam Coastal Highway. Varkala is also famous for the 2500 year old Janardhana Swamy Temple, an important Vaishnava shrine in India. It is also known as Dakshina Kashi. Sivagiri Math, founded by the social reformer Sree Narayana Guru, is another important landmark in Varkala. Sree Narayana Guru's Samadhi at the top of the hill is one of the most famous monuments in Kerala. Today, it is also a place of pilgrimage for the tombs of Sree Narayana Guru.This is the place where the tomb of Sree Narayana Guru is located. The Shiva Temple, Sharda Temple (Sharda Math), a monastery and educational institutions established by Sree Narayana Guru are located here. Many people visit this place regularly to visit the Sivagiri Ashram, temples and Sree Narayana Guru Samadhi. During the Sivagiri pilgrimage, people make a pilgrimage to this place with the fasting rituals prescribed by Sree Narayana Guru.The Sivagiri pilgrimage takes place during the last week of December. Sivagiri Math was established in the year 1904 on the top of Sivagiri Hill near Varkala. It is also the headquarters of the Sree Narayana Dharma Sangam founded by Sree Narayana Guru. Sree Narayana Guru was cremated on September 20, 1928 at the Ashram in Sivagiri. Today, the Gurudeva Samadhi is located where his body was buried.
Varkala is one of the fascinadoras destinations in the map of the tourist of Kerala.Varkala Beach, also known as Papanasam, is located at a distance of 10 km from the Varkala Railway Station. A natural spring on the coast, the sea got its name from the Papanasam Sea. The water in this spring is believed to have medicinal properties. Best time to enjoy the beach at its best is between the months of late December and March. Large number of amazing resorts and hotels have opened in and around the region. Getting around the small town of Varkala, which is mainly 3 km inland.
Shankhumugham Beach
The beach is on the western side of Thiruvananthapuram and very near to Trivandrum International Airport. It is a major tourist attraction and an evening destination. There is also a restaurant called "Starfish Restaurant". This beach is very clean. There is also a school here that teaches water skating. The sculpture of Sagarakanyaka - Mermaid by Kanayi Kunhiraman is an added attraction. This giant statue is more than 35 metres long. The Jawaharlal Nehru Park of Traffic signs for children' is situated here, which is helpful for the children to understand the traffic rules while playing in the park. The park also provides cycling facilities for small children.
Shankhumugham beach is considered as the ‘Arattukadavu’ of Sri Ananthapadmanabhan, The presiding deity of the city. Thousands of Hindus perform Bali Tharpanam during special occasions. Shankhumugham is the prime location for Ganesh Nimarjan at the time of Vinayaka Chathurthi. Good food can be enjoyed at the Old Coffee House, just across the beach, which is also a vantage point for enjoying the sunset.
How to reach
- Nearest city - Thiruvananthapuram - 8 km
- Nearest railway station - Thiruvananthapuram Central and Kochuveli railway station
- Nearest airport - Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
- Nearest bus station - Central Bus Station Thiruvananthapuram.
Kovalam
Kovalam is a coastal town located on the shores of the Arabian Sea, at a distance of 14 km from the city of Thiruvananthapuram. Kovalam is surrounded by many beaches and resorts. The sea port of Vizhinjam is about 3 km away and famous for its special varieties of fish, old Hindu temples, big churches and a mosque. Kovalam was among the most prominent tourist spots in India during the hippy era. It still has a high status among tourists, who arrive mostly from foreigners. There are lots of regeneration resorts which provide a wide variety of Ayurvedic treatments for tourists. Kovalam has three beaches separated by rocky outcroppings in its 17 km coastline, the three together form the famous crescent of the Kovalam beach, Lighthouse Beach, Hawah Beach and Samudra Beach. The best time to visit Kovalam is from November to March.
How to Reach
- The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport, about 10 km (6.21 mi) away.
- The nearest train station is Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station, about 16 km (9.94 mi) away.
- Nearest major city: Thiruvananthapuram (16 km away).
- Buses for Kovalam are always available from the East Fort Bus Stand, the main bus stand in Thiruvananthapuram. East Fort Bus Stand is located at a distance of 14 km from Kovalam.
Veli Tourist Village
How to Reach
- Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central (Thampanoor) 8 km away.
- Nearest airport: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport , 3 km away.
Neyyar Dam
Neyyar Dam is a dam built on the Neyyar River at Kallikad in Kattakada Grama Panchayat, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. Built in the year 1958, the dam is also a major tourist attraction in the district. The area associated with this dam is known as the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. The dam is part of the Neyyar Irrigation Project. The Neyyar Dam is a rubble masonry gravity-type dam with a height of 56 m (184 ft) and length of 295 m (968 ft). Wild life includes gaur, sloth bear, Nilgiri Tahr, jungle cat and Nilgiri langur, wild elephants and sambar deer.
Neyyar Dam is home to the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwanthari Ashram where people can take courses in yoga and practice meditation, Boating and Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre. More Attractions.
Lion safari park
Boating
Deer park
Miniature wild life sanctuary
Lake garden
Swimming pool
Watch tower
Elephant riding
How to reach
- The nearest airport is Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, 38 km away, and the nearest railway station is at Thiruvananthapuram, 30 km away.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple located in Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala, India. The temple is built in an intricate fusion of the Chera style and the MalayalaTamilan style of architecture, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century gopura. The principal deity Padmanabhaswamy ( lord Vishnu) is enshrined in the "Anantha Shayana" posture, the eternal yogic sleep on the infinite serpent Adi Shesha. Padmanabhaswamy is the tutelary deity of the royal family of Travancore. The titular Maharaja of Travancore, Moolam Thirunal Rama Varma, is the trustee of the temple.It is believed that Parasurama purified and venerated the idol of Sree Padmanabhaswamy in Dvapara yuga. There are many festivals associated with this temple. The major festivals are bi-annual. The Aipasi festival and the Panguni festival in the Tamil month of aipasi (October or November) and Panguni (March or April) respectively, lasts for 10 days each.
How To Reach Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- Vizhinjam Bus Station is the nearest bus stop to the temple. It is only 16 km away and can be covered by a 30-minute journey on road.
- The Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway station is the closest station to Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple. Kochuveli Railway Station which is 9 kms from the temple, approximately 17 minutes away.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram. It occupies 55 acres of woodland, lakes, and lawns. Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in India. 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.
The zoo is home to nearly 82 species of animals that include lion-tailed macaque, Indian rhinoceros, Asiatic lion, white tiger, Royal Bengal tiger, giraffes, leopard, , Asian elephants, hippos, zebras,Nilgiri langur, cape buffalos and many more. It also houses birds like ostrich, pelican, vulture, scarlet macaw, green-winged macaw, Indian peafowl, white spoonbill and many more. This zoo also features a snake farm and reptile house that exhibits both poisonous and non-poisonous snakes along with 7 anacondas.
The best time to visit Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is the winter season when the climate is relatively cool. The zoo is opened from 9 am to 5.15 pm. It is closed on Monday.
How to Reach Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
• The zoo is 3 km away from Thampanoor Bus Station.
• The zoo is 3 km away from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station.
• The zoo is 9 km away from Thiruvananthapuram Airport.
Napier Museum
The Napier Museum is an art and natural history museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Museum is grounds to the Trivandrum Zoo, one of the oldest zoological gardens in India. The set of museums, along with the zoo, are managed by the Department of Museums and Zoos, a branch of the Department of Cultural Affairs of Kerala. The museum owns a garden which has many varieties of flowers and trees. The building features include a gothic roof and minarets. The Napier Museum, a landmark of the city, is noted for its unique ornamentation and architectural style, which is influenced by Indian, Chinese, Kerala and Mughals Architecture. The museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. Indian epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana are depicted in the museum, using Japanese shadow-play leather. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery inside the Napier Museum features a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, celebrated Russian theosophist, Nicholas Roerich, specimens of Tanjore and Mughal art forms along with paintings from Japan, China, Bali, and Tibet.
Timings: 10 AM - 4.45 PM from Thursday to Sunday, Wednesday: 1 PM to 4.45 PM, Closed on Mondays, January 26th, August 15th, Thiruvonam, and Mahanavami.
At a distance of about 3.5 km from Trivandrum Central Railway Station.
Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a small hill station located in the Peringamala Panchayat of Trivandrum district, Kerala. Ponmudi Waterfalls, Deer Park, River Kallar, Kallar Meenmutty Falls, Golden Valley, and Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary are prominent places to visit in Ponmudi. Situated at an altitude of 1100m, Ponmudi is surrounded by scenic hills, spice plantations, tea estates, natural springs, and winding streams. Ponmudi is also famous for Ayurvedic medical treatments. Agasthyarkoodam peak is home to rare herbs and medicinal plants. This peak is famous for its wilderness and can be accessed only with the Forest Department's permission. A wide variety of rare flora and fauna can be seen here including mountain flowers, wild orchids, and exotic butterflies.
The winter season from November to March is the best time to visit Ponmudi when the climate is pleasant and cool. There are several cottages and dormitory accommodation facilities in Ponmudi to stay and explore the places.
How to Reach Ponmudi
- About 60 km, Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport to Ponmudi.
- Thiruvananthapuram Railway Station is the nearest railway station which is about 58 km from Ponmudi.
- Ponmudi has regular buses from Trivandrum, Kollam, Allepey, and Palakkad. Ponmudi Bus Station is the nearest bus stand.
Vizhinjam
Vizhinjam located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala in India. An international port at Vizhinjam was conceived as early as 1991. In August 2015, the Kerala government and Adani Vizhinjam Port (AVPL), representing the Adani Group, signed the agreement for the Adani Vizhinjam project. Vizhinjam is a small coastal town located near the Kovalam Beach. Vizhinjam is famous for the 18th century rock-cut caves. This granite cave is a one-celled shrine with sculptures of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi (Lord Shiva). The outer wall of the cave depicts unfinished reliefs of Siva as "Tripurantakara" on the left and as "Nataraja" with Goddess Parvati on the right side. The temple is located about 17 kilometers from Trivandrum city centre. The Cave is very close to the Vizhinjam Bus Station.
How to Reach
- Vizhinjam also has a nice beach at a distance of around 1 Km from Bus Station.
- At a distance of 15 Kms from Trivandrum Central Railway Station.
- The nearest airport Thiruvananthapuram international airport.