About Thiruvananthapuram

The evergreen city in the words of Mahatma Gandhi, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the capital of the God's own country, Kerala. Bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west, this city is built on the seven hills and is known for many famous temples and museums. In fact, it is the home to the world's richest temples. The city is picnickers delight as it offers tourists to ponder over the blessing of nature in the form of best-kept beaches, monuments, palaces and cultural legacy of the region.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple
Declared in 2011 as the richest temple in the world, the 260 year old Padmanabha Swamy Temple is one of the 108 sacred shrines or Divya Desams dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Besides its spiritual achievement, the temple is also known for its fine blend of Kerala and Dravidian architectural styles featuring extensive usage of mural painting and stone carvings.

The Napier Museum
This 19th century Napier Museum is housed in a wooded charm of Kerala, designed and developed with a natural air conditioning system. The museum's rare attractions include a collection of bronzes, Buddhist sculptures, ivory carvings, ancient ornaments, etc.

Sree Chithra Art Gallery
Located near Napier, this art gallery is known for featuring selected paintings from the celebrated painter of the region, Raja Ravi Varma. Besides this collection, the gallery also has paintings from Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore art schools.

Padmanabha Palace
Situated at the Kerala Tamil Nadu border, Padmanabha Palace defines the grandeur in a

Puthemaliga Palace Museum
The Puthe Maliga Palace Museum is housed in the 200-year-old palace of the Travancore maharajas. Based on typical Keralan architecture, it has carved wooden ceilings, marble sculptures and even imported Belgian glass – it took 5000 workers four years to complete. Inside you'll find Kathakali images, an armoury, portraits of Maharajas, ornate thrones and other artefacts.

Varkala Beach – Red Cliff Beach

Agasthyarkoodam
About 1869 meters above sea level, Agastyakoodam is one of the highest peaks in the Western Ghats. Tradition says that the great sage Agasthya, had his abode in this peak. The place is noted for its abundant ayurvedic herbs. The place is in the eastern side of the district.[1] Agasthyarkoodam, a prominent peak of the Western Ghats, is in the form of a sharp cone. It is about 1869 metres above sea level. This peak, a pilgrim centre of the Hindus, according to tradition was home to the great sage Agastya, who was a confirmed bachelor. Hence, the aborigines dislike the presence of women on the hill. Women are not allowed up the peak.
Agasthyarkoodam is 70 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The place is famous for its abundant ayurvedic herbs and medicinal plants. Another major attraction of this spectacular peak is the Neelakurinji, a flower which blooms only once in twelve years. A forest pass has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden at the Forest Department for trekking.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara/Peypara is 50 km from the city on the way to Ponmudi. The sanctuary there, with its rich mammalian fauna and avis is emerging as a big attraction to wild life enthusiasts and ornithologists. It was established in 1938 over an area of 53 km². on the Western Ghats. Elephants, sambars, leopards, lion-tailed macaques and cormorants are commonly seen here.

Trivandrum Zoo
This well- cultivated collection of museums, a gallery and an excellent zoo are a peaceful haven from the flurry of the city. The modern zoological gardens are among the most impressive in the subcontinent. There are shaded paths meandering through miles of woodland and lakes, where animals happily carouse in massive, open enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. There's also a separate reptile house (entrance with zoo ticket), where dozens of the slithery things do their thing and cobras frequently flare their hoods just don't ask what the cute guinea pigs are for.

Veil Tourist Village
the junction of Veli Lake and the Arabian sea, 8km west of the city, this unique park showcases strikingly oversized sculptures by local artist Kanai Kunhiraman. It's well designed, and the ponds, mammoth concrete conches and quasi-erotic curves of the artwork make for an interesting backdrop for a picnic or a stroll.

Vijnana Kala Vedi Cultural Centre in Trivandrum

Climate of Trivandrum –

Neyyar Dam
This sanctuary (32km north of Trivandrum), is set around an idyllic lake created by the 1964 Neyyar dam. The verdant forest lining the shoreline is home to gaurs, sambar deer, sloth, elephants, lion-tailed macaques and the occasional tiger.
The sanctuary office organises 40-minute lion safaris (Rs 250 per car, plus Rs 10 each for guide), though you're more likely to see monkeys than big cats. For improved spotting opportunities it's better to sneak around on a three-hour guided trek (Indian/foreigner Rs 400/800 per group of up to 10 people). There's a Crocodile Protection Centre (Indian/foreigner Rs 5/10) nearby and you can go for a dip in the lake's pristine waters (Rs 50). The elephant rehabilitation centre (Kappukadu; h9am-5pm), 7km up the road, offers 30-minute rides for Rs 100.

Kovalam Beach
The internationally renowned Beach Resort, Kovalam is an alluring tourist destination in action since 1930's. The rocky beach promontories separate the sea shore into three adjacent crescent beaches namely Lighthouse, Hawah and Samudra beach. Also, the beach has Olive leaf and Green leaf certified spa resorts to relax and unwind the worries through the therapeutic touch of Ayurveda.
- Kollam
- poovar

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin)
The land's end of India or the point where the three seas meet, is the enchanting. Kanyakumari. 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. Places of interest at Kanyakumari are Tiruvalluvar statue, Gandhi memorial, Vivekananda Rock Memorial, and Padmanabhapuram Swami Temple which lies on the route to Kanniyakumari from Thiruvananthapuram.