The capital of the state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or the City of the Sacred Snake, is built over seven hills.

Named after Anantha, the thousand - headed serpent of Hindu mythology, the city once formed a part of the Travancore kingdom, its capital at Padmanabhapuram, now a part of Tamil Nadu.

Thiruvananthapuram is, decidedly, one of the cleaner and well-planned cities of the country. The city's scenic appeal, its enchanting beaches, and overwhelming greenery only add to its uniqueness.

It embodies the magical feel of Kerala, as a whole, and lends terrific insight into the culture of the state. The red-tiled roofs, the never-ending stretches of palm trees, the maze of narrow, winding streets and above all, the sea, make for a fascinating mixture.

There is an element of understated and effortless elegance about the city, which leaves a lasting impression on the visitor.

Prime Attractions of Trivandrum

» Shree Padhmanabhaswamy Temple
Shree Padhmanabhaswamy temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is held high by the Hindus from antiquity. The temple has a large complex with a huge gopuram. It has a tank beside it for ritual bathing.

» The Kanakakunnu Palace
This palace in the centre of Trivandrum city is one of the most beautiful buildings. The palace and its sprawling grounds are today the platform for many cultural meets.

» The Museum
The museum building is an architectural beauty. The napier museum, the natural history museum, the reptile house and the Shri Chitra Art Gallery are enclosed in the same complex amidst a picturesquely laid out garden and park.

» Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary
(16 km from Kottayam town): Located on the banks of the Vembanad Lake, the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, an ornithologist's paradise, is a favourite haunt of migratory birds like the Siberian stork, egret, darter, heron and teal. Other common varieties like the woodpecker, skylark, crane, water hen and parrots can also be spotted here. A cruise along the Vembanad Lake is the best way to experience the sanctuary. Pathiramanal, an enchanting island on the lake, can be accessed by boat from here.

» Kovalam
About 12 km from Trivandrum is Kovalam, one of the finest and spectacular beaches in India. It has been developed into an integrated seaside resort. The beach complex has many hotels, cottages, yoga centres etc.

» Vizhinjam
About 2 kms south of Kovalam, Vizhinjam is believed to be an ancient port. The Dutch and Portugese had commercial establishments here. It is being developed as a modern fishing harbour.

» Veli lagoon
The boat club attracts tourists by providing facilities for pedal boating , row boating , swimming on the placid waters of the veli lake.

Festivals

The festival, that the entire city, anticipates with great enthusiasm is Onam, which marks Kerala's new year and harvest season, and comes around in August-September.

The other spectacular event that transfigures the entire city is Thrissur Pooram, the annual temple festival.

How to get there
» Location
In the South Indian state of Kerala.

» Air
There are three airports in the state - at Trivandrum, Kochi, and Kozhikode. Trivandrum is also an international airport, connecting the state to many places in the Middle East.

» Rail
There are around 200 railway stations in Kerala connecting most of the places in the state to places in the other parts of the country and inside the state.

» Road
An extensive network of metalled roads connects most of the places in the state. National highways 47, 17, and 49 connect the state with other parts of the country.

» Sea
Inland water navigation systems are available in many districts. Boats are extensively used to connect many places within the state.