Trivandrum Calling! A Retreat for Travel Lovers

So, you have been planning to explore Kerala’s capital city for a while now, and have finally found time for that. Trivandrum or Thiruvananthapuram, as the city is called, is a great idea for a holiday in Kerala.

 

Wondering about the places to visit while in Trivandrum? Read on for some suggestions on what to expect:

 

• One of the primary points of interest in the city is the famed Padmanabha Swamy Temple. Apart from religious reasons, you should visit the temple for its rich art and cultural legacy. The deity here is Ananthapadmanabha, or Vishnu in a different form. The temple is inside the fort.

 

• You can also visit another famous temple, called the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple, located on the banks of River Killi.

 

• If you love history, you will love visiting the palaces and museums in Trivandrum. The Napier Museum, which is now known as the Government Art and Craft Museum, is inside a complex that houses other museums and also the zoo. The Napier Museum is a wonderful building, constructed in the 19^th century, and houses artefacts in gold, bronze, story and ivory. Don’t miss the Shri Chitra Art Gallery, which houses a collection of paintings by one of India’s finest artists, Raja Ravi Varma.

 

• The zoo complex also houses a museum of natural history. If you are a lover of natural history, the stuffed birds and animals will interest you.

 

• You could also visit the Museum of History and Heritage. The museum is housed inside the Kerala Tourism building complex.

 

• Talking of palaces, there is the Puthen Maliga Palace, also known as Kuthira Maliga Palace. The palace is among other structures close to the Padmanabha Swamy Temple. The palace gets its name, Kuthira Maliga, because of the horses carved in the wood. Today, a part of the palace is a museum, which contains exquisite treasures from the past.

 

Hit the beaches

 

But if you are in Trivandrum, you can’t miss the beaches, especially Kovalam, which is a mere 16 km away. The beach is one of the most charming ones you’ll find in Kerala. There are handicraft stalls, Ayurveda massage spots, all adding a special charm to the atmosphere here. If you like adventure, you could try some water sports as well at the Kovalam beach.

 

Another beach closer to the city, at a mere eight km, is the Shanghumugham beach. It is located close to the Trivandrum International Airport. The attraction at this beach is the sculpture of a mermaid (‘Matsya Kanya’) which is over 35 metres long. There is also a starfish-shaped restaurant at the beach. You can head to the beach to catch the spectacular sunsets.

 

Best time to visit

 

Much like most parts of India, the ideal time to visit Trivandrum is between September and early March, when the weather is pleasant. You could opt for one of the South Indian airlines to book your to and fro flights to Trivandrum, which is well connected to most parts of the country.