Called the ‘Evergreen city of India’, Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the state of Kerala. The city comprises beautiful beaches, long stretches of palm fringed shorelines, windy backwaters and historical structures. Along with its natural and historical significance, the city is also popular for its ancient temples that are renowned for their architecture making Thiruvananthapuram one of the most visited pilgrim centers of India.
In the late 17th century, the city was the capital of the Travancore kingdom that was ruled by the Varma dynasty. After forming the Travancore kingdom, Maharaja Marthanada Varma dedicated it to Lord Padmanabha, the presiding deity of Shri Padmanabhaswamy temple and named the city ‘Thiruvananthapuram’.
The word ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ is derived from the Malayalam word thiru- anantha-puram, which means ‘City of Lord Ananta’. Ananta is the serpent Shesha on whom Lord Padmanabha (another form of Lord Vishnu) reclines. During the British era, the name of the city was anglicized to Trivandrum and it was the official name of the city, until 1991, when the government renamed the city to Thiruvananthapuram.
Located adjacent to Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is the rarest specimen of workmanship. Built by Maharaja Swathi Balarama Varma, this palace displays valuable collections of royal family. Beside the rich collection that it displays, this museum is an exemplary example of traditional Travancore-style architecture.
Visitors can expect a display of a collection, including Belgian mirrors, paintings, Kathakali mannequins, exquisite traditional furniture. The two royal thrones; one manufactured of Bohemian crystals, embossed with an emblem of ‘Conch’ on the backrest and the other made of ivory are the prime attractions of the museum.
The best time of the year to visit Kuthiramalika, which is often called as Puthenmalika Palace Museum is January. Commemorating the famous Swathi Thirunal, a lively music festival is conducted each year between 6 and 12 January.
Located in Kovalam (Southern Kerala), the Lighthouse Beach is known for the 35 metres tall Vizhinjam Lighthouse, located on the top of the Kurumkal hillock. The lighthouse is entirely made of stones and coloured in red and white bands.
Lighthouse beach is a perfect spot to enjoy water activities and sports, such as surfing, parasailing and paragliding. Travellers also like to play volleyball on the beach. The beach is also well known for its lush palm plantations and trees that dot the entire area. Easy accessibility, lip-smacking food and affordable lodging add to the charm of this place.
Kovalam has a beautiful beach surrounded by rows of green palm groves. It is one of the most picturesque beaches of India with a wide variety of water sports activities.
At a distance of 233 km from Kochi, Ponmudi is a small hill station located in the Peringamala Panchayat of Trivandrum district, Kerala. Also called as 'Kashmir of Kerala', it is one of the offbeat hill stations in Kerala, and among famous places to visit near Trivandrum.
Ponmudi, meaning the Golden Crown, is nestled in the lap of rolling hills of the Western Ghats that run parallel to the Arabian Sea. Situated at an altitude of 1100m, Ponmudi is surrounded by scenic hills, spice plantations, tea estates, natural springs, and winding streams. Ponmudi was founded by Rishi Parshuram, a prominent Indian mythological figure. Fondly called as local Ooty of Trivandrum, the place offers magnificent views of mountains from almost all the points as part of Ponmudi tour packages.
FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA