Trivandrum, the capital of beautiful Kerala lies in the southwest coast of India. The city is officially known as Thiruvananthapuram. The city gets its name from the word, Thiruvananthapuram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. Trivandrum is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The city of Trivandrum has a prominent history. Trade had started in the place as far back as 190 AD. It was the capital of the erstwhile Travancore state. After independence, it was made the capital of Kerala.

Being a coastal city, Trivandrum has a tropical climate. Although the place encounters sultry climate during summer, tourists start flocking in from moonsoon onwards. The temperature becomes very soothing during winters.


Accommodation and Connectivity

Thiruvananthapuram has an international airport. Apart from the national destinations, the city is also connected to international destinations like Colombo, Malé, Singapore and cities of Arabian Gulf. Thiruvananthapuram is well connected to most other places of India by train. Being the capital city, road communication to the place is excellent. Trivandrum also has very good accommodation facilities to suit all income groups.

Tourist Attractions

Padmanabhaswami Temple

A shrine sacred to the Vaishnavites, the Padmanabhaswami temple is thronged by devotees from all over the country. The main attraction of the temple are its 400 beautifully carved pillars of granite and a 100-feet-high gopuram. One can enter the sanctum sanctorum through a three-door opening. Many palaces also adorn the landscape of the place.


The Observatory and Museum

The observatory of Trivandrum also attracts many tourists. The Museum at Trivandrum may be regarded as a rich repository of our ancient culture and heritage. Tourists make a great rush to see the ancient temple models and jewellery kept here.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery

Lovers of art can go straight to Sri Chitra Art Gallery which displays the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, the Indian painter whose paintwork attracted the attention of world community towards India. The Indian section of the gallery also displays the paintings of Rabindranath Tagore, K. K. Hebar, Jamimi Roy and a few others.

The Backwater Boat Rides

A trip to Thiruvananthapuram is regarded as incomplete without a boat-ride on its sparkling backwaters.The backwater banks are dotted with picturesque palm trees and thatched huts.

Health Tourism - the Resorts and Ayurvedic Centres Another of Trivandrum's attraction is its famous health resorts and specialised centres of ayurveda. International tourists also come in great numbers to avail the famous ayurvedic treatment here.

Excursion Delights

Veli and Shankhumuggam are two places that are worth a visit for tourists while in Trivandrum. Veli is a nice tourist village while the latter has many beautiful temples and a huge statue of a mermaid. Kovalam beach, at a distance of 16 km from Trivandrum is considered one of the finest in the world .


Trivandrum can be summarised as a city that has well preserved her ancient looks despite improving and modernising her infrastructure according to the needs of the times.