Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) India Travel Guide

Thiruvananthapuram, or Trivandrum as it was formerly known, is the capital city of the state of Kerala. It is in south of Kerala and is surrounded by the Arabian Sea. The city’s name is derived from a deity named Anatha. Thiruv-Anatha-Puram, means the town of Anantha the sacred snake God.

Thiruvanantapuram Fast Facts

Sq. Area: 74sq Km Population 889,191 Avg Rain: 3000mms Avg Temp: Summer 36°C, Winter 13°C Airport: Thiruvanantapuram International Airport Bus Stand: KSRTC Bus Stand, Central Bus Stand Train Station: Central Railway station Tel. Area Code: (91) (0471) Languages: Malyalam, Tamil, and English Best Time to Go: Sep thru May

Thiruvananthapuram History

Till the beginning of the 10 century, the Ays were the major power holders. The rulers of Venad were to follow after the Ays downfall. The city became a capital in the 18th century. The kings of the Travancore State then took control of the lands. They dedicated their lives to the construction and maintenance of temples, with a philosophy that the Gods ruled the state, and the kings were mere servants and caretakers. In 1904, the Shri Moolam Assembly was formed, where the activities of the Indian national congress were conducted. After Indian independence, Thiruvananthapuram was officially made the capital of the State of Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram Today

Thiruvananthapuram is famous for bronze items and spices and foodstuffs like black pepper, coffee, cashew nuts. Thiruvananthapuram is also where you can find the biggest and most delicious jackfruit in Kerala.

Thiruvananthapuram Attractions and Things To Do

The list of Thiruvananthapuram things to do and places to see is pretty extensive. For an example of Kerala architecture you should see the Kuthirarnalika Palace museum, built by the then king of Travancore. It has one-of-a-kind woodwork and paintings, and priceless other collections of the royal family. Another palace worth a mentioning is the Puthe Maliga Palace museum. To take a cool dip, you can go to the Sankhumugham beach. The beach boasts an indoor recreational club and with a starfish shaped restaurant. It is one of the more popular beaches for tourists. Located adjacent to the Sankhumugham beach is the Veli Tourist Village, which is full of water sports activities and beautiful sculptures along the horizon. It is a great place to hangout. If you happen to travel to the eastern portion of the city, you can see the Lord Ganesha temple, a popular shrine in the city. The best time to visit this place is in the “winter” from Oct thru Feb, as the summer temperatures are very high. With an international airport and decent rail and roadways connection, it is easy to travel to and from this majestic city.

Thiruvananthapuram Excursions

About ninety kilometers away from Thiruvananthapuram, lies the southern most tip of India, Kanyakumari. Kanyakumari is the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent where the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal meet. An enthralling sight, it is a must-see for Thiruvananthapuram tourists. It also has a shrine of Devi Kanya. Nevyar Dam, located thirty-two kilometers from the city is also one of its hotspots because of its crocodile farms, lion safaris and deer parks. You could travel about sixteen kilometers from the city to see the Thumba Equatorial Launching Station, one of the first launch stations for the Indian Space Research Organization.

Thiruvananthapuram Shopping

Thiruvananthapuram is a great place to buy handicrafts, as they are very cheap here. The main Thiruvananthapuram shopping areas are in M.G. road. Here, you can buy the city’s specialty – the arammula. A metal mirror, the arammula is very beautiful to look at. If you are a collector of antiques, you’ve come to the right place. You can get exceptional antiques at fairly reasonable prices.

Thiruvananthapuram Cuisine

You can get all types of cuisines in the capital, as Thiruvananthapuram is a city with different tastes. You can get very good sea food here, a local delicacy being the traditional Kerala Fish Curry cooked in coconut milk. For those who don’t eat meat, spicy vegetarian dishes like rasam and rice is a must.

Thiruvananthapuram Nightlife

Thiruvananthapuram nightlife is not very happening, as the city prefers to retire to bed early. But you can still hangout on beaches like Kovalam at night, where you might be able to catch some dancing and music.