Hello Trivandrum | News and Events at Trivandrum – Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram – Trivandrum News
KANAKAKUNNU PALACE
Across Southern Kerala, people sing praises of the architectural marvel that is the Kanakakkunnu Palace in Thiruvananthapuram. Located at the heart of the city, it plays a welcoming host to a multitude of cultural events, seminars and programmes. Its proximity to a number of important tourist sites, including the Napier Museum and Trivandrum Zoo, has made it an important part of the daily workings of the city. Once host to many an important gala, under the reign of the erstwhile ruler of Travancore Sree Moolam Thirunal, it is an integral part of city’s festivities and heritage to this day.
Contact number: +91 471 2314615
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is about 3 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport is 5 km away
KOVALAM
Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.
The leisure options at this beach are plenty and diverse. Sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmes and catamaran cruising are some of them. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in a matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night. The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centres.
Accommodation facilities for tourists at Kovalam range from five star hotels to budget hotels and the choice of food available at restaurants and cafeterias range from Continental varieties to South Indian delicacies.
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is just 16 km away from Kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city. The city of Thiruvananthapuram has many interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, the Sri Chitra Art Gallery and the Padmanabhaswamy Temple. The SMSM Institute, a State owned handicrafts emporium, is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles.
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 16 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 10 km
KUTHIRA MAALIKA
122 smiling wooden horses await all who visit ‘Kuthiramalika’, which means “palace of horses”. Formally known as Kuthiramalika Palace Museum or Puthenmalika Palace Museum, it is a pristine two-storied palace near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. Built by Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, who was Maharaja of the Kingdom of Travancore in British India, it takes one back to the 1840s when it was first constructed. It is a great example of the Kerala school of architecture and is made from teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite. The museum houses idols and sculptures made from white marble, Kathakali figures, Belgian mirrors and paintings. The flourishing spice trade between Kerala and the world made it possible to obtain those items.
Barefoot walks are extremely famous here as well. It is a trip to another era hidden inside the capital of the State. The local guides give you a detailed idea of the many wonders hidden in the palace which will surely leave you enthralled.
Visiting hours:
08:30 – 13:00 hrs & 15:00 – 17:30 hrs. Closed on Mondays
Contact details:
Ph: +91 471 2473952
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 1 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 6 km
NAPIER MUSEUM
In the heart of Thiruvananthapuram city lies the great Napier Museum and the Natural History Museum in the Museum compound, close to the Zoological park. Built in the 19th century, it has its own natural air-conditioning system. It contains a host of historical artefacts including bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. People are especially impressed by the Japanese shadow-play leather that is used to depict the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Kerala’s rich cultural heritage is in full display here. The museum was named after the former Madras Governor General, John Napier. Also known as Government Art Museum, the architectural style of museum is a mix of Indian, Chinese, Kerala and Mughal Schools of Architecture.
Visiting Hours: Open 10:00 – 16:45 hrs. Closed on Mondays, Wednesday forenoons, January 26th, August 15th, Thiruvonam and Mahanavami.
The Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, a modern structure, houses some excellent exhibits like the skeletal, bird, animal and taxidermy galleries. Photography is not allowed in the museum.
Natural History Museum Timings:
Open 10:00 – 17:00 hrs, Wednesday 13:00 – 16:45 hrs.
Closed on Mondays
Contact Details for History Museum:
Ph: +91 471 2318294
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 2 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 6 km
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
At a distance of 4 Kms from Trivandrum Central Railway Station, Natural History Museum is located in the Trivandrum Public Park compound near Napier Museum.
It was opened for public in the year of 1885. The building in which it is presently housed was constructed in 1964. The museum was initially started with the individual collection of General Cullen. There are separate galleries for the Mammals, the birds, the vertebrates, the invertebrates and the skeletons. A library and a laboratory also form part of the museum.
Timings: 10 AM to 6 PM. Closed on Mondays and national holidays. 1 PM to 4:45 PM on Wednesdays.
PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE
Located inside the East Fort in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the State of Kerala in India is the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is believed to be the world’s richest temple.
The history of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple dates back to 8th century. It is one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples or Divya Desams in India. Divya Desams are the holiest abodes of Lord Vishnu that are mentioned in the works of the Tamil Azhvars (saints). The presiding deity of this temple is Lord Vishnu, reclining on Anantha, the hooded Serpent.
Marthanda Varma, noted among Travancore kings, did a major renovation to the temple and it resulted in the present day structure of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple. It was Marthanda Varma who introduced the Murajapam and Bhadra Deepam festivals in the temple. Murajapam, which literally means continuous chanting of prayers, is still conducted in the temple once every six years.
In 1750, Marthanda Varma dedicated the kingdom of Travancore to Lord Padmanabha. Marthanda Varma vowed that the royal family will rule the State on behalf of the Lord and he and his descendants would serve the kingdom as Padmanabha Dasa or the Servant of Lord Padmanabha. Since then the name of every Travancore King was preceded by the title Padmanabha Dasa. The donation of the kingdom of Travancore to Padmanabhaswamy was known as Thripadidanam.
Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala takes its name from the presiding deity of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, who is also known as Anantha (one who reclines on the Serpent Anantha). The word ‘Thiruvananthapuram’ literally means – the Land of Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswamy.
The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple as per belief is located at a place that is considered as one of the seven Parasurama Kshetras. There are references to the temple in texts like the Puranas, viz. the Skanda Purana and Padma Purana. The temple stands close to the holy tank – Padma Theertham, which means ‘lotus spring.’
The shrine is currently run by a trust headed by the erstwhile royal family of Travancore.
The Idol
The idol of the presiding deity of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is noted for its composition, which has 12008 salagramams, which were brought from Nepal, taken from the banks of the River Gandhaki.
The garbhagriha or the sanctum sanctorum of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located on a stone slab and the main idol, which is about 18 ft long, can be viewed through three different doors. The head and chest are seen through the first door; while the hands can be sighted through the second door and the feet through the third door.
Aesthetics and Architecture
The temple architecture stands out for its work in stone and bronze. The temple interiors are adorned by beautiful paintings and murals. Some of them are that of the life-size images of Lord Vishnu in the reclining posture, Narasimha Swamy (half-lion, half man incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Lord Ganapati and Gaja Lakshmi. The temple has a dhwaja stamba (flag post) that is about 80 ft high and is covered with gold plated copper sheets.
The temple also has some interesting structural features in the form of Bali Peeda Mandapam and Mukha Mandapam. These are halls, decorated with beautiful sculptures of various Hindu deities. Another structure that captures attention here is the Navagraha Mandapa the ceiling of which displays the navagrahas (the nine planets).
The Corridor
Extending from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum is a broad corridor which has 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with beautiful carvings. There is a ground floor below under the main entrance in the eastern side, which is known as the nataka sala (literally means drama hall), where Kerala’s classical art form – the Kathakali is performed during the annual ten-day festival at the temple, held during the Malayalam months of Meenam and Thulam.
Worship time at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple
Morning hours:
03:30 a.m. to 04:45 a.m. (Nirmalya Darshanam)
06:30 a.m. to 07:00 a.m.
8.30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
10:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
11:45 a.m. to 12:00 Noon
Evening hours:
05:00 p.m. to 06:15 p.m.
06:45 p.m. to 07:20 p.m.
Please note that the temple worship timings are subject to change during the festival occasion.
Dress code to be followed at the temple:
Only Hindus are permitted inside the temple.
There is a strict dress code that needs to be followed while entering the temple. Men need to wear mundu or dhoti(worn around the waist and going down up to the heels) and should not wear shirts of any kind.
Women need to wear sari, mundum neriyathum (set-mundu), skirt and blouse, or half sari.
Dhotis are available for rent at the temple entrance. Nowadays temple authorities allow wearing of dhotis over pants or churidhar to avoid inconvenience to the devotees.
For more details log on – www.sreepadmanabhaswamytemple.org
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 1 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 6 km away
PRIYADARSHINI PLANETARIUM
Opened in 1994 to the public, this is one of the most versatile planetariums in the country. The main GM-11 star field projector here can project almost all the constituents of the visible universe. It can also simulate the star-studded night sky over any location on the earth, on any day up to 12,500 years back or 12,500 years into the future. The planetarium will be closed on Mondays.
Show timings: 1030 hrs (in Malayalam), 1200 hrs (in English), 1500 hrs (in Malayalam), 1700 hrs (in Malayalam)
3D Show – 1115 hrs
Entrance fee:
Adults – Rs. 60/-
Children between 3 -10 – Rs. 30/–
For details contact : +91 471 2306024/25
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram, about 4 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 4 km away
PONMUDI HILLS
Locals in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram will declare that a weekend drive to Ponmudi is among the best ways to spend time in the city. Families and friends alike are known to go on long drives up the winding paths for a view they insist rivals any other in the State. The slopes shrouded in mist fill one with a feeling of wonder and amazement. A large amount of rare flora and fauna can be seen here including mountain flowers, wild orchids and exotic butterflies.
The temperature is equable throughout the year and the three hour drive from the city is justified once the valley comes into view. One can always stopover at the breath-taking Kallar River on the way, which flows parallel to the road in the opposite direction, with the picturesque Meenmutty Waterfalls only a little distance ahead. A large number of cottages and resorts have come up in the area. Trekking and camping options are also available for those interested in exploring this natural wonder on foot. The tree house view tower is another great place to visit. Ponmudi is indeed a rising hotbed of tourist activity. A hill so close to the city, yet nestled so near the protective arms of the sea.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram, about 61 km away
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 67 km away
SHANGUMUGHAM BEACH
Residents of the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram swear by the vibe and atmosphere at the Shankhumugham Beach. Some come here to view sunsets, while others drop by during the day to simply relax, with a majestic view and a calming breeze playing perfect hosts. Its rustic charm is enhanced by the fishermen thronging the place, along with a bunch of delightful vantage points which seem to have been specifically created for picnickers. For company, you have the matsyakanyaka sculpture (a gigantic, 35 m long mermaid structure), among the most unique constructions in the entire State and a special Indoor Recreation Centre and a beautiful Children’s Park.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 7 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport is a short drive away
VELI TOURIST VILLAGE
The Veli Tourist Village which lies where the Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea provides for unique boating and picnicking opportunities. Visitors can hire pedal boats or paddleboats as per their convenience. One can also roam the gardens and have a nice picnic or choose to employ the boats for the entire duration of the trip. The view and feel of the place is extremely unique, considering it is merely 12 kms from the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram. Children are known to have a lot of fun climbing the sculptures here and the speedboat ride across the waters. A separate Children’s Park and Floating Cafe run by Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) are added incentives to visit this unique village.
Timing: Open 09:00 – 18:00 hrs
Entrance Fee: Rs. 5/- (Above 14 years)
Contact Details: Ph: +91 471 2500785
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 8 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 3 km
NEYYAR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Around 32 km from Thiruvananthapuram, one comes across 12,000 hectares of natural vegetation in the form of the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. It offers a rare chance to view flora and fauna alongside numerous trekking options. People love going up the 1868m high Agasthyamala Peak which is a famous picnic spot as well. The exotic view should not be missed at any cost as the fragile slopes and flat meadows make for an enchanting sight.
The Neyyar Dam nearby is also famous due to its many features, chief amongst them being a picturesque picnic spot for families, friends and solo-travellers alike. It boasts of a beautiful Watch Tower, a Deer Park, a Lion Safari Park and a Crocodile Rehabilitation and Research Centre as well. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary of which the dam is a part is the habitat of over a hundred species of fauna including the Asian Elephant, tiger, leopard, Slender Loris and reptiles and amphibians like the King Cobra, Travancore Tortoise, etc. One can avail boating facilities at the reservoir which provides for a beautiful panoramic view of the area.
Contact Address:
The Wildlife Warden
Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division
Forestry Complex, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar
Vattiyoorkavu P. O., Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: +91 471 2360762
Email: www-tvm.for@kerala.gov.in
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 32 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 38 km
PEPPARA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is slowly turning into a location frequented by wildlife enthusiasts. Herds of elephants, gaur, sambar, barking deer, and wild boar can be seen here. People stop by this destination on the way to Ponmudi and are enchanted by the splendour of nature on display. Endemic species like the Malabar Grey Hornbill, White-bellied Treepie, and the Small Sunbird have also been sighted here. Peppara Dam is where the sanctuary got its name from and the trek here gives one a gorgeous panoramic view of the entire valley. It is a quaint little picnic spot that is attracting more visitors with each passing year.
Contact Address
The Wildlife Warden
Thiruvananthapuram Wildlife Division
Forestry Complex, Rajiv Gandhi Nagar
Vattiyorkavu P.O. Thiruvananthapuram
Phone: +91 471 2360762
Email – ww-tvm.for@kerala.gov.in
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram, about 50 km
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 56 km
AKKULAM TOURIST VILLAGE
Located on the banks of the Akkulam Lake, Akkulam Tourist Village boasts some of the most picturesque picnic spots in Southern Kerala. It is a lovely backwater destination with a calm and serene atmosphere. It is located 10 km from Thiruvananthapuram city and possesses numerous boating options. It has a well-equipped children’s park, a paddle pool and a swimming pool for adults.
Getting there
Nearest railway station: Thiruvananthapuram Central, about 10 km from the tourist village
Nearest airport: Trivandrum International Airport, about 7 km from the tourist village
