THIRUVANAMTHAPURAM : kerala tourism tour package hotels houseboats honeymoon

Sree Chithra Art Gallery: Located near the Napier museum, this art gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, svetlova and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.

The Zoological Park: One of the first zoological parks in India, it is located in a well - planned botanical garden. With huge trees like frangipani and jacaranda dotting the sprawling lawns and wild fowl swimming in the lake, it is like a small jungle in the heart of the city. A reptile house with different species of snakes is also located in the premises.

The Kanakakkunnu Palace: This palace in the heart of Trivandrum city is one of the most beautiful buildings. The palace and its sprawling grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets. The Museum The museum building is an architectural splendour. The napier museum, the natural history museum, the reptile house and the Shri Chitra Art Gallery are in the same complex amidst a well laid out garden and park.

Science and Technology Museum Complex: The Science and Technology museum, the Government Secretariat, the Kowdiar palace, the Senate house, are some of the other tourist attractions in the city. The exhibits here are related to science, technology and electronics.

Observatory: Located at the highest point in the city, near the Museum Complex 60 meters above sea level, one can have a bird's eye view of the city from here. The second-oldest in the country, is set in 50 acres and is complete with an artificial island, a hanging bridge and an aquarium. Generally, the visiting hours are from 10am to 11pm. Monday closed.

Secretariat: Built in the Roman architectural style, this is the centre of government administration in Kerala and houses the offices of ministers and the bureaucracy.

Veli Tourist Village: This picnic spot where the Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea offers boating facilities. Pedal boats and paddle boats can be hired to explore the charms of the lagoon in a leisurely manner. For a quick ride over the waters, speed boats are available. Children enjoy climbing over the huge sculptures which dot the landscape.

Akkulam Tourist Village: a picnic spot with boating facilities, this is a place children flock to. It has a well equipped children's park and a paddle pool. There is a swimming pool for adults too.

Aruvikkara Dam (16 km): This picturesque picnic spot is on the banks of the Karamana River. Near the Durga Temple here is a stream full of fish that fearlessly come close to the shore to be fed by the visitors.

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave (17 km): There are rocks cut sculptures of the 18th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam. The granite cave here encloses a one-called shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outr� wall of the cave depicts half complete reliefs of the Hindu God Siva with Goddess Parvathi.

Koyikkal Palace, Nedumangad (18 km): Located on the way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtallam waterfalls, this ancient palace dates back to the 15th century. Here you can see a double storeyed traditional Nalukettu building with slanting gabled roofs, an inner courtyard and Museums of folklore and numismatics set up by the Department of archeology. The Folklore Museum set up in 1992 is a treasure house of quaint musical instruments, occupational implements, household utensils, models of folk arts etc. Displayed in the koyikkal Palace, they focus attention on the cultural backgrounds of the State.
The Numismatics Museum hoses rare and historically valuable coins denoting the trade relations of the State.

Padmanabhapuram Palace (63 km): The seat of the erstwhile rules of Travancore, this splendid palace is situated at Thuckalai, on the way to Kanyakumari. This is a well preserved wooden structure, a glories testimony to the traditional Kerala school architecture. The extraordinary murals, exquisitefloral carvings and the black glossy granite floor have withstood the test of time.

Ponmudi:Located within a short driving distance of Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi is an enchanting hill resort with narrow winding pathways and cool, green environs. Along with a beautiful array of mountain flowers, exotic butterflies and small rivulets, Ponmudi offers excellent opportunities for trekking. With its tea estates and mist covered valleys Ponmudi is a fast developing hill resort with cottages and dormitory accommodation facilities.

Agasthyarkoodam:The Agasthya forest believed to have been the abode of age Agasthya,a character from mythology.Trekking trails Thick forests
Agasthyarkoodam, the spectacular peak in the Western Ghats rises to a majestic 1890 m in the form of a sharp cone. A haven of rare herbs and medicinal plants, its slopes are a breathtaking sight when they transform into colourful glades of the 'Neelakurinji', a flower which blooms only once in twelve years.
Women are not allowed up the peak. The aborigins here believe that sage Agasthya, a mythological character who lived here was a confirmed bachelor, hence they dislike the presence of strange women. The season from December 2'nd week to February is advocated for trekking for which a forest pass has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden, Forest Dept., P.T.P.Nagar, Thiruvananthapuram.

Shanghumugham Beach: Just 8 km from the city, this is a favorite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the Airport and Veli Tourist Village. An indoor recreation club, the matsya kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are some of the attractions here.

Varkala (40km): Varkala is a sea side resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. The final resting place of the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru is near Varkala, atop a hill called Sivagiri. High cliffs with mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. In addition to the Papanasham beach, the 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the Nature Care Centre are the main attractions here.

Ponmudi (61 km): AAbout 56 Kms. north east of Thiruvananthapuram city is Ponmudi, one of the important hill stations in Kerala. It has a height of over 900 metres above sea level.

Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: The Temple devoted to Lord Vishnu, is the most dominating feature of the city. The deity is depicted in a reclining position resting on the holy serpent, Anantha. The profusely carved seven-storey Mandapam is a fine example of south Indian sculpture.The temple was rebuilt by Raja Marthanda Varma in 1733 A.D. However, like in many other temples in Kerala, entry to the temple is restricted only to the Hindus and strict dress regulations are enforced.

Sucheendram Temple (74 km): A Shiva/Brahma/Vishnu temple, the stone carvings are intricate and worth spending some time on. There is a huge Hanuman statue and a musical pillar.

Sree Mahadeva Temple: Situated in Kazhakuttom, this ancient temple is believed to date to the 14th century. Another old temple in the district is the Mitramandapuram Temple on the outskirts of the city.

Thiruvallam (10 km): This serene backwater stretch. Enroute to Kovalam, is famous for canoe rides.

Neyyar Dam (32 km): A popular picnic spot, Neyyar Dam has a watch tower, crocodile farm, lion safari park and deer park. Boating facilities are available as the reservoir.

Kerala Legislature Complex: Located at Palayam, this is the new building where the Legislative Assembly of Kerala meets. With its towering dome, exquisitely carved galleries, ornate teak paneling and ceiling, combined with the most modern acoustic treatment and state-of-the-art sound systems, the hall is a beautiful blend of classical grandeur and modernity.

KERALA CITIES - Thiruvananthapuram