Trivandrum

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Thiruananthapuram or Trivandrum retains its past glory of the capital of a princely state. The capital of Kerala in the southwestern tip of India, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) or Syanandoorapuri is built on hills with wide-open spaces, sports stadia and low-lying paddy fields. Thiruvananthapuram is a district surrounded by the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats and derives its name from the deity at the Sree Anantha Padmanabhaswami Temple, one of the major landmarks of the city.

Besides this magnificent temple, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum offers a great deal more to tourists wishing to holiday in Thiruvananthapuram. There is the Observatory to start with, established over a hundred years ago in Thiruvananthapuram. Several kings have also built their palaces in and around Thiruvananthapuram, each more impressive than the other. Despite a few attempts at modernity, Thiruvananthapuram retains its discreet, old-world charm.

During vacations in Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, one can visit the Museum with its profusion of gables and turrets. A repository of fine works of art, the chief attraction here is the 250-year-old temple car made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented. Besides this, objects carved out of wood, models of temple, antique jewelry, etc., make the museum worth a visit.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery within the museum compound is an ideal place for art lovers. The piece de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the country's modern art. Besides him, the Indian section also contains works of Rabindranath Tagore, Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the Rajput and Mughal schools of painting and the famous Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones. The gallery's collection also includes paintings from Indonesia, China and Japan.

Then, of course, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum travel is incomplete without a boat-ride on the enchanting backwaters of Kerala. These waterways of Thiruvananthapuram teem with life. One can be seduced by the panorama of beautiful landscapes, beaches and waterways, coconut palms and, of course, beautiful, friendly people of Thiruvananthapuram.

Touring Kerala during festivals, especially Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, can be quite a colourful experience. Onam is the main festival of Thiruvananthapuram, which is celebrated in the month of August or September. This is the harvest festival of Thiruvananthapuram and signifies association of the people with agriculture. Christmas is the other festival of this part of the country and Thiruvananthapuram wears a colourful look during this time of the year.

How to reach
The capital city is connected with other city and states by all major means of transport. There are buses, trains and airways providing the services in the city.