The Government Art Museum

The Government Art Museum

Open from 10 AM to 5 PM on all days except Monday. Located in a park like complex with the Sree Chitra Art Gallery and the Zoological Gardens it was formerly known as the `Napier Museum` named after a former Madras Governor General, John Napier. It is a gem of architectural exuberance, combining traditional Kerala styles with good doses of Chinese and Mughal Influences. It has an excellent collection of bronze images, historical ornaments, ivory carvings and temple chariots

Kanakakkunnu Palace

Kanakakkunnu Palace

Kanakakunnu Palace is the summer-house of Travancore Royal Family. The palace and its grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets and programmes.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum

Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) palace is located near Padmanabhaswamy temple. Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore, built this magnificent palace. He was a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. The palace, built in the traditional Travancore style of architecture depicts excellent craftsmanship and possesses exquisite wood carvings. The palace museum has on display, enchanting paintings and other priceless collections of the royal family.

The palace remains open from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm & 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm and is closed on Mondays.

Padmanabhapuram Palace

Padmanabhapuram Palace

The Padmanabhapuram Palace, about 60 km from Tiruvananthapuram, was once the home of the Royal family of Travancore. It is one of the biggest palaces in India with intricate carvings and beautiful woodwork. Travancore, which was a princely state for over 400 years, included a large part of present-day Kerala and the western part of Tamil Nadu. Though the palace is now in the State of Tamil Nadu, it was once the traditional home of the royal family of Travancore, so it is maintained by the Government of Kerala.

The palace is one of the best examples of the traditional wooden architecture of Kerala. The Palace is famous for its 17th and 18th century murals, carved mahogany ceiling, coloured mica windows, secret underground passages, inner courtyards, museum, four poster medicinal bed, Belgian mirror, pictures of Lord Krishna, granite dance halls and special black shiny floors which are made from a unique combination of egg white, jaggery, lime, burnt coconut, charcoal and river sand.

Veli Tourist Village

Veli Tourist Village

Located 8 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, the Veli Tourist Village is bordered by the Veli lagoon and the Arabian sea. The lagoon here is separated from the sea by a narrow sand bar.

The Veli Tourist Village on the outskirts of Trivandrum is a delightful waterfront park which has become extremely popular with Keralites. The nearby Veli Tourist Village will provide luxurious comfort to the tourists. The long stretch of clean white sand of the beach is perfect for an idle stroll along the sea. One can also relax in the beach, watching the fishermen doing their daily chores. During the festivals, the Thiruvananthapuram's Sankhumugham Beach witnesses the maximum crowd that gathers for the idol immersions. It is a nice place for tourists with young children to spend an afternoon. There are lots for the kids to do, and they will meet many of their young Keralite counterparts, all of whom will be eager to make new friends and try out their English.

Akkulam Lake

Akkulam Lake

Akkulam Lake is situated 3 kms away from Ulloor junction, in Thiruvananthapuram city and is only 10 kms away from the Central Railway Station. The spot is developed on the banks of Aakkulam Kayal (lake), which is an extension of the Veli Kayal (lake).

There is a tranquil picnic spot on the banks of the Akkulam Lake. Akkulam is a place of great scenic beauty with a picturesque lake. There is a boat club with over dozens of boats, available for joy riders. The children's park here is one of the biggest in Kerala.

Lazing on the cool banks or boating on the placid waters is good ways to spend a holiday. There is also a children's park. Akkulam is one of the first picnic spots in the suburbs of Thiruvananthapuram City.

The calm and serene atmosphere and its unique natural beauty is fascinating for the tourist. The village consists of the Boat Club, Swimming Pool, Children's Park, an Anthurium Project and a Snack Bar.

Varkala Beach

Varkala Beach


Varkala is a sea side resort, as well as an important hindu centre of pilgrimage. Situated at 42 km away from Thiruvanathapuram, is the best spot along Kerala coast for watching sunset. High cliffs with rich mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. The Varkala sands have become an ideal spot for confluence of cultures exotic and alien.

The 2000 year old Janardana Swamy Temple and the Nature Centre are the two main attractions here. High cliffs border the excellent beach.

It's a beautiful beach that has a more than 2000 years old shrine of Lord Vishnu. This beach is rich in mineral water springs that are known for their medicinal value. A dip in the holy waters of this beach is believed to purge the body and the soul of all the sins hence the name 'Papanashini' for this shore. At the break of dawn following the new moon in the Malayalam month of 'Karkidakam', thousands offer 'Vavu Bali', a ritual believed to help the souls of ancestors rest in peace.

Sankhumugham Beach

Sankhumugham Beach

The beach is located 8 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city and is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, is a favourite spot of sunset watchers. The Sankhumugham Beach is just not a mere beach but a hot bed activities and boasts of some exciting nearby sites. A 35meter long sculpture of a matsya kanyaka is the main attraction of Shankumugham. Another one is a starfish shaped restaurant. Chacha Nehru Traffic Training Park provides opportunity for children to learn the traffic rules. The beach is a fishermen village ensures an interesting sight of fishermen having their daily catch.

Kovalam Beach

Kovalam Beach


Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum. This unique internationally renowned wonderful beach will get pride of place amongst the loveliest beaches in the world has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s.

Today Kovalam has become one of the most popular beach hangouts in India. Kovalam means a grove of coconut trees and truly the coconut trees along the beaches gives it a ravishing look.

The palm-fringed bays in secluded coconut groves, promise a relaxed stay. The boundless blue waters of the Arabian Sea and miles of white sands washed away by the surf at the feet of the stalwart palms and the rocky promontories, makes this beach paradise. This marvelous beach is a tourist's dream come true.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara wildlife sanctuary is a 'gene pool' sanctuary, with a rich variety of flora and fauna over a rugged terrain with running rivulets, rolling hillocks and green meadows. The sub tropical and tropical evergreen forests are populated with a variety of wildlife. This sanctuary with its rich fauna and birds is emerging as a big attraction to wildlife enthusiasts. The sanctuary is home to Elephants, Sambhar, Lion-tailed Macaques, Leopards, and assorted birds. Gaur, Barking Deer, Wild Boar, Tiger and the Nilgiri Langur are also among the main inhabitants of the park. A boat ride on the site is a fulfilling experience. Although Peppara is theoretically open all year, the main season is from January until May.

Neyyar Dam & Lion Safari Park

Neyyar Dam & Lion Safari Park

Neyyar dam, lying against the southern low hills of the Western Ghats, 32 kms away from the city is a popular picnic spot with a lake and a picturesque dam site. Neyyar dam is situated 90-18000 metre above sea-level. It is an extension of Kallikad Tiger Reserve and Mudanthura Wild life Sanctuary of Tamilnadu. Neyyar dam affords a panoramic view of the mountains and the lake. The lion safari is a star attraction. The reservoir also offers boating facilities in addition to a crocodile farm. The project offers facilities for boating and mountaineering. A miniature wild life sanctuary, a lake garden and a swimming pool are the major attractions.

Perunguzhi

Perunguzhi

Perunguzhi is a village in Chirayinkeezh Taluk, Thiruvananthapuram District, Kerala. It is under the jurisdiction of Azhoor Panchayat.

It lies on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kollam railway route; only passenger trains halt here.

Agni Kavadi festival at the Rajarajeswari Temple at Perunguzhi draws a large number of devotees. Sarkara Devi Temple, Chirayinkeezh is nearby.

Aruvi Waterfalls

Aruvi Waterfalls

Beautiful and serene, the Aruvi is blessed with a weather that is as perfect as the land itself where 4 ft. cascade, is one of the most verdant and unspoiled spots in Kerala. It is 60 kms from Trivandrum. Tourists are mainly attracted to this place because of the natural scenery. The temple of sage Agasthiar near the waterfalls draws a large number of devotees on the full moon day in the months of April and May. Trekking can be done in this place.

Agasthyakoodam

Agasthyakoodam

This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri range and is the second highest peak in Kerala, at a height of 1890 metres above sea level. Teeming with wildlife, the forests of Agasthyakoodam abound in rare medicinal herbs and plants and brilliantly hued orchids. A bird watcher's paradise, this legendary mountain is accessible by foot from Kotoor, near Neyyar Dam, as also from Bonacaud. .The mountain is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus, as it is believed to be the abode of the Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara as well as of the sage Agastya, a disciple of Shiva.