Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram), the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. Located at the apex of southwest India,Thiruvananthapuram district is surrounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and Tamil Nadu on the east. The city gets its name Thiruvananthapuram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Thiruvananthapuram has a long shoreline, with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage which make some of the most enchanting picnic spots and a much sought after tourist destination.

Most visitors to Kerala use it only as an arrival point, speeding on immediately to Kovalam.Trivandrum has good shopping areas and a variety of comfortable and reasonably priced hotels. The famous Sri. Padmanabha Swami Temple is dedicated to Vishnu and is a landmark in the city.

Some Of The Interesting Places To Visit:

Padmanabha Swamy Temple: The temple is located inside the east fort and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidan styles of architecture. It is known for its mural paintings and stone carvings. One among the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India, the presiding deity here is Lord Vishnu reclining on Anantha the Serpent. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple. There is a dress code in this temple where a man is supposed to wear dhoti and a women must wear sari and blouse.

Kuthirarnalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum: The Palace was built by the King of Travancore, who was a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. This rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style of architecture also has exquisite woodcarvings. The palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal family and is located near the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple.

Museum Complex: The IndoSaracenic structure dating back to the 9th century, and boasting a natural air conditioning system, houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises.

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 Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.