You're Going to Love Trivandrum

The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, is an appealing blend of a strongly rooted heritage and a nostalgic colonial legacy. Built upon seven hills, this city has long since left the days when it was only used by seafaring explorers behind – today, Trivandrum is an expensive metropolis with quaint urban charm and plenty of architectural and historical places to visit.

The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum, is an appealing blend of a strongly rooted heritage and a nostalgic colonial legacy. Built upon seven hills, this city has long since left the days when it was only used by seafaring explorers behind – today, Trivandrum is an expensive metropolis with quaint urban charm and plenty of architectural and historical places to visit. In addition, Trivandrum is a gateway to nearby popular beach towns of Kovalam and Varkala.

 

The Padmanabhaswamy temple (also known as Anantha Padmanabhaswamy temple) is a must-visit temple of India. Other famous temples in Trivandrum include the Attukal Bhagawati temple, the Aazhimala Siva Temple, the Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple, and the Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple.

The city is home to a few museums, such as the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and the Napier Museum. The Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is situated close-by to the Padmanabhaswamy temple. Renowned for its Travancore styled architectural features and its structural elegance, this museum houses priceless paintings, traditional furniture, and other royal family collections.

Trivandrum: The Largest City of Kerala

Trivandrum, now known as Thiruvananthapuram, is not only the capital of the Indian state of Kerala but is also the biggest city there. It hosts the only magic academy in India. This magic academy is known as the Magic Academy Research Centre and is run by an award-winning magician named Gopinath Muthukad. Apart from this, Thiruvananthapuram is also a central IT hub. Trivandrum is also home to several leading animation companies. The legendary Chitranjali Film Studio, one of the original film studios in the history of Malayalam Cinema, is also based in Trivandrum. Also, Trivandrum has been, for the past many years, unswervingly echeloned amongst the best Indian cities to live in

What to do in Trivandrum

1. Kuthiramalika ( Palace Museum)

Located adjacent to Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is the rarest specimen of workmanship. Built by Maharaja Swathi Balarama Varma, this palace displays valuable collections of royal family….

2. Padmanabhapuram Palace

Rejoicing in all its glory, the Padmanabhapuram Palace is located 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram in Thuckalay. This 16th century palace quenches the thirst of art lovers. This fascinating structure has a special air about it. ….

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History of Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, or Trivandrum, has an ancient history dating back to its trading days since around the 1000 BCE, with King Solomon’s arrival. In the early days, the city was ruled by the Ays, and then the rulers of Venad, until 1745 when King Marthanda Varma made Trivandrum the capital of the princely state of Travancore. The city had a flourishing intellectual and artistic circle, especially during the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal, which is considered as the golden age of the city. The city was not under direct British rule and during the 20th century, it played an important role in India’s freedom struggle hosting meetings by the Indian Nation Congress. Following India’s independence in 1947, Travancore chose to join the Indian union.

Etymology

Thiruvananthapuram, in its literal translation, means ‘the city of Lord Anantha’ (thiru-anantha-puram in Malayalam). The most famous landmark of the city is the legendary Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple built in honor of Lord Vishnu. Anantha is the Lord’s serpent on whom Vishnu, who is also known as Padmanabhan reclines. Popularly, Thiruvananthapuram is also called Ananthapuri or The City of Bliss. The anglicised name of the city was Trivandrum until 1991 when the government changed it back to Thiruvananthapuram.
 

Suggested Itinerary for Trivandrum

Day 1 – Start your vacation in Trivandrum by paying a visit to the famous Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is over 260 years old and houses a magnificent statue of Lord Padmanabhaswamy. Follow this up with an ‘all you can eat’ lunch buffet at the famous restaurant Ariya Nivas, known for its local Kerala cuisine. Next pay a visit to the Puthe Maliga Palace Museum, which is a testimony to the grandeur of the Travancore dynasty. End your day with dinner at the beautiful restaurant Villa Mallya, which offers both fantastic food and ambience, with either a courtyard garden seating or inside the Dutch mansion itself.

Day 2 – Devote the day to exploring Trivandrum’s beautiful Zoological gardens, which are said to have inspired the famous writer Yann Martel for his book Life of Pi. Also, pay a visit to the Shri Chitra Art Gallery and the Natural History Museum located in the zoological park complex. Grab a bite to eat at the quaint Cherries & Berries cafe which offers a wide range of continental food choices. Enjoy Trivandrum’s mellow nightlife with a glass of wine or some beer at the Purple Lounge in Hotel Safari.

Day 3 – Continue exploring slices of Trivandrum’s rich history with a visit to Kanakunna Palace, where you can often catch some local performances and places. Choose your picks among Napier Museum or the Museum of History and Heritage to further revel in paintings and other artefacts depicting the former glory days of Travancore. Devote some time to shopping expeditions in Connemara Market and MG Road to pick up some local souvenirs, traditional artefacts and spices.