Trivandrum Kerala, India - Trivandrum Travel Guide

Trivandrum, India

Kowdiar Palace, Trivandrum, India (cc)

Photo: Manu

Trivandrum Travel Guide

Introduction

Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram in Malayalam, is arguably the greenest city in India. Mahatma Gandhi once referred to it as the "Evergreen City of India." Indeed, the city is built on lush, low coastal hills that tumble down in a mass of urban structures, old and new, many of them lined along busy commercial alleyways and wrapped in tropical foliage and coconut palms, to practically meet the sea. There are relics from the colonial era, and scores of temples, museums, historical monuments and centuries-old palaces juxtaposed with modern high-rises filled with pools of young programmers who have turned this hot, humid capital city into a veritable hub of software development. There are beaches too, sun-drenched and palm-fringed, and wildlife preserves in close proximity. Ultimately, Trivandrum can fairly be described as a surprising oasis and remarkable fusion of the past, present and future.

Location

Trivandrum, capital of the south Indian state of Kerala, is located on the south coast of India, some 58 miles (90 km) west of Kerala's border with Tamil Nadu.

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Neighborhoods

How to Get Around

Where to Stay

Where to Eat

Where to Party

Essential Information

Nearby Destinations

How to Get There

Sightseeing

Trivandrum's principal attractions are the ancient, 2000-year-old Sree Padmananbhaswamy Temple, Kanakakunnu Palace, the Napier Museum, the Natural History Museum, and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, among others. Also of interest near the city is the lovely Kovalam Beach and the Thiruvallum Backwaters.

Main Neighborhoods