Where is Trivandrum?
Trivandrum or Thiruvanathapuram is situated in the state of Kerala in South
India. It lies on the west coast of the country near the extreme south of
the mainland.
What is the city famous for?
Thiruvanathapuram is known all over for being the capital of the state of
Kerala. The magnificent temples, the glorious past and the pulsating
cultural traditions of the place rope in a large number of tourists and
visitors from all around.
How will you gain access?
The Indian Airlines, Air India and Jet Airways operate around thirty
flights connecting Trivandrum to places like West Asia, Sri Lanka and
Maldives, apart form connecting it to the major cities of India. The city
has good connections by rail with the major cities of Kerala and the
country. NH 7, 17, 45 and 47 connect Trivandrum to the rest of the country
while the state highway network connects the city to the other cities of the
state.
What does the climate say?
The city of Thiruvanathapuram experiences a tropical climate. The mean
maximum and minimum temperature of the place records 34 degrees and 21
degrees centigrade respectively. The humidity of the place reaches a high of
90% during the monsoon season. Temperature during the winters drops down to
a minimum of 15 degrees while in summers it touches a high of 37 degrees
centigrade. The city gets heavy rainfall and the annual rainfall of the city
records 1700 mm.
What magnetises people?
» Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located inside the
East Fort. The temple happens to be a fantastic blend of the Keralan and the
Dravidian styles of architecture. The exquisite murals and magnificent stone
carvings are the key features of the structure. Reclined on the serpent
Anantha, is Lord Vishnu, the presiding deity of the temple.
» Zoological Gardens
Beautifully set amid wooded surroundings, the Zoological Gardens present an
interesting collection of various species of reptiles. The zoo exists in a
well-organised botanical garden. With huge trees like frangipani and
jacaranda scattered over the sprawling lawns and wild fowl swimming in the
lake, the place is no less than a small jingle.
» Shankhumugham Beach
Abutting
the Thiruvanathapuram Airport, lies the bewitching Shankhumugham beach. The
attractions of the beach include an indoor recreation club, a gigantic
sculpture of a mermaid and a starfish-shaped restaurant. Children can avail
themselves of the opportunity of learning traffic rules at the Chacha Nehru
Traffic Training Park.
» Napier Museum
The Napier Museum, built in the 19th century, houses an interesting
collection of bronze idols, ancient ornaments, ivory carvings and other
historic and archaeological artifacts. Use of plastics is strictly
prohibited inside the museum premises.
Which are the nearby hotels?
Ashoka Beach Resort (16 km from Airport) is a 5-star in Trivandrum. The
amenities provided are conference/ banquet, bar,
beauty parlour, shopping arcade, health club, swimming pool, tennis, golf,
water sports, doctor on call, safe deposit etc. Poovar Island Resort (30 km
from Airport) is a 4-star with facilities like room service, hot/ cold
running water, telephone, mini bar, deposit, health centre, tennis court,
etc. The 3-star group of hotels include names like Hotel Samudra (14 km from
Airport) and Hotel Palmshore (14 km from Airport).
Where should you shop?
The special Arammula metal mirror, produced by mixing certain herbs with
molten metal to give it a highly reflective surface, is a popular buy in the
city. Moreover, in the markets of Trivandrum one can also find rosewood
products, teak furniture, decorative items and masks representing various
characters of the Indian mythology. M.G. Road is the chief shopping
destination.
