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Tourist Attractions in Trivandrum

The main tourist attractions in Trivandrum are its beaches, backwater areas, temples and museums. These tourist attractions are the Shanghumukham Beach, Veli Tourist Village, Akkulam Tourist Village, Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple, Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum and the Museum complex, Kanakakunnu palace, Thiruvallam, Kovalam beach, Neyyar Dam, Varkala, Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary.

Shanghumukham Beach

The Shanghumukham Beach is located about 16 kms from Trivandrum. This beach is a favourite place for the sunset viewers. The main attractions of this beach are an indoor recreation club, the Matsya Kanyaka (a gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid) and a restaurant shaped like a starfish. The beach is situated nearby Thiruvananthapuram airport and Veli Tourist Village.

Veli Tourist Village

The Veli tourist village is sandwiched between the Veli lagoon and the Arabian Sea. This picnic spot is about 8 kms from Trivandrum. The lagoon here is separated from the sea by a narrow sand bar. Various facilities are available at the village which includes water sports in the lagoon and an 18 acre waterfront park with a floating bridge that connects the village to the beach. Paddleboats and speedboats can be hired at this place to explore the charms of the lagoon in a leisurely way. The children can also enjoy climbing over the huge sculptures which dot the landscape.

Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum

The Kuthiramalika palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Verma, the king of Travancore. This palace is a rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional Travancore style architecture and also has exquisite wood carvings. The palace which is today a museum, is located near the Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple. This palace museum displays paintings and and various priceless collections of the royal family.

Sree Padmanabha Swami Temple

The most famous temple of Trivandrum is the beautiful Sree Padmanabha Swami temple, that is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This temple is located inside the East fort. This temple is perfect blend of Kerala and Dravidian styles of sculpture and architecture. It is known for its mural paintings and stone carvings. This temple is one of the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India. In this temple, the Lord Vishnu reclines on Anantha, the serpent. Only Hindus in traditional attire can enter this temple.

CVN Kalari Sangham
This premier institute is engaged in the preservation of Kalarippayattu, an ancient martial tradition of Kerala. The spectacular training sessions are worth seeing. It also provides Kerala’s famous ayurvedic treatments.

Government Observatory
It is set atop the highest point of the city and is one of the oldest observatories in the country. There is a well laid out garden in front of the hill, affording a panoramic view of the city and surroundings.

Science & Technology Museum & Priyadarshini Planetarium
It was established to provide a complete insight into the achievements of India in the fields of science and technology. A visit to this museum is indeed a great learning experience.

Chacha Nehru Children Museum
The museum has a rich collection of over 2000 dolls, stamps, masks and paintings etc.

Museum Complex

The other main tourist attraction is the Museum complex. This museum complex consists of the Napier Museum, Sree Chithra Art Gallery and the Zoological park.

The Napier Museum was built in the 19th century in the Indo-Saracenic architecture. This museum has a natural air-conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historical artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings.

Sree Chithra Art Gallery is located near the Napier Museum. This art gallery displays the selected paintings of Raja Ravi Verma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.

The Zoological Park is one of the first zoos in India, which is located in a well-planned botanical garden. The huge trees of frangipani and jacaranda dotted the sprawling lawns of the park and various wild fowl swim in the lake. This park is like a small jungle in the heart of the city and houses a reptile house with rare species of snakes and other reptiles.

Kanakakunnu Palace

The Kanakakunnu palace and its sprawling grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets and programmes.

Akkulam Tourist Village

Akkulam tourist village is a popular picnic spot with boating facilities on the lake and a well equipped children's park. A swimming pool is also here in this village.

Thiruvallam

Thiruvallam is a serene backwater destination, located about 10 km from Trivandrum. This backwater destination is located near Kovalam and famous for the canoe rides.

Kovalam Beach

Kovalam Beach is the internationally renowned beach in Kerala. This beach is located about 16 kms from Trivandrum and has been a favourite tourist place since 1930. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The southernmost beach is known as the Lighthouse beach and is the most popular beach. Accommodation of every type and to suit every type of budget is available here.

Neyyar Dam

Neyyar Dam is a popular picnic spot, situated about 32 kms from Trivandrum. Neyyar Dam has a watchtower, crocodile farm, lion safari park and deer park. Boating facilities are also available on the reservoir.

Varkala

Varkala is a seaside resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. The final refuge of the Sree Narayan Guru, the great social reformer is located near Varkala, on the top of hill, called Sivagiri. The high cliffs with mineral springs rise majestically from the coastline. According to the myths, the sage Narada was approached by a group of mendicants who confessed to have been sinned. The Narada threw his valkkalam (cloth made of the bark of a tree) into the air, and the place where it landed was known as Varkala. The mendicants were directed by the Narada to offer their prayers in the newly created place by the seashore. The place where they prayed for redemption was known as the Papanasham (redemption from sins) Beach. The main attractions here are the 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple, the Nature Care Centre and a century old tunnel. 

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is located about 50 kms from Trivandrum. This sanctuary is spread over an area of 53 square kms. on the Western Ghats and is easily accessible from Vithurai, which is located on the way to Ponmudi. Peppara wildlife sanctuary has a rich variety of flora and fauna and dotted with hillocks, forests and eucalyptus plantations.