Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple

Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple is among the 108 “Divya Desams,” a holy abode for lord Vishnu. Built around the 16th century, the temple itself is a marvellous creation, a fusion of Kerala and Tamil Nadu temple architecture. Lord Vishnu is enshrined in the “ananthashayanam” posture, resembling the Adikesava Perumal Temple in Thiruvattar. The temple itself is the wealthiest among all religious places of worship in the world.

Kovalam Beach

Just 16 km from the capital, Kovalam is the most important beach in South India. It is a famous holiday spot for natives as well as foreigners. Comprising of three main beaches, Kovalam has plenty to offer for tourists including swimming, sunbathing, ayurvedic treatment centers, shopping, etc. One can easily find a way that suits his interest in this beautiful tropical beach.

Veli Tourist Village

Just 3 km away from Mary Land, Veli Tourist Village is a waterfront park, featuring a floating restaurant, a scenic lake, beautiful garden, along with facilities for boating. It’s a wonderful picnic spot where you can spend an entire day enjoying the true beauty of sea and lagoon.

Kanakakkunnu Palace

A perfect example of architectural beauty, this palace was built during the erstwhile Travancore Empire. It is located close to the heart of the city. It is now a venue for cultural fests and exhibitions too. The zoo and museum is within close proximity of this great palace.

Shanghumugham Beach

Another beautiful beach, situated close to Mary Land. It is a beautiful beach where local people gather during evenings and holidays. Watching the beautiful sunset is an amazing experience for a traveller. The famous Shanghumugham Devi Temple situates nearby this amazing beach.

Napier Museum

The Napier Museum is famous for its vast collection of paintings, archaeological materials and sculptures. Situated inside the vast zoological garden compound, the museum building was built around the 19th century and is a wonderful architectural masterpiece.

Kuthira Malika

Located next to Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the Kuthira Malika Palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma of Erstwhile Travancore Kingdom. “Kuthira” in Malayalam means horse and “malika” means palace. The palace has 122 wooden-carved horse sculptures and hence this palace earned its name. A palace museum also functions here, which contains rarest collections from the Travancore Royal Family.

Ponmudi

Situated in the outskirts of city, Ponmudi is a famous hill station. Enjoying the lush nature as well as tropical cool climate amidst the forestland is a wonderful experience for a traveller. The famous meenmutty waterfalls and the Golden Valley are also located here. It is also a popular destination for trekking and hiking.

Trivandrum Zoo

The zoo is located at the heart of the city and is one of the oldest zoos in India. Established in 1857, it is situated in a vast 55 acre compound. The zoo is home to around 100 species, both indigenous as well as brought from abroad. A reptile house also functions here. The lush greenery and beautiful garden around the zoo is another attraction.

Attukal Temple

Attukal Temple is the holy shrine for Hindus, where the main deity is Goddess Bhadrakali. The temple attracts millions of devotees especially on the festive day of pongala where ladies offer pongala nivedyam (rice cooked in jaggery, ghee, scraped coconut, etc.) to seek blessings from the Goddess. The pongala festival has also made its entry to the Guinness Book of World Records, as it the largest gathering of women in the world for a religious ceremony.