| FACTS &
FIGURES
Area : 74 sq km
Population : 699,872 (1991)
Average rainfall (May–Nov) : 170 cm
Languages : Malayalam and English
Best time to visit : September–May
STD Code : 0471
LOCATION
Trivandrum (official name Thiruvananthapuram),
lying on the southwest coast of India, is the capital
to the state of Kerala. The city extends from latitude
8°29' N to longitude 76°59' E. The place is
well connected to most of the other major cities of
India through rail, road, and air network.
CLIMATE
Because of its nearness to the sea,
the climate of Trivandrum is tropical. This also gives
Trivandrum a very pleasant weather round the year. The
average maximum temperature can go up to 36.2°C
in summer months and to a minimum of 18.0°C in the
winters. Monsoon comes to Trivandrum in the month of
May and remains there until November.
PAST
The city, according to the legends, boasts of being
associated with King Solomon whose ships landed at a
port called Ophir. Traders have been coming to these
parts as far back as 190 ad for spices, sandalwood,
and ivory.
The city derives its name from the deity at the Sree
Anantha Padmanabhaswami Temple, one of the major landmarks
of the place. The name of the city is derived from the
words Thiru-Anantha-Puram, meaning the town of Anantha.
Although no records of the antiquity of the temple really
exists, the temple nevertheless is believed to be several
thousands years old.
Thiruvananthapuram shot into prominence in the 18th
century when the capital was shifted here form Padmanabhapuram,
a little down south. The erstwhile kings of the then
Travancore State, taking on the title of Padmanabhadas
(servant of Lord), had dedicated themselves completely
to the service of the Lord residing in the temple here.
By the terms of this dedication, the deity owns the
kingdom while the king is the mere executor of the trust.
After independence, the city was designated as the capital
of Kerala.
SITES TO VISIT
A must on every tourist itinerary, the
Padmanabhaswami temple with its gopuram (tower) soaring
majestically upwards, is believed to be one of the 108
shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India. Within
its hallowed precincts, the main pavilion impresses
with its 400 beautifully carved pillars of granite.
The 100-feet-high gopuram comprises seven stories with
each center. The stone basement of the tower is covered
with elaborate sculptures and the masonry above is replete
with ornamental works of figures from the Puranas and
other ancient scriptures. Tapering towards the top,
it bears the statue of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
Inside the temple, the main shrine is well guarded with
a number of massive doors, and darshan (audience) can
be had through the three-door openings into the sanctum
sanctorum.
Besides this magnificent temple, Thiruvananthapuram
offers a great deal more. There is the Observatory to
start with, established over a hundred years ago. Several
kings have also built their palaces in and around the
city, each more impressive than the other. Despite a
few attempts at modernity, the city retains its discreet,
old-world charm.
One can visit the Museum with its profusion of gables
and turrets. A repository of fine works of art, the
chief attraction here is the 250-year-old temple car
made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented.
Besides this, objects carved out of wood, models of
temple, antique jewelry, etc., make the museum worth
a visit.
Lying within the museum compound, Sri Chitra Art Gallery
proves to be an ideal place for art lovers. The piece
de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings
of Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction
in the history of the country’s modern art. Besides
him, the Indian section also contains works of Rabindranath
Tagore, Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the
Rajput and Mughal schools of painting and the famous
Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones.
The gallery’s collection also includes paintings
from Indonesia, China, and Japan.
Then, of course, a trip to Thiruvananthapuram is incomplete
without a boat-ride on its enchanting backwaters. These
waterways teem with life. It is not surprising, since
there are more miles of waterways in the state—approximately
1,900 km to the 1,000 km of rail. The landscape is dotted
with picturesque palms and thatched huts. One can be
seduced by the panorama of beautiful landscapes, beaches
and waterways, coconut palms and, of course, beautiful,
friendly people.
SITES NEARBY
Two nearby places worth visiting while
in Trivandrum are Veli and Shankhumuggam; the former
has been converted into a superb tourist village while
the latter boasts of lovely temples and a huge statue
of a mermaid presently being worked upon by a famous
sculptor.
An absolute must is Kovalam that lies barely 18 km
away. The beach is considered one of the finest in the
world and provides ingredients for an ideal holiday.
Besides swimming, there are opportunities for surfing
and water skiing—even an exhilarating catamaran
ride into the sea.
FAIRS AND FESTIVALS
Onam is the main festival of Kerala,
which is celebrated in the month of August or September.
This is the harvest festival of Kerala and signifies
association of the people with agriculture. Christmas
is the other festival of this part of the country and
the city wears a colorful look during this time of the
year. Classical Music Festival is celebrated from January
27 to February 3 every year and is a great time to enjoy
for the lovers of pure classical music forms such as
Carnatic and Hindustani music.
SHOPPING
The bustling markets of Trivandrum are
a shopper’s delight. Crisp fries made from bananas
and jackfruit, the traditional halwa, and other kinds
of the mouthwatering snacks that keep well for weeks,
can be picked up from any number of shops. Other suggested
buys are bell metal lamps and vessels; woodcarvings,
Kathakali figures and handcrafted articles made of coconut
shells; and of course the fine, soft, and white handloom
clothes.
WHERE TO STAY
Accommodation is not a problem in Trivandrum.
As the city is always bustling with tourists, many hotels
catering to different income groups have opened up.
The city has a very good number of resorts specializing
in nature therapy.
HOW TO REACH
Being the capital of Kerala state, Trivandrum
is well connected to other major cities of India and
the neighboring countries. There are direct flights
to Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi through domestic
airlines such as Indian Airlines and Jet Airways. Cities
in the neighboring countries such as Colombo, Malé,
Singapore, and cities of Arabian Gulf are connected
by the international airlines.
The city is connected to other important cities of
India and Kerala by trains. Regular trains are available
for the states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu. For the tourists
heading towards North India and Delhi, Himsagar Express
is the perfect choice.
Regular buses are available for the other important
cities of Kerala and neighboring states such as Kollam
(1½ hours), Alappuzha (3¼ hours), Ernakulam
(5 hours), Trichur (6¾ hours), Chennai (17 hours),
Madurai (10 hours), and Pondicherry (16 hours). The
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation bus terminus
is situated opposite the railway station.
The best way to enjoy Kerala is through its backwaters.
Most of the important cities in Kerala backwaters are
connected to Trivandrum through boats. Some of boats
that launch you into the backwaters are luxurious and
as costly as a standard hotel accommodation.
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