Sreeram Travels Palakkad Kerala Affordable Trusted Leading Customer friendly Tour: Thiruvanathapuram

Thiruvanathapuram

Thiruvanathapuram is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", the city is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys. With almost 745,000 inhabitants per the 2001 census, it is the largest and most populous city in Kerala; the wider urban agglomeration having a population of about one million.
The city is the state capital and houses many central and state government offices, organizations and companies. Apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the Kerala University, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC). The first information technology park, the Technopark; as well as the first biotechnology centre in India, the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB) are at Thiruvanathapuram

Places of Interest:-

Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple: This Ancient temple is the most dominating feature of Thiruvananthapuram.Overlooking the Padma Theertham Tank, the temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu who is depicted reclining on Sri Anantha, the hooded snake from which the city derives its name .Exquisite stone carvings and pavilions are worth admiring.The temple is open only to Hindus and dress regulations strictly enfroced.

Padmanabhapuram Palace built during the 14th century it was called Darpakulangara, but later in the 18th century it was renovated and renamed as the Padmanabhapuram palace. A place of elaborate wood work, it was the ancient seat of the Travancore rulers Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma till the capital was shifted to Thiruvananthapuram in 1780.

Kaudiar Palace -This palace is the home of the late Maharaja Sree Chitra Thirunal Bala Varma and his family.Th view of the grand old building from the gate is excellent, buy unfortunately it is off limits to thepublic.If you are lucky, ypu could probably walk a few steps inside to get a better view provided the gate keeper is friendly enough.

Kovalam Beach Location just 16km from Thiruvananthapuram city, South Kerala. Best time to Visit September to March, through it is an all year destination .Kovalam is a internationally renowned beach with three adjacent beached. It has been a favorite haunt of tourist, especially Europeans, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing. The leisure options at this beach are plants and diverse sunbathing, swimming, herbal body toning massages, special cultural programmers, Catamaran cruising etc. The tropical sun acts so fast that one can see the faint blush of coppery tan on the skin in matter of minutes. Life on the beach begins late in the day and carries on well into the night .The beach complex includes a string of budget cottages, Ayurvedic health resorts, convention facilities, shopping zones, swimming pools, Yoga and Ayurvedic massage centers etc.Thiruvananthapuram m the capital city of kerala, is just 16 km away from kovalam and getting there is no hassle. But if you are on holiday it is better to stay in Kovalam and visit the city. Thiruvananthapuram has interesting places to see like the Napier Museum, The Sri Chitra Art Gallery, The Padmababhaswami Temple, Ponmudi hill station etc, SMSM Institute, s state owned handicrafts emporium, is the ideal place to pick up ethnic curios and other articles. To know more about the crafts on sale here see Treasure Chest from the Archives dated 14 January 99 to 15 July 99.

Varkala

Varkala is seaside resort and spa. It is also an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. The Final resting place of the great social reformer.Sree Narayana Guru is near Varkala, a top a hill called Sivagiri. According to myth, sage Narada was apporched by a group of mendicants who confessed to having sinned. Narada threw his Valkalam (cloth made up of the dark of the tree) into air, and the place where directed by Narada tooter their prayers into the newly created place by the seashore. The place where they prayed for redemption came to be known as Papanasam Beach (Papanasam means redemption from sins).
Papanasam

Papanasam is long beauteous stretch of beach, which was reserved seat for varkala on the tourist map of Kerala .It is the most sought after tourist spot in Thiruvananthapuram after Kovalam. In every season fairly large number of tourists arrive here to enjoy its natural beauty. Apart from the beach, the other attractions of Papanasam are 22 meter high cliffs with mineral water springs .A naturopathic center an a helipad on the top of the cliff also account for the large scale turn out of tourasit.Papanasam is a wee known Thirthghat were 10,000 of devoties offer Bali to the soles of departed on the Karkidaka Vavu (Malabar Era-ME) day every year.

Sivagiri-The historic and social asignifcance of varkala ies in the fact it as sree Narayana Guru, one of the greatest social reformers of the last century.The Guru came to varkala in 1904 and made it the centre of his activities.The hilly terrain, which was one overed by forest was converted in to a spiritual center and named Sivagiri.The Century old thatched house where the Guru resided and Kedavilakku inside it, are still kept with peity .The coasts, chari and other instruments used by the Guru are also preserved here.The Mahasamadhi manadapam of the Guru adds to the over all grandeur of the Sivagiri hills.

Shankhumuga Beach:
Locted 8 km fromThiruvananthapuram city, the Sankhumugam Beach is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers.
Agasthyarkoodam
Location: 70 km from Thiruvannathapuram .
Attractions:
Rare herbs anbd medicinal plants.The Agasthya forest beleived to have been the abode of age Agasthya , a character from mythokogy.Trekking trails thisck forest agasthyarkoodam, the spectacular peak in the western ghats rises to a majestic 1890 m in the form odf a shar cone.A haven of rare herbs andmedicianal plants , its slpers are a breatning sight when they transform in to colur ful glades of the Neelakurunji a flower which blooms onluyonce in twelve years.
Getting there: Nearest Railway station Thiruvananthapuram central about 61 km from Bonocaud .
Nearest Air port: Thiruvanathapuram International Airport, about 69 km from Bonocaud.
Ponmudi
Location abot 61 km form Thiruvananthapuram city, south Kerala. Altitude 915 m above sea level.Locate within a short driving distance of Thiruvananthapuram, Ponmudi is an enchanting hill resort with narrow winding pathways and cool, greenn envirous .Along with a beauitiful array of mountain flowes, exotic butterfliers and small rivulers, Ponmudi offers excellent opportunities for trekking with its tea estates and mist covered valleys Ponmudi is a fast developing hiss resort with cottages and dormitory accommodation facilities.
Peppara wild lige Sanctuary-
Location about 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram city enroute to Ponmudi, Lying on the outskirts of the capital city, The Peppara wildlife Sanctuary is spread ovr an area of 53 sq. km on the western ghats and was established in 1938 .The place is facinating for its damsite , thick forest areas , eucalyptus plantationsm, crystal clear streams and rocky terrains ideal for adventure expeditions.
The sanctuary has a rich population of mammalian fauna and is emerging as a big attraction to wild life enthusasts and ornithologists.Elephants sambar, leopard, lion tailed macaque and cormorant are commolyu seen here.
Recently a joint effort has been made by Kerala Tourism with the state Forest Department and the Kerala water authority to beautiful the damsite anmd provide more entertainment /leisure facilites here.
ISMA, Trivandrum-
Location : Vazhuthacaud , in the heart of Thiruvananthapuramcity, The Indian school of Martial Arts (ISMA) was establsuhed in 1983 and is recognised by the Government of India and Sports Council as an ideal traning centre for the 5000 year old martial art Kalarippayattu. ISMA is also a place for healing and rejuventation sice Mr.Balachandran Nair who set up the organisation hails from a amily of warrior healers.
Kanyakumari: (Cape Comorin) 87 km away from Thiruvannthapuram. it is located at a junction at the southernmost tip of inda where the three water bodies, naely , Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean mee.From here one can see the sun rise from the Bay of Bengal and set in the Arbain sea,It is a holy place for Hindus because of the Kanyakumari Temple.The Gandhi Smarak Mandir and Vivekananda Rock Memorial are additonal toursit attractions..