Tourism > India > Kerala > Tourist places > Thiruvananthapuram

Tourist hot spots in Thiruvananthapuram

Season : Sept to May

Sree Padmanabha swamy temple

Ancient temple with gopuram having stone carvings. Located at East fort, 2 km from Thampanoor KSRTC bus stand.

Bhimapalli

It is a major Muslim pilgrim centre, 5 km from city. The masjid is known after the saint Bhima Beevi. The annual Urs attracts a large number of devotees.

Kuthiramalika

Exhibits stone and wood carved statues. Located at East fort, 2 km from KSRTC bus stand.

Attukal temple

The Bhagavathy temple is famous for the Pongala festival in the Malayalam month of Kumbham. Located 2 km from East fort bus stand.

Zoo

One of the best zoos in India set up in a natural like habitat for animals. It has a good collection of animals, birds, reptiles and snakes. Located 3 km from KSRTC bus stand.

Sri Chithra Art Gallery

The gallery has rare paintings of Roerich and Raja Ravi Varma. It has copies of Ajantha cave paintings, paintngs from various countries of the world. Art Gallery is located near the zoo.

Government Art Museum

It is located near the Art Gallery. The museum has a collection of ancient statues, jewelery, coins and a large number of antiques. No inside photography.

Doordarshan Kendra

Established in 1982, located at Kudappanakunnu.

Scinece and Technology museum & Planetaurium

Located near PMG junction.

Akkulam

Scenic beauty, Kanai Kunjirman's sculptures, boating, Children's park. Located 3 km from city.

Kovalam Beach

The amazing Arabian Sea, the golden glowing sands and the grove of coconut trees, all come together as a package for the picture perfect landscape – This is Kovalam - a dream destination and “Paradise of the South”.

Kovalam has three crescent shaped beaches separated by rocky outcroppings. Shallow waters stretching for hundreds of metres are ideal for sun, sand, sea and surf. The beaches have steep palm covered headlands and are lined with shops that offer all kinds of goods and services.

The larger of the beaches is called Light House Beach for its 35 metre high light house which towers over it atop Kurumkal hillock.

The second largest one is Hawah Beach named thus for the topless European women who used to throng there. It was the first topless beach in India. Topfree bathing and parading is banned now except in private coves owned by resorts. Visitors frequent these two beaches.

It is a tourist's paradise and is one of the best beaches in India. The shallow waters of the sea attracts visitors to take bath. Government Life guards are there for your guidance. The beach is 14 km from city.

Vilinjam beach

Near Kovalam, is an ancient port. Fishing harbour is active in morning. There is a rock cut temple and a good aquarium. India's first tidal power station is here.

Shankumukham beach

Kanai Kunjirman's mermaid and a beautiful beach. The pillared hall is a nice place to watch sunset. Star shaped restaurnat for eating. Airport is nearby. Located near the city.

Koyikkal palace

It is a 15th century nalukettu palace made for Queen Umayamma. It has good collection of old coins, old weights and measures, folk dance form models and other articles used in the last century.

Veli beach

Veli is a tourist village located near Shankumukham. It has park, boating and a restaurant. Here the backwaters meet sea.

Varkala beach

Varkala is the only place in southern Kerala where one can find a high rocky cliff ending abruptly and a stretch of clear sand extending down to the Arabian Sea. The contrast between the cliffs, sand and coconut palm-lined panoramic stretch of blue sea across the horizon makes Varkala Beach a memorable sight. The sunset at Varakala Beach is truly breathtaking with the sun sinking into the sea at a spectacular contrast of the swaying coconut trees and to the soft waves of the sea. It is 54 km from Thiruvananthapuram and has a Railway station. The Papanasham beach is famous for the Karkidaka vavu bali. An ancient temple of Jagannath is near by.

Shivagiri

Near Varkala, famous as the samadhi place of Sri Narayana guru, a socoal reformer. It is a place of pilgrimmage located on a small hill.

Neyyar dam

The senic place has a beautiful park, boating facility and a wildlife centre. Located 30 km from city.

Agastaya koodam

It is the second highest peak in Kerala at 1890 m suitable for trekking. Located 60 km from city. The base for the trek is Kottur. Permission has to be obtained from Forest dept. Shivratri (March) is the season as it attracts pilgrims to the top.

Ponmudi

Ponmudi (The Golden Peak) is an idyllic hill station in the Thiruvananthapuram district. It is located at 61 km north-east of Thiruvananthapura city about 915 meters above sea level. It is a part of the Western Ghats mountain range that runs parallel to the Arabian Sea. A precipitous climb (22 hairpin bends), through lush, humid clove, rubber and cashew plantations, bamboo and teak forests and rivers, brings one to this tiny outpost situated among the tea plantations that crown the misty mountaintops. It is a popular hill station with a salubrious climate. There is accommodation and a good restaurant by KTDC.

Happy land

This popular theme water park is located at Vembayam, 20 km from city. Time : 10.30 am to 6 pm.