| Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala, is set | | | | a temple chariot and ivory carvings |
| on the seven low hills , 87 km short of the southern | | | | Padmanabhapuram Palace : |
| extremity of the Indian mainland at Kanyakumari. Earlier | | | | Padmanabhapuram is a one such place that cannot be |
| known as 'Trivandrum' it is the administrative seat of | | | | missed on the tour to Kerala. Situated 65 kms from |
| seat of Kerala demonstrated by the open wide roads, | | | | Thiruvananthapuram, Padmanabhapuram palace was |
| glistering white colonial buildings and mutistorey high | | | | built by the Iravipillai Iravivarma Kulasekhara Perumal in |
| tech offices. The city gets its name from the word, | | | | the year 1601 AD. When the palace was completed in |
| Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or | | | | 1744, Maharaja Anizham Tirunal Marthanda Varma |
| the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which | | | | dedicated it to the Lord Padmanabha or Vishnu and |
| Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. | | | | named it as Sri Padmanabhapuram Palace. I is |
| Thiruvananthapuram was the capital of Travancore in | | | | considered as the largest wooden palace in Inida. |
| 1745, the city developed into the major intellectual and | | | | Padmanabha Swamy Temple : |
| artistic center during this period only. Today it is one of | | | | Another major sightseeing destination in |
| the most beautiful cities petrified with green caped | | | | Thiruvananthapuram is the famous Padmanabha |
| mountains, palm lined backwaters and luscious green | | | | Swamy Temple, located inside the fort area. It is still |
| paddy fields. It is the superb base to explore the | | | | controlled by the Travancore Royal family. Built in the |
| cultural heritage and age old traditions of the country. | | | | Dravidian style of Tamil Nadu, it is the architectural |
| The best time to plan out the trip to | | | | wonder that will leave you spell binded. The temple is |
| Thiruvananthapuram lies between the month of | | | | dedicated to Lord Vishnu and the major highlight of the |
| October to February. | | | | temple is the 18 feet idol of diety adorned with the gold |
| Sightseeing at Thiruvananthapuram : | | | | and other precious stones. |
| The Napier Museum : | | | | Kovalam : |
| One of the oldest Museum in the country, Napier | | | | If you are looking for some adventure, make a visit to |
| Museum was built in the 19th century. The museum | | | | Kovalam, one of the most famous beach destination in |
| has been built by the after the then Madras governor - | | | | Kerala. Surrounded by the white sandy beaches, rocky |
| John Napier. The credit of designing this Indo - | | | | promontories and coconut palms, Kovalam is famous |
| Saracenic structure goes to the Robert Chisholm, who | | | | for the three crescent beaches - Light house beach, |
| also built to a slightly different brick the stately Madras | | | | Hawah beach and Samudra beach. While at Kovalam |
| University Senate House and Victoria Memorial. The | | | | you can enjoy the various beach activities, else make |
| museum houses the rare collection of archaeological | | | | a visit to the fishing villages located nearby. |
| and historic artefact's, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, | | | | |