Sightseeing and Temples at Trivandrum

                    Trivandrum, now called Thiruvananthapuram, is the capital of Kerala and located at the south-western tip of India. It is bound by the Arabian Sea on the west and the state of Tamil Nadu on the east. Trivandrum city is famous for many tourist attractions. Internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this district a much sought-after tourist destination. But apart from these, the main landmark of the city is Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple around which the city has been built on seven low hills. Clean and green, Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala is one of the most beautiful cities in the country.

Here are the few places that are must-visit places when you are in this God’s Own Country.

PADMANABHA SWAMY TEMPLE:

                    Sri Padmanabha Swamy Temple is located in the heart of the city of Trivandrum. The temple is a blend of Kerala and Dravidian style of architecture,and is noted for its mural paintings and stone carvings. The main deity of this temple is Lord Vishnu and is one among the 108 sacred Vishnu temples in India. The main shrine of Padmanabhaswamy is in a sleeping posture over the five-headed serpent Anantha, and is accompanied by two shrines of Goddess Sridevi and Goddess Bhudevi who stand on his either side. 

Dress Code : Only Hindus are permitted to enter the temple. We have to be so cautious about the dress that we wear when visiting the temple. All men are supposed to wear dhotis which we can rent from the nearby shops. Women should dress either in a saree or fully-covered skirt and blouse or set-mundu (South-India’s traditional attire).

Temple Darshan Timings :

In the Morning:

03:30 AM to 04:45 AM (Nirmalya Darshanam)

06:30 AM to 07:00 AM

8.30 AM to 10:00 AM

10:30 AM to 11:00 AM

11:45 AM to 12:00 PM

In the evening:

05:00 PM to 06:15 PM

06:45 PM to 07:20 PM

Priests light the lamps around the temple every evening, which is a beautiful sight to watch.

Belongings can be safely deposited at the East Nada (East Side Entrance) cloak room.

Counter timings :

3:00 AM to 1:00 PM 

3:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Temple Poojas and Timings :

Nirmalyam to Deeparadhana  – Pooja from 3.30 AM to 4.45 AM 

Nirmalyam to Ushapooja        – Pooja from 3.30 AM to 5.30 AM

Nirmalyam to Pantheeradi      – Pooja from 3.30 AM to 6.00 AM

Nirmalyam to Ucha pooja       – Half day pooja

Choroonu                                – A special custom of Feeding a child for the first time.

Temple Contact Details:

 Ph. No  : 0471 246 4606

KOVALAM BEACH:

                    Kovalam is an internationally renowned beach with three adjacent crescent beaches namely Lighthouse beach, Hawah beach and Samudra beach. It has been a favourite haunt of tourists, since the 1930s. A massive rocky promontory on the beach has created a beautiful bay of calm waters ideal for sea bathing.

POOVAR ISLAND:

                    A small fishing village, Poovar Island has now become a popular destination and is close to the harbour at Vizhinjam. It provides a relief from the everyday hustle-bustle of Trivandrum. The island is 38 kilometres from the main city ad we can reach the place by boat ride. Poovar Island has a rare combination of beach, sea and backwaters with all tucked in together on a piece of land. Staying there in the island, we can enjoy the cruise, canoe ride, Kerala martial arts and other touristy activities.

THE NAPIER MUSEUM:

                    Named after Lord Napier who was the Governor of Madras in 18th century, this museum was built in the year 1855. The museum houses archaeological artifacts from bronze idols and ivory carvings, to traditional ornaments and the beautiful temple chariot. A visit to the Napier Museum complex reveals a glimpse of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage. The Napier Museum is also called the Government Art Museum and the building is a combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles.

ATTUKAL BHAGAVATHY TEMPLE:

                    The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is one of the oldest temples of South India located on the banks of Killi River. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Bhagvathi who is one of the forms of Goddess Parvati. Devotees worship the main goddess as the supreme power who can grant all their wishes. Designed in both Tamil and Kerala architecture, the temple has various sculptures of Gods and Goddesses on the exterior of the wall. Inside the temple, we could find the sculptures of Lord Ganesha and Lord Shiva adorning the door and walls. The temple has two idols of the main goddess where one of them is embellished with gold.

Temple Darshan Timings : (Opening and Closing time)

All days of the week

4.30 AM – 12.30 PM

5.00 PM – 8.30PM

Temple Pooja Timings:

Morning Darshan:

 Noon Darshan:

Evening Darshan:

 Temple Contact Number:

Ph. No : 0471 245 6456

             0471 246 3130

How to reach Trivandrum:

By Air:

                    The Trivandrum International Airport connects a number of cities in India and abroad. The airport is just 6 km away from the railway station and provides best possible services to the visitors. A number of national and international flights of several airlines ply from this airport.

By Rail:

                    Trivandrum Central is the main railway station located few kilometers away from the city center. This railway station is considered to be the biggest and busiest station in the state, in terms of passenger movement. Quite a good number of trains are available each hour that connect the city to the entire nation.

By Road:

                    If you are planning a trip to Thiruvananthapuram by road then there is not a big worry because one can find continuous bus service from the Central Bus Station which is called as the Thampanoor Bus Station. This bus stand is the headquarters of the KSRTC and hence one can get easy connectivity with important parts of the country through frequent busses from Trivandrum to Kochi (204km), Kovalam (11km), Kottayam (164km) etc.,