Trivandrum
Have you traveled to that land made on seven hills by the seashores, characterized by undulating terrain of low coastal rich green hills, which our father of nation once called, “The Evergreen city”? The tourist places in Trivandrum are amazingly beautiful and will leave you spellbound for sure.
Trivandrum! Where the rainbow mist covers the mountains of flowers, butterflies color the sky and breathtaking sight to boast of charming beaches, alluring temples, historic monuments, spectacular palaces, wonderful backwaters, and tea, coffee and spice plantations with a vintage royal taste amalgamated with the harmonious blend of contemporary and modern styles.
Ruled by lovers of art and architecture, this splendid beach city breathes in its natural and historical significance with lots of facets of a metropolitan culture still clinging back to its cultural roots. Emerged from one story only to delve deep into another, this city glows green in dappled sunlight filtering through dark green trees, greeting the backwaters that open up into the Arabian Sea.
The tourist places in Trivandrum in houses beautiful places. The old house on the hilltop still wears its steep, gabled roof of fresh memory and the temples have distinctively and remarkably found a golden space in its geography and into the books of history that have already been written or will be.
Trivandrum has held its beauty over these amorphous years where the memory has only just begun. The capital and the largest city of Kerala is full of beginnings and no ends, and everything is for forever.
Best Deals
Honeymoon
Family Tours
More Trivandrum Packages
Romantic Escape to Kerala | From Tea Estates to Golden Sands
Spiritual Trails of South India | Flight Inclusive Deal
Exotic Kerala | Misty Mountains and Coastal Hues
Getaway to Kerala | Unveiling the Green Tapestry & Scenic Waterways
Trivandrum FAQ's
Travel Advice
Book your stay and travel facilities well in advance so that you do not have to deal with the last moment mess.
Take care of your cash and expensive belongings.
Though Trivandrum is a safe place, you are advised not to go out late in the night especially if you are alone.
Do not offend the local culture of beliefs in any way.
Pre-decide the taxi fare in case you are using it for local commuting.
Many people here do not speak English and hence, you are advised to learn some words from the local language in order to carry out basic communication.
Drinking Laws
According to the Alcohol laws of the state of Kerala, the minimum legal drinking age to consume alcohol in Trivandrum is 21 years.
Our Recommendations: What you can’t afford to miss?
Indian Coffee House
Filter coffee, the most favourite beverage of South India is an ideal start to your trip. You can visit Indian Coffee House, which has numerous branches all over Kerala. Sit in the calm indoor with simple ambience and drink the most blissful coffee you will ever have in your life and energize yourself for the trip ahead.
Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Dedicated to Padmanabhaswamy, this temple is a perfect example for the mix of Keralite and Dravidian architecture reflected at its best. The intricate stonework on the dome of the temple and the entire positive aura and charm of this shrine attracts thousands of tourists every year and this place has a major importance for the local people of Trivandrum as well.
Academy for Mountaineering and Adventure Sports
If you are enthusiastic about adventure sports, the Academy for Mountaineering and Adventure sports offers you a plethora of choices to thrill yourself, which range from water sports, sky diving, SCUBA Diving to various other adventures like paragliding. This place has good quality equipment of all sorts and with these, you can either thrill yourself with the assisted adventure activities or also take a short course at the academy.
Neyyar Dam
The Neyyar Dam, located on the foothills of the Western Ghats is a famous tourist hub in Trivandrum. The food and facilities provided here by the hospitable locals are worth relishing and the authentic food served here is extremely mouth-watering. You can also enjoy activities like boating on rafts and fishing in the dam and get some sheer relaxation here.
Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which houses various endangered species organizes Lion Safaris and two day treks, out of which, you can opt according to your interests. The Sanctuary is situated 35 kilometers away from Trivandrum and you can reach here by a KSRTC Bus or a private taxi. There are various decent accommodation and dining options available her.
Chalai Market
The busy Chalai market is a must visit place for shopping in Trivandrum. It is famous for an array of products, including spices, souvenirs, traditional oils and products, handicrafts and fabrics and you will surely end up buying more than you need at this active and vibrant market of Kerala which has an authentic charm.
Ayushmanbhava Ayurvedic Centre
Kerala, especially Trivandrum is famous for its Ayurvedic healing and wellness treatments. The place to get the best of this is the Ayushmanbhava Ayurvedic Centre, which promotes Yoga and Ayurvedic wellness lifestyle. There are various massage and spa treatments available here which will help you relax physically as well as mentally and rejuvenate your body and soul.
Vizhinjam Lighthouse
If you want to get a picturesque panoramic view of the city of Trivandrum, you should visit this 45 year old light house, climbing the 150 stairs on it. Located on the Kovalam Beach, this place will give you an aerial view of the vast blue sea and the city. The best time to visit this place is in the morning or evening.
What will like you like there?
Beaches
Most of the Indian beaches are not up to the mark when it comes to cleanliness and crowd, but the beaches in Trivandrum are superbly clean and serene. You can take a calm walk on the beaches along with the blue waves crashing on the white sand. The beaches are also not very overcrowded here and hence, you can enjoy your own time here.
Array of Adventure
There is a wide range of adventure activities you can have here, which include paragliding, sky diving, parasailing and water sports like SCUBA Diving. You will never forget the thrilling experiences you have here as Trivandrum is really famous for all sorts of adventure activities.
Local Culture and traditions
Trivandrum is a rural town where people still follow traditions and culture with great dedication and because of this, you will love the entire lifestyle of people over here.
Shopping options
There are a lot of things to buy here and no matter how much you love shopping, you will get weak in the knees while shopping here. From spices, local handicrafts and fabric, fragrant oils and soaps, local delicacies and souvenirs, there is no end to the kind of things you will get to buy here.Recommended reads for destination
Kerala Tourism
Books
Lonely Planet South India Kerala Travel Guide
Kerala A Migical Odyssey Hb Timeless Books
When is the best time to visit Trivandrum?
The best time to visit Trivandrum are as follows:
December-February: A cold breeze, wrinkled leaves, a cup of tea and you still don’t need to wrap up your body in dozen of clothes or find a fireplace. Winters! The best of the times to feel Trivandrum. Pack your bags and wander in the enchanting weather to taste all the ingredients that make this land a perfect travel destination.
October – November: Trivandrum is a beauty when the monsoon is about to leave and the winters start ringing bells in the southern India. Trivandrum experiences a receding north-eastern monsoon in October which leaves the air filled with the fragrance of the rich brown laterite soil - hypnotizing in the scents of monsoons.
June to September: If monsoon is the music of your life – then get drenched in breezy air that awaits you in the lush-green city. Usually, the humid months are preferred to find solitude when the rain falls to make this place a calm home for travelers. August or early September is a good time to soak up the carnival atmosphere with Onam celebrations lasting for 10 days.
How to reach Trivandrum?
Trivandrum can be reached via below mentioned options:
By Air:
If “reach swiftly, travel slowly” is your mantra then you can take a flight to Trivandrum from all major cities of India and across borders. Trivandrum holds its own domestic and international airport, situated 6.7 km. from the city Centre.
By Road:
KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) provides excellent bus services connecting the city to southern Tamil Nadu and all the parts of Kerala. Roads from Trivandrum will also take you to towns like Kozhikode, Madurai, Chennai, Kochi, Bangalore and Coimbatore.
By Train:
Love to see the moonwalking with you or the trees passing by like a blurred motion captured in a picture, then trains are the right choice for your joyride to Trivandrum, from any major city of the country. The third largest railway station in South India, Trivandrum Central railway station is situated within the city and is well-linked with major Indian cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and many others.
Which are the best resorts to stay in Trivandrum?
The land built on seven hills by sea shores is a backwater destination which houses a welcoming bunch of the most exclusive and amazing resorts. Enriched in the cultural heritage and globally inspired menu, these resorts provide a comforting wall with breathtaking view of the sea and warmth of the lush garden.
Some of the best stays wherein you can find the comfort of the tired travel are here:
- Vivanta by Taj - Trivandrum
- Hycinth By Sparsa
- Bio Veda Hill Resort
- Agastya Ayurveda Garden
- Varkala Marine Palace
- Graceful HomeStay
- Coconut Bay Beach Resort
What are the best public transport modes to commute around Trivandrum?
Walk to window-shop, hitch-hike to save and get on the bus or take an auto-rickshaw to travel around the city. Trivandrum has it all to give you a glimpse of what it has stored in its embrace for years.
The local bus service system, dominated by KSRTC, is the cheapest way to get around the city. Auto-rickshaws are also a fairly cheap way of travelling between the attractions. You can also book the heritage car, Indian Ambassadors, as Taxi which are also cheap and convenient specially when travelling in groups.
Which are the best places for shopping in Trivandrum?
Carry Trivandrum travel story with you in the name of the Kathakali Masks souvenirs, coir products, objects made out of coconut, exquisite sculptures in rosewood and sandalwood, and the real spices of India. Let Trivandrum amaze you while you walk through the lanes of the following local markets:
- Connemara Market
- Chalai Market
- S.M.S.M. Kerala Government Emporium
- Balaramapuram Kaithari
- Sankers Coffee and Tea
- Attukal Shopping complex
Which are the famous destinations for Houseboat stays in Trivandrum?
What is better than a tropical shine, azure waters, cleanest air and all subtleties that make your money and time well-spent?
Trivandrum brings you the most amazing way to explore the breathtaking beautiful backwaters of Kerala –Houseboats. You will have to connect to houseboat service providers to book your houseboat. Few of the famous service providers are:
- Elite Houseboat
- All Houseboats
- Overseas Holidays
- Eden Garden
- Sprazzo Events and Holidays
Which are the famous wildlife sanctuaries in Trivandrum?
Fond of flora and fauna? Trivandrum is the right place for you. Explore what lies in the wisdom of this alluring city:
- Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary- Get your blood pumping with the lions in front, a lake around you and nowhere to run.
- The Mangalavanam Bird Sanctuary - A birdwatcher’s haven.
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
- Trivandrum Zoo
Which are the famous temples to visit in Trivandrum?
Religious were the rulers of the nation and Trivandrum was the place that they had chosen.
For the magnificence of the architecture and artistic designs, visit the most beautiful and richest of the temples with religious values as old as 300 years.
- Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
- Attukal Bhagavathy Temple
- Pazhavangadi Ganapathy Temple
- Aazhimala Siva Temple
- Karikkakom Chamundi Devi Temple
What are the famous treks in Trivandrum?
Feast your eyes on the immense beauty of ever-green forests and colorful butterflies.
- Brymore - Ponmudi -Watch the waterfalls and forest scenery spots around the estate from the golden peak.
- Mankayam Eco Tourism Zone - A small trekking center near Mankayam village, Palode.
- Agasthyakoodam Trekking - 2 days journey through the forest. Agasthyakoodam is open for travelers only from Dec to February.
- For modern privileges and comforts, you can also visit Eco tourism Park in Thenmala, an 80 Km. ride from Trivandrum.
Which are the best locations for camping in Trivandrum?
If you love outdoor camping in the wilderness in pitched tents, exuding a ‘green and fresh’ fragrance all around, you can always find a perfect and private place in Trivandrum.
- Ponmudi
- Agasthyarkoodam
- Veli Tourist Village
Where can one enjoy boating in Trivandrum?
When the small boats bob in the water, you are bound to collect some memories on the way.
The city provides you ample spots to experience the thrill of boating:
- Poovar Island
- Ponmudi
- Veli Tourist Village
- Akkulam
- Anchuthengu
Which are the famous coffee houses in Trivandrum?
In a cup of coffee, lies all the stories of a traveler’s diary. And Trivandrum holds more than one fine place for a coffee worthy of traveling a thousand miles and more, which can defeat a traveler’s pessimist self – cafés that feels more like balcony of your own home.
- Cafe Sarwaa – The king of great expectations
- Cofi Club
- Indian Coffee House
- Zenzerro Cafe & Bakery
- Cafe Jade
- Old Coffee House
Newly Added Trivandrum Experiences
Trivandrum Reviews
