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 Thiruvananthapuram
city is considered as one of the loveliest cities in India.
Built on seven low coastal hills, the city has an
interesting mixture of tree-lined avenues. Massive
buildings, ancestral homes and a long sea coast washed by
the waves of the Arabian Sea. Clean, green
Thiruvananthapuram, with its spacious layout and regulated
life, is also an excellent base to explore the interiors of
Kerala.
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple - The temple, located near
the bus stand at East Fort, is the city's most impressive
landmark. Its 7 stored gopuram built in the 16th Century is
one of the finest specimens of traditional South Indian
temple architecture which reflects the Kerala influence. The
temple corridors are lined with 368 sculpted stone pillars.
Beautiful murals and ornamentation adorn the walls. Temple
was renovated by the Maharaja of Thiruvithamcur in 1733.
Only Hindus can enter the temple, wearing dhoti in a certain
style.
Sankumughom Beach, This palm-fringed beach near the
airport, with its indoor recreation club and children's
traffic training park is fine for an outing-though not for
swimming.
Kovalam - A beautiful, curving, palm-fringed beach of
golden sands and safe bathing have made India's major beach
resort. It is an internationally known holiday destination.
This natural bay is a safe sea-pool free from high waves and
surges - ideal for swimming, surfing and skiing. The more
adventurous can ride out into the sea
on a catamaran. Besides the ITDC's luxury hotel complex,
several other hotels and guest houses have sprung up on the
hillsides overlooking the beach, taking advantage of the
Kovalam boom. Among the many other attractions here are
water sports, a theatre that stages traditional Kathakali
dance dramas, a yoga centre and facilities for traditional
oil bathing and massages according to the ancient Kerala
Ayurvedic system.
Vizhinjam - An important fishing port near Kovalam
beach. Here, one can see fishing boats return with their
catch in the mornings.
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