Are you in Thiruvananthapuram for a vacation? The capital city of Kerala has a lot to offer from serene beaches to historic monuments, hills to religious centres and more. Here are top five places in Thiruvananthapuram, anyone should see before leaving the city.
1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Long before Thiruvananthapuram assumed any importance as a capital city, it was famous for its temple dedicated to Lord Padmanabha. And now, this historic temple is a major landmark in the city.
The present structure was built by Marthanda Varma 1, the founder of modern Travancore. The temple complex occupies almost three hectares of land in the middle of the city of Thiruvananthapuram. It faces east and is enclosed within the massive walls of East Fort. It is on a slight elevation and the main entrance is up a handsome flight of stone steps on the eastern side.
2. Ponmudi
About 60 kilometres off Thiruvananthapuram, the splendid Ponmudi peak is a conservationist’s delight as well as a picnicker’s favourite.
Ponmudi translates to 'golden peak' or a crest of gold. And if the gold here stands for nature's bounty, then this place is truly bathed in gold.
Ponmudi is a veritable paradise, ideal for a weekend’s rest or for a holiday experience. The place is cold and covered in mist even during the hottest summer. A drive up, maneuvering the 22 hairpin bends, is a trip in itself. The tea plantations, the brooks and the evergreen forests are some of the sights to savor.
3. Kovalam
When you pause on the Kovalam beach, watching each successive wave trying to lure you with its mesmerising gesture- asking you to take a dip- you become aware that hospitality is second nature to Kovalam. That is perhaps the reason why the place is a favourite with foreign and domestic tourists. One can confidently surmise that Kovalam is the most sought-out beach in Kerala, the capital of all beaches in the state!
Lying 16 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram, the beach has all the quintessential Kerala charms - swaying palms, white sands that glow in the moonlight, frollicking waves, a rocky terrain. The romantic charms here are pure magical!
Kovalam beach is divided into three: the northern part is the Samudra Beach while the central part is the famous Hawa Beach. The southern part is the Lighthouse Beach.
4. Anchuthengu
Anchuthengu, situated at about 40 km from Thiruvananthapuram city, is a normal fishing village - one of the many you will find on the coast of Kerala. But, Anjengo, as once the British called it, used to be a famous port of call during the olden days.
The fort is a simple structure, with four bastions and paved pathways inside. There are steps on all the four sides leading on to the bastions. And you can see the sea from two of them. There is nothing more inside the fort to keep you engaged. However, it has a long and gory history. In 1680's the English East India Company got permission to set up a factory at Anchuthengu from the Rani of Attingal. This fort served as the first signaling station for ships coming in from England. Battles were fought from this fort during the Anglo-Mysore wars and during the Attingal Rebellion, when the local people rose in revolt against the British. Now a protected monument by the Archaeological Survey of India, the fort is open to public on most of the days.
5. Kuthiramalika/ Puthenmalika museum
Kuthira Malika is a wooden palace built by Swathi Thirunal on the south-eastern side of Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram. It has 108 horse figures on its southern wall. It is from these figures that the palace got its name the Palace of the Horses.
The wooden carvings, architecture and sculpture in the palace are well preserved. The finest of Kerala style wood carving can be seen here. The place is famous for Swati Thirunal Music Festival which is conducted every year in January or February featuring leading Carnatic and Hindustani musicians of the country.
