Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Travel Guide

Facts

Name: Thiruvananthapuram
Area: 214 sq.km
Population: 9.58 lakhs
Language: Malayalam
State: Kerala
Currency: Indian Rupees
Time Zone: India Standard Time
Religions and Beliefs: Muslims, 14.31% to Christians, 41.61% to Hindus, and 0.25% to others,

Thiruvananthapuram is an important city because it is also the capital of the state of Kerala. The city is much different from the others due to its amazing British colonial architecture in town, stunning art galleries and the museum for exploring the culture. Trivandrum city has quite a lot of popular attractions like Napier Museum, Karikkakom Devi Temple, Aazhimala Siva Temple and some beaches like Shangumugham Beach for tourists to keep them entertained. To get you started, here are some famous places you can visit while you are in town.

Best Places to Visit Trivandrum

1. Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple – Explore a Beautiful Architecture

2. Napier Museum – Explore the Culture and Heritage

3. Attukal Temple – Be amazed!

4. Shangumugham Beach – A Place for Relaxation

5. Kanakakunnu Palace – Explore an Old World Charm

6. Vellayani Lake – Best for Fishing

7. Karikkakom Devi Temple – It’s a Stunning Architecture

8. Aazhimala Siva Temple – Check out the Amazing Carvings

The capital of Kerala is best known for its revitalizing nature’s beauty and some amazing colonial architecture. The city is also quite famous for its rich culture and amazing religious heritage for spiritual enthusiasts. These are some of the popular destinations in Kerala that a tourist should not leave without exploring. Karikkakom Devi Temple is famous for stunning architecture and Aazhimala Siva Temple is known for carvings. Let us give you some more details about Trivandrum that will help you to explore the place better.

Best Time to Visit Trivandrum: October to February

October to February, the winters in this part of Kerala is not that chilly and has a very moderate climate, and you can easily visit the place with light layers on because the weather fluctuates between 18-19 degrees Celsius. Wearing some breathable clothing such as light t-shirts in the afternoon is preferred and wearing some comfortable clothes such as wind jackets and hoodies at night. Carry sun block cream for protection. The city covers the borders of tropical savanna climate and has a tropical monsoon climate. The city experiences a maximum temperature of 34 °C (93 °F) and the minimum temperature is 21 °C (70 °F).

Read more about Best Time to Visit Kerala

Ranking List of Trivandrum Food

1. Malabar fish curry
2. Burgers
3. Seafood

When you are planning to visit the capital of Kerala, you will come across a few popular dishes for sure. Dishes like burgers, fish curry, desserts, seafood and a few dishes with their origin from Arab. Burgers are very famous in Trivandrum. Places like Supreme upper crust, Burger lounge, and others. Malabar fish curry is prepared in almost every famous restaurants and cooked with sardines with special Kerala paste to bring a semi-stew on the plate. Seafood is another specialty of this amazing place, you will come across almost every restaurant serving some or the other kind of seafood.

Best Restaurants in Trivandrum

1. Villa Maya: Perunthanni, Vallakkadavu Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
You will find this restaurant in the 18th century Dutch Manor. It serves local and international dishes.

2. Zam Zam: University of Kerala Senate House Campus, Palayam Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
You will come across a long list of Italian, Chinese and North-Indian dishes along with amazing Arabian and Lebanese cuisines. It is famous for: Zam Zam’s standout dish like the chicken shawarma, crispy grilled chicken.

3. Hilton Garden Inn: Punnen Road, Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
This place has the most amazing ambience with an elegant touch that attracts the crowd.

Where to Stay in Trivandrum for Tourists

1. Vivanta by Taj Trivandrum
2. Leela Kovalam
3. Amrutham Gamaya

The first place is suggested if you want to stay close in the heart of the city. The Taj properties serve their customers with great care and you will get excellent facilities to get access to amazing sites around the property. Leela Kovalam offers amazing housing facility and deluxe beach life. You will have access to the infinity pool, private beach areas, and excellent fining options. The third hideaway is for spiritual people and serves a great purpose of offering ayurvedic retreats and calming experience through meditation and yoga.

Transportation in Trivandrum

How to Arrive in the City

1. By Road

The KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation) buses operate from Thampanoor Bus Station in Kochi-199 km, Trivandrum for Kovalam - 20 km, and Kottayam - 147 km. You can try executive, deluxe, sleeper and luxury buses.

Estimated price- Rs 500 - Rs 1,500 (May vary due to Pandemic)

2. By Train
Trivandrum Central is around 6 km away from downtown, it is linked to major cities in India via an extended rail network. You will find frequent trains playing from Trivandrum connecting cities like Bangalore, New Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Chennai and others.
Estimated price- Rs 100- Rs 900 (Depending on the distance)

Means of Transportation in the City

Shatchbacks: Perfect for two-person travel

Innova: Seven seater category

Tempo traveler: This is an unusual vehicle to hire and there will be other people travelling, so you have to be careful while taking this transportation.

By Bus: Many visitors consider taking buses to travel throughout Kerala. It is an inexpensive mode of transportation and the buses connect the remotest corners of the state.

Top Shopping Markets

1. Chalai Market: Chalai Market Road, Trivandrum

This is the most popular market place in Trivandrum. You can find absolutely anything in this location. It is best for looking for best deals on local handicrafts and fabric.

2. Connemara Market: Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram

This is a hub for wholesale fruits. You will find everything here from spices to raw meat. It is best for fruit, exotic spices, vegetables, and garments.

3. Pothys: MG Road, Thiruvananthapuram

This is a recent market and one of the largest recently. This market is located is in the heart of the capital. It is best for silk sarees.