Destination Kerala - Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram)
Trivandrum is the capital of the State of Kerala. It is bordered by Quilon district in the north, Thirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts of the State of Tamilnadu in the east and south and the Arabian sea in the west. Trivandrum is a beautiful city of magnificent structures built on seven hills with anceint and modern style of architecture. Many important cultural institutions, palaces, art galleries, beaches and Sree Padmanabha Swami temple are located here.
Transport
Air : The airport is situated 6 Km. away from the city and there are city buses from the bus station at East Fort.Domestic Airport - Ph:501537 and International Airport Ph: 501542. The Indian Airlines operates domestic flights to different parts of the country.There are also flights to Maldives and Colombo. Air India has international flights to Gulf countries.
Rail : The railway station is situated opposite to the central bus station. Trivandrum is one of the most important rail heads of south India. There are direct trains from Trivandrum to all the major cities in India.
Road : Trivandrum is connected by good motorable roads to various centres of south India. There are two bus stations in the city. The long distance buses start from the central bus station opposite the railway station and the city bus station is at East Fort, 2 Km. away from the railway station.
Most of the buses to different centres in Tamilnadu is operated by State Express Transport of Tamilnadu Government located at the east end of the central bus station.
Bus Enq : Central Bus Station: 323886,City Bus Ph : 463029, Tamilnadu Bus Ph: 327756.
There are also buses to Nagercoil, Trichur and Sultan Battery.
Interstate Private bus
Interstate Private luxury buses to Bangalore, Madras and Coimbatore start from Aristo junction.
A.K.TravelsPh : 326410
Gayathri TravelsPh : 323294
Aristo Tours And TravelsPh : 325972
Passport Liaison office (Ph:460132)
This office is situated at Convent Road, Rishimangalam,
4 Km. away from the central bus station.
Tourist offfice
There are four trourist information counters of the Kerala State Trourism Department. The Tourist counter situated at the central bus station (Ph : 327224) functions from 8.am. to 8 pm. on all days except sundays and public holidays. There is an information counter at the railway station( Ph: 334470). the domestic airport counter (Ph:501085) and the International Airport (Ph:502298) function during flight hours and the counter at Park View, opposite the museum (Ph : 321132) functions from 10 am. to 5pm. on week days. There is also tourisit facilitation centre here.
The KTDC has a reception centre (Ph : 330031) at Hotel Chaithram near central bus station. It is open from 6.00 am. to 10 pm. on all days.
The Department of tourism, Government of Tamil Nadu (Ph:327310) has an information counter at SS Kovil Road, near Hotel Chaithram.
Conducted Tours
The following tours are conducted by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. The tour starts from the KTDC reception centre near Hotel Chaithram.
Trivandrum tour : This daily tour starts at 8 a.m. and returns at 7 p.m. it covers Padmanabha Swami temple, Kovalam beach, Museum, Art Gallery etc. Fare Rs.190/-
Trivandrum tour (half day) : (Every day except Wednesday) This tour starts at 1. p.m. and returns at 7 p.m. it covers Veli Lagoon, Marine aquarium and Kovalam beach. Fare Rs.95/-
Kanyakumari tour : This daily tour starts at 7.30 a.m.
and returns at 9 p.m. It covers Kovalam beach, Padmanabha-puram palace, Sucheendram temple and Kanyakumari.
Fare Rs.275/-.
Thekkady wild life tour : Every Saturday (except last Saturday). It starts at 5.30 a.m. and returns at 9. p.m. on Sunday. Fare Rs.370/-
Kodaikanal tour : This three day tour starts at 6 a.m. on last Saturday of every month and returns at 9 p.m. on the third day. It covers Thekkady, Kodaikanal and Madurai.Fare Rs.630.
Munar tour : Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Starts at 9.30 p.m. and returns at 7 p.m. on third day. Fare Rs.475
Courtallam tour : Starts at 8 a.m. and returns at 9 p.m. Fare Rs.160/-
Bangalore tour : Second Saturday of every month. Starts at 8 a.m. and returns at 10 p.m. on the seventh day. It covers Malampuzha, Ooty, Bangalore, Mysore and Madurai. Fare Rs.1575/-
Rameswaram tour : On all Thursdays. Starts at 1.30 a.m. and returns at 6 a.m. on the fourth day. It covers Suchindram, Kanyakumari, Tiruchendur, Rameswaram and Madurai. Fare Rs.525/-
Sabarimala tour : Every last day of Malayalam month and every day during Mandala Pooja and Makara Vilakku season. Starts at 9.30 p.m. and returns at 8.30 p.m. on the next day. Fare Rs.295/-
The fare of the above tours are for transportation only.
Banks
Nationalised and other banks haver their branches in the city. Banking facilities for foreign nationals are available at most of the banks. The State Bank of India has a branch at M.G. road, near Ayurveda College. The State Bank of Travancore has a branch near Secretariat on M.G. road.The British Bank ,Vellayambalam and HDFC, Kalabhavan, Vazhuthakad have ATM facilities.
Shopping
The Kerala State Handicrafts Development Corporation's "Kairali" has four show rooms at Trivandrum. They are situated at the Govt. of Kerala Tourist Office on Park View, SMSM Institute behind the Secretariat, Statue Junction and Hotel Samudra at Kovalam. Surabhi has a showroom at Kovalam.
Post & Telegraph
The General Post Office is situated at Pulimood Junction. It functions from 8.30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on week days; on Saturdays from 9.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on public holidays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The central telegraph office is situated opposite Secretariat on M.G. road and it functions round the clock. Telex and Fax facilities are available here.
Office of the Commissioner of Police
Visa Extension for foreign nationals are arranged from this office situated at Thycaud, 2 Km. away from the central bus station. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and remains closed on second Saturdays of the month, Sundays and public holidays.
Swimming Pool
The Trivandrum Water Works has a swimming pool near the Museum. It is open on all days except on Monday and the time is from 8.30 a.m. to 12 Noon, 2 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. and 6.15 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Places of Interest
Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple : This temple is situated near the city bus station at the East Fort. The temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu is the landmark of the city. It was renovated by the Maharaja of Travancore in 1733. The temple is a fine specimen of South Indian and Dravidian architecture. Non Hindus are not permitted inside this temple.
Veli Tourist Village : This beautiful picnic spot is situated by the sea side, 9 Km. away from the city. The landscape, gardens and wading pools here are very attractive. There are facilities for boating and water sports in the lake. The boat club at Veli has pedal boats, row boats and motor boats for hire. The youth hostel at Veli provides dormitory type of accommodation. There are frequent buses from the city bus station at East Fort to Veli.
Akkulam Lake : This lake is situated 3 Km. away from Ullur junction. Boating facilities are provided in the lake. The children's park here is one of the biggest in Kerala.
Museums, Zoo and Art Gallary
Napier Museum : It has a good collection of bronzes, historical ornaments, temple chariots and ivory carvings. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Wednesday mornings and Mondays.
Science and Technological Museum : It is situated near Hotel Mascot and exhibits scores of items highlighting science and technology. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Mondays. There is also a planetarium here.
Children's Museum : It is located at Thycaud near central railway station. It is open from 10 a.m. on all days except on Mondays and notified holidays.
Sree Chithira Art Gallery : This is situated in the Napier Museum grounds. It has a good collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma and Roerich, copies of the Rajput, Mughals and Tanjore schools of art and paintings; and of Ajantha and Bagh caves. It includes a collection of eastern paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali. It is open form 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. except on Wednesday mornings and Mondays.
Kuthiramalika Museum : This museum (Ph : 473952) is located near Sree Padmanabhaswami temple, Thampanoor. The building itself is unique in its Keralan architecture. It is closed on Mondays.
Zoo : It is situated near the Napier Museum and it is one of the best zoos in south India. It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except Mondays.
Other places of interest in Trivandrum city are the Shangumugham beach near the airport and the Observatory tower situated on a hill facing Kanakakkunnu Palace.
Around Trivandrum
Varkala
This town, 51 Km. north of Trivandrum and 37 Km. south of Quilon, is known for its beautiful beachs and a Vishnu shrine dedicated to Lord Janardhana. This ancient Janardhana Swamy temple is believed to be of 2000 years old. The Sivagiri mutt is situated at an elavation, 3 Km. east of the Janardhana temple. This was built in 1904 by the great Hindu reformist Sree Narayana Guru. It was here that this Great Leader breathed his last, in 1928. His Samadhi is visited by thousands of devotees every year.
Varkala is a beautiful sea side resort with mineral water springs. This sea shore is called 'Papanasm' and hundreds of Hindu devotees perform 'Vavu Bali' on new moon days of the Malayalam month of Karkidakam.
Rail : The railway station is 3 kms away from the beach.
Road : Varkala is easily accessible from Trivandrum and Quilon by bus.
Bus Timings
QuilonDaily 5 buses 1½ hrs journey.
TrivandrumFrequent buses.
There are frequent local buses to Kallambalam from where buses are available to Quilon and Trivandrum.
Tourist Office
The DTPC is operating aTourist Information Counter near the Helepad. Earth Travel Shop counter ( Ph: 606315) and Backwater Tourism Promotion Council(605071) also have their counters at Varkala beachside.
Travel Agents : Babu Tours & Travels Ph:603978, Earth - Ph: 606315 Universal Travel Enterprises,Ganga Tours & Travels.
Money Exchange : Nikhil Beach Resort, Universal Travel Enterprises, Earth
Kathakali Performance : Kerala Kathakali Center.
Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a beautiful hill station situated 61km away from Trivandrum at an elevation of 2000 feet above sea level, and can be reached only by road. Ponmudi has a cool healthy climate and the forest trails are good for trekking.
Ponmudi Tourist Complex (Ph:0472-890230)
a) Guest House (24 rooms)
b) Cottages (10)
c) Double room Rs. 300
d) Dormitory
Reservation Authority : The Manager, Ponmudi Tourist Resort. Ph : 0472-890230 and The Secretary, GAD (Political), Government Secretariate, Trivandrum.
There are six buses from Trivandurm to Ponmudi (2½ hrs). The first bus from Ponmudi to Trivandrum is at 6.10 am.and the last bus is at 5.50 p.m.
Kovalam
The Kovalam beach, situated 16 Km. south of Trivandrum city, is one of the best beaches in India. On account of its natural location, it affords facilities for safe sea bath. A rocky promountary jutting into the sea render the beach safe for sea bathing even in the roughest weather. There are several hotels of various ranges in Kovalam. There are frequent buses to Kovalam from Trivandrum city bus station at East Fort.
Tourist Office : Near ITDC Hotel (Ph : 480085). News papers from various countries are available here.
Government Guest House Ph : 480146
Aruvippuram : This place is 24 Km. away from Trivandrum near Neyyattinkara. There is a small Siva Temple built by Sree Narayana Guru which attracts a large number of worshippers during the 'Sivarathri' festival. There is a small waterfall here and the name of this place is derived from this waterfall. There are buses to Neyyattinkara from Trivandrum.
Aruvikkara : A pilgrim centre and a place of tourist interest, Aruvikkara is situated on the banks of the Karamana river 16 Km. away from Trivandrum. There is an ancient temple here dedicated to Bhagavathi, built on a rock on the right bank of the river. There is an Inspection Bunglow here and the reservation authority is the Asst. Executive Engineer, Kerala Water Authority.
Sarkara, Chirayinkeezhu : This place is situated 40 Km. away from Trivandrum in Chirayinkeezhu. The Bhagavathy temple here celebrates the annual festival 'Bharani' during March/ April every year. The 'Kaliyoottu' in this temple is performed one month before Bharani Utsavam.
Neyyar Dam : Situated 32 Km. away from Trivandrum, this is a popular picnic spot with a lake and a dam. Facilities for boating are provided in the reservoir. There is a Crocodile Farm and a Lion Safari Park. Frequent buses are available from Kattakkada, 20 Km. away from Trivandrum.
The Sivananda Yoga Vedantha Dhanwanthari Asramam (Ph : 0471 - 450942) is located near Neyyar Dam.
Santhigiri Ashramam (Ph: 419315) : This ashramam is located at Pothencodu, 21 kms away from Trivandrum and 13 kms away from Sreekaryam.
Agasthyakoodam : This is a prominent peak in the Sahyadri ranges and is conspicuous for its height and isolation when seen from a distance. For about 2000 feet in the line of the range, it rises up in the form of a sharp pointed cone. This peak can be approached on foot from Bonacadu (61 Km. from Trivandrum) and from Neyyar dam (32 Km.)
Padmanabhapuram Palace : 54 Km. away from Trivandrum on the way to Nagercoil, this palace was once the royal residence of the Travancore kings before they shifted the capital from Padmanabhapuram to Trivandrum. An old fort is situated here. The wooden palace contains 17th and 18th century murals. The construction of this palace is typical of the native architectural idioms and fascinating example of art and craftsmanship.
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