Kerala is truly known to be God’s own country for its natural serenity. The capital city of Kerala, Trivandrum, also known as Thiruvananthapuram is popular for its beautiful lush green landscape, mesmerizing backwaters, stunning hilltops, and picturesque beaches. This city is the tourism center of Kerala. Every year several tourists visit this state as it has one of the best tourist spots in Kerala.
There are many amazing places to visit in Trivandrum making it the foremost choice of national and international tourists visiting south India. These include beautiful palaces, museums, temples, hills, beaches, and forests. There are plenty of amazing options to choose from.
Best Places To Visit In Trivandrum In 2021
Trivandrum is also popular for its architectural style from the British colonial era in the 18th century. There are many palaces here that were abode to the Travancore Royal family. Most visited tourist places in Trivandrum include these primitive palaces which are known as architectural marvels. The architecture of these palaces will interest a lot of travelers with inquisitiveness for historical buildings and monuments.
If you are planning to visit down south then this destination is a must in your Kerala holiday package. Trivandrum is a well-connected city therefore, it is very convenient to reach here via air or train from all major cities in India and abroad. The nearest airport is Trivandrum International Airport and there are many train stations in this city. You can choose your means of transportation according to your preference and budget.
Most visited tourist spots in Kerala
For tourists who love to shop, Kerala has a wide variety of options. Local markets such as the Chalai market and Connemara market are considered to be some of the most visited tourist spots in Kerala. Here you can buy everything including handicrafts, artifacts, souvenirs, traditional attire and a lot more. Those in love with silk apparel can shop for traditional handwoven silk sarees at Pothys and Ramachandran textiles.
Shopping for spices is one of the top things to do in Trivandrum. Kerala produces some of the best quality spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, black pepper, turmeric, and many more. You can easily buy these spices in the local markets at very reasonable prices. While you are here you can also plan a trip to one of the spice gardens.
In Trivandrum places to visit are plenty and the experiences to have are abundant. You can design your itinerary based on your areas of interest, duration of visit, and budget. To fully enjoy the vibe of this city you need to plan your trip for at least 5 to 7 days. There are several hotels available in Trivandrum for all budgets.
While you design your itinerary it is important to include a mix of various destinations to get a wholesome experience from your visit.
Here is a list of the 8 Best Trivandrum Destinations To Visit
1. Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace
This palace was built by King Swathi Thirunal in the early nineteenth century. The idea behind building this palace was to preserve the local architectural and art form. This palace is a perfect representation of Kerala’s historic architectural style and artwork.
Kuthiramalika Palace is one of the most interesting places to visit in Trivandrum. This palace is named Kuthiramalika which means the “Mansion of horses”. Once you enter this palace you immediately realize the relevance of its name as you can see several wooden horses intricately carved into many pillars of this palace adding up to a total of 122 horses.
This palace is a paradise for lovers of historical monuments. This palace also has a museum where you can look at the traditional attire, jewelry, crowns, and armors worn by the kings and queens of the Travancore royal family. You can also take a look at the ancient traditional artwork including paintings and woodwork.
The palace is about 7 km away from the city center and very close to Trivandrum central train station. You can easily get a taxi or auto-rickshaw to reach this palace. This palace can be visited on any day of the week except Monday from 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM. If you visit this palace early in January then you can also attend the famous “Swathi Sangeetothsvam” Festival where many popular classical musicians perform live. Some of the best Kerala tour packages include a visit to this palace in their itinerary.
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2. Kovalam Beach
This beautiful beach is located at a distance of about 16 km from the city of Trivandrum. This is considered to be one of the most scenic beaches in the entire country. Surrounded by huge coconut trees the Panoramic view of the sunrise and sunset here can take you to another world. Kovalam beach is believed to be one of the most famous places to visit in Trivandrum.
There are a lot of fun activities you can choose to do on this beach such as sunbathing, swimming, & relishing the seafood at the beachside. Those looking for some adventure can also enjoy the water sports like Parasailing, Wind Surfing, and Diving. Most tourists planning to visit down south include this destination in their Kerala Packages.
If you are into Ayurveda then this beach is an ideal destination for you. Near this beach, you can find various Ayurveda centers offering plenty of Ayurvedic therapies to relax your body and mind. You can get an Ayurvedic massage here to refresh yourself.
Here you can also enjoy some lip-smacking seafood in the small restaurants at the beach. If you are traveling with family then this can a perfect picnic spot for you to spend some quality time. This is also a wonderful spot for taking selfies and photographs. If you are planning to travel to Kerala this winter then Kovalam beach is one of the best Trivandrum tourist places to visit.
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3. Vizhinjam – Rock Cut Cave Temple
This temple has a very interesting architecture appreciated by many tourists. When you visit this small yet fascinating temple, you will see the precise stone-carved sculptures of Hindu Deities. Inside the temple is a sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi and on the outer side of the temple unfinished sculptures of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati can be seen.
Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave Temple is one of the most popular places to visit in Trivandrum. You can visit this temple on all weekdays except Mondays. Visiting hours are from 9 am in the morning to 6 pm in the evening.
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4. Veli Tourist Village
If you are on a family vacation to Trivandrum then you must visit Veli Tourist Village. This village is considered to be one of the best tourist places in Trivandrum. This village is located near Veli Lake which is about 12 km away from Trivandrum. It is an ideal picnic spot to have a fun-filled day with your family and friends.
Here you can do paddle boating or speed boating in the Veli lake and picnic in the beautiful garden nearby lake. This garden near the lake has a huge eye-catching sculpture of a “Shankha” (Conch). There are also a few restaurants where you can enjoy some refreshments while you are enjoying your time here.
Veli Tourist Village is one of the best places to see in Trivandrum. You can visit this village every weekday from 8 am to 6 pm. You will have to purchase a ticket to enter this tourist village.
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5. Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Padmanabhaswamy Temple is believed to be one of the most famous places to visit in Trivandrum. It is one of the oldest temples in Trivandrum dating back to the 8th century. This temple is about 6 km from the main city center of Trivandrum and can be reached very conveniently.
This temple is famous for its fascinating and intricate ancient Kerala-style architecture. The temple is constructed mainly from stone and bronze. Inside this temple beautiful sculptures, murals, and paintings of Hindu Lord Vishnu and other deities can be seen. This temple is a true haven for art lovers. Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the most visited tourist places in Trivandrum.
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6. The Kanakakunnu Palace
Kanakakunnu Palace is one of the most popular tourist places in Trivandrum. This grand palace is located in the heart of Trivandrum city. This palace of built in the nineteenth century by the King during the rule of the Travancore royal family. This huge palace functioned as a guest house for the royal family members.
This Palace has a unique architectural style reminding you of the traditional Kerala style roof patterns. This is an ideal destination for those willing to explore the cultural aspect of southern India. Your itinerary of places to visit in Trivandrum would be incomplete without a visit to Kanakakunnu Palace.
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7. Napier Museum
Napier Museum is one of the best places to visit in Trivandrum. This located in the heart of Trivandrum city is one of the oldest museums in India.
For history lovers, one of the best things to do in Trivandrum is to visit this splendid museum. This museum is an abode to the artistic masterpieces of ancient southern India. Here you can find unbelievably intricate sculptures made from bronze, stone, wood, and ivory. You can also see some historically important artifacts, weapons, and coins dating back to the 1st century.
If you want to know about the history of this museum in detail then you can easily hire a guide here who will explain it all to you. Due to its popularity, this museum is a part of all Kerala packages.
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8. Shanghumukham Beach
Shanghumukham Beach is one of the most amazing places to visit in Trivandrum. This beautiful beach is located about 11 km away from the main city center of Trivandrum.
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If you want to spend a quiet and peaceful day by the seaside admiring a beautiful life-size sculpture then is the perfect spot for you. This beach is one of the best tourist places in Trivandrum therefore; tourists from all over the country visit this destination.
If you are planning your honeymoon in Trivandrum then you must include a visit to this beach. The mesmerizing picturesque beauty of this beach will allow you to create beautiful memories together. This beach is one of the best Trivandrum destinations to visit during winters when the weather here is at its best.
These were some of the best Trivandrum tourist places to visit. If you are planning a trip to Trivandrum this year then you can add these destinations to your itinerary. You can visit this beautiful city throughout the year but the best time to visit Kerala is from September to February.
In Trivandrum places to visit are diverse and you can choose to include the destinations in your itinerary as per your preference. It is a perfect destination for all kinds of tourists including those who are traveling with friends, family, backpackers, or solo travelers. This city is capable of accommodating all kinds of tourists.
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