Thiruvananthapuram Travel Guide
Thiruvananthapuram
the capital of the state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or the City of the Sacred
Snake, is built over seven hills. Named after Anantha, the thousand - headed
serpent of Hindu mythology, the city once formed a part of the Travancore kingdom,
its capital at Padmanabhapuram, now a part of Tamil Nadu.
Thiruvananthapuram is, decidedly, one of the cleaner and well-planned cities
of the country. The city's scenic appeal, its enchanting beaches, and overwhelming
greenery only add to its uniqueness. It embodies the magical feel of Kerala,
as a whole, and lends terrific insight into the culture of the state. The red-tiled
roofs, the never-ending stretches of palm trees, the maze of narrow, winding
streets and above all, the sea, make for a fascinating mixture. There is an
element of understated and effortless elegance about the city, which leaves
a lasting impression on the visitor.
The
area of historical interest in the city is the Fort, at the southern end of
M.G.Road, which encloses the famous Shri Padmanabhaswamy Vishnu Temple. The
fort gateway leads to the temple, which is surprisingly enough, in the Dravidian
style of architecture, typical of Tamil Nadu. The temple enshrines, and is dedicated,
to the presiding deity of Thiruvananthapuram, Lord Vishnu. It was constructed
by a Maharaja of Travancore, in 1733. The temple is open only to Hindus. The
city derives its name from this temple, as the deity i.e Lord Vishnu, is shown
as reclining on his serpent, Anantha.
The Museum, Zoo, and the park they are located are in, are quite popular with
the local people and tourists. The Napier Museum is housed in a striking building,
and has a good collection of bronzes, ivory carvings, ancient musical instruments
and life-size figures of Kathakali dancers. The art collection at the Sri Chitra
Art Gallery, contains paintings of the Mughal, Tanjore and Rajput schools and
a special section, devoted exclusively to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma.
There are, also, works of art from China, Bali, Tibet and Japan. The Zoological
Gardens are, said to be, among the most well-planned zoos in Asia. The Botanical
Garden within the zoo, houses specimens of almost every tropical tree existing.
The Observatory, located on the highest point of the city, is one of the impressive
architectural landmarks of Thiruvananthapuram.
PLACES OF INTEREST IN KERALA:
» Alappuzha/Alleppey Travel Guide
» Ernakulam/Cochin Travel Guide
» Idukki Travel Guide
» Kannur Travel Guide
» Kasaragod Travel Guide
» Kollam Travel Guide
» Kottayam Travel Guide
» Kovalam Travel Guide
» Kozhikode/Calicut Travel Guide
» Kumarakom Travel Guide
» Malappuram Travel Guide
» Palakkad Travel Guide
» Periyar/Thekkady Travel Guide
» Thiruvananthapuram Travel
Guide
» Thrissur Travel Guide
» Wayanad Travel Guide
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