|
Home | ||
Padmanabhapuram Palace |
|
Padmanabhapuram Palace is a magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, located in Thuckalay, 64 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is the old palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) and an excellent example of the indigenous architectural style of Kerala. The palace has antique interiors replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured d‚cor adorned with 17th and 18th century murals. |
|
Thaikkottaram |
Top^ |
 Thaikkottaram is a resplendent affair with painted ceilings, rose wood and teak carved ceilings with over 90 different floral designs.The Durbar Hall has a shiny black floor especially made with a combination of jaggery lime, egg white, burnt coconut, river and charcoal, secret underground passages, granite tubs to cool curd and buttermilk. hanging brass lanterns lit continuously since the 18th century, room for scribes and accountants, the King`s bedroom with a four poster medicinal bed, hanging cage through which eagles tore criminals to death, open air swimming bath, pooja (worship) rooms with jackfruit tree columns, fish carvings on the ceilings, enormous teak beams, Belgian mirrors and an outer cyclopean stone wall fitted together without mortar, granite dance hall, Goddess Saraswati (goddess of knowledge) temple, large earthen urns and room for scribes and accountants. |
|
Nedumangad Palace |
Top^ |
 Nedumangad Palace also known as Koikkal Kottaram is an18th century palace situated about fourteen kilometers from Thiruvananthapuram at Nedumangad. It is on the way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtalam waterfalls. The palace today houses a folklore museum and a numismatic museum as well.
The chief attractions here are the Palace, the numismatics museum and the folklore museum set up by the Department of Archaeology. Originally built for Umayamma Rani of the Venad royal family, the palace is a double storied traditional nalukettu with slanting gabled roofs and an inner courtyard. |
|
Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple |
Top^ |
 Thiruvananthapuram's most interesting temple open to Hindus only, and even they must wear wear a 'dhoti' or 'sari'. Still , it's worth visiting -even if you are just passing through town-to see the temple's seven story carved gopuram reflected in the nearby sacred tank. Constructed in the Dravidian style by a maharaja of Travancore in 1733, the temple is dedicated to Vishnu, who reclines on the sacred serpent, Anantha, which gives Thiruvanathapuram its name. |
|
Aranmula Temple |
Top^ |
 Aranmula Temple is located on the Thiruvananthapuram - Kottayam route. The temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna. A major attraction here is the snake boat race held as part of the Uthrettathi festival in August/September. "Aranmula Kannadi" is a hand made mirror of polished for which Aranmula is famous. |
|
Attukal Bhagavathy Temple |
Top^ |
 Attukal Bhagavathy Temple is located at Attukal, 2 km away from the city. The temple is considered as the Sabrimala of the women and they form the major portion of the devotees here. The goddess is worshipped as the Supreme Mother here.
Legend has it that Attukul Bhagvathy is the divinized form of Kannaki, an incarnation of Goddess Parvati. The Pongala festival is celebrated here in the month of March as a ten day long celebration. Kuthiyottam performed by boys and Thalappoli by girls are two popular rituals made on the Pongal day. A large number of devotees throng the temple during the festival times. The Pongal ceremony is exclusively for women. |
|
Govt. Arts and Crafts Museum |
Top^ |
 Located in a well planned compound is a complex of museums and the city’s zoo. The government Arts and Crafts museum, earlier known as the Napier museum is in a red and black brick Indo-Saracenic structure, designed by Robert Fellows Chisholm in 19th century. The museum has a vast collection of bronzes, stone sculptures, exquisite gold ornaments, ivory carvings and a temple chariot.
The Shri Chitra Art Gallery is located north of the museum. Housed in a beautiful building, the gallery incorporates the best elements of the local architecture. The pride of its vast collection is the huge works of Raja Ravi Varma, who was the finest Indian artist of his period. |
|
Natural History Museum |
Top^ |
 The Natural History Museum to the east of the government museum has a vast collection of replica of a typical Kerala Nair wooden house, naluketu, detailing the principles of its construction. The Kanakakunnu Palace where the royal family of Travancore once entertained their guests is adjacent to this complex, on the top of a hill. |
|
Kuthiramalika Palace Museum |
Top^ |
 This interesting museum located in Fort Area is housed in an 18th century palace, built by Raja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma, a statesman, poet, musician and social reformer. The museum displays a rare collection of various artifacts from the royal era, including a solid crystal throne given by the Dutch. A fine example of Kerala architecture this wooden palace has polished floors and a sloping tiled roof. The wood carvings are very much fascinating. |
|
CVN Kalari Sangham |
Top^ |
 This Training Centre for Kalaripayattu was established in 1956 to revive Kerala's martial arts tradition. Each morning, students gather at the gymnasium to perform a series of exercises that helps them develop the necessary combat skills. The centre also has a shrine dedicated to the deity of martial arts, Kalari Paradevata, and an Ayurvedic Clinic where students are given oil massages. |
|
Kovalam |
Top^ |
 About 16 km south of Thiruvananthapuram city is a sleepy fishing village with its spectacular beach that attracts tourists from across the globe to discover its beauty filled with sun, sea and sand.
Kovalam’s sheltered natural bay has four beaches – Samudra Beach, Ashok Beach, Eve’s Beach and Light House Beach – all at walkable distance from each other. Despite mass tourism, Kovalam has retained its inherent charm that has made it one of India’s most popular beach resorts.
While the beaches to the south of the promontory are more crowded, the ones to the north offers more secluded space for sun bathing, safe swimming and water sports. |
|