The Capital City of Kerala

 

Thiru Anantha Puram retains its past glory of the capital of a princely state. The capital of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) or Syanandoorapuri is built on hills with wide open spaces, sports stadia and low-lying paddy fields. Thiruvananthapuram is linked by flight to Kochi, Chennai (Madras) and Mumbai (Bombay), international flights are being operated to Colombo, Maldives and Gulf countries. The district is also connected by road and rail with Chennai and Kochi.

 

Kovalam

 

About 13 km south of Thiruvananthapuram city is located one of the best bathing bays in the world - Kovalam, where a sheltered beach and a shallow sea offer excellent bathing facilities. The scenery around the place is enchanting. 

 

Ponmudi

 

About 56 km north east of Thiruvananthapuram city is Ponmudi, one of the important hill stations in Kerala. It has a height of over 900 metres above sea level. Accommodation is available at government guesthouse and at Golden Peak managed by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. 

 

Neyyar Dam

 

Neyyar Reservoir is a scenic picnic spot, 32 km south east of Thiruvananthapuram city. About nine sq. km. in area, the reservoir offers excellent boating facilities. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the forests around the reservoir are the abode of elephants. On the upper reaches of the Neyyar reservoir there are two magnificent waterfalls. After a trek of two km through dense forests, one would reach Meenmutty waterfalls and from there another two kilometers to Kombaikani waterfalls.

 

Aruvikkara

 

Thiruvananthapuram city gets its water supply from Aruvikkara, 16 km northeast of the city. The reservoir and garden here are good picnic spots for visitors. The small temple on the stream's edge attracts large number of devotees.

 

Veli

 

On the drive from Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to Thumba (Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre) is the Veli lagoon.

 

Varkala

 

The famous Hindu pilgrim centre, Varkala is 48 km north of Thiruvananthapuram. The place is noted for its mineral springs that gush out of the towering cliffs.

 
Agasthyarkoodam
 

About 1869 metres above sea level, Agasthyarkoodam is a prominent peak in the Western Ghats mountain range. A pilgrim centre of the Hindus, tradition says that the great sage Agastya had his abode in this peak. The place is also noted for its abundant Ayurvedic herbs.

 

Anjuthengu (Anjengo)

 

Situated 40 km, north of Thiruvananthapuram along the sea coast, Anjuthengu (Anjengo) is a place of historic importance. It was here that the first settlement of the English East India Company was established in 1864 A.D. According to the local folk, the limited area where five coconut palms stood (Anjuthengu - Anjengo) was given on lease to the company by the then ruling prince of Travancore for trade purposes. The remains of the old English Fort, which had withstood many a siege can be seen here even now.

 
Source: IT Department, Government of Kerala