Things To Do in Thiruvananthapuram

Adorning the green hills close to the landscaped Western Ghats, and stretching along the scenic shoreline of the Arabian Sea, the city of Thiruvananthapuram extends over luxuriant rolling lands and features several lively business areas across the entire city. The town of Thiruvananthapuram, embellished with lush palm trees and coconut groves, stands witness to a glorious past of more than 3 millenniums and finds mention even in the ancient literary works of Greece and Rome. Embodying the rich heritages of the yesteryears yet holding the modern marvels of the recent times, Thiruvananthapuram offers so much to each and everyone in the city. In fact, ranging from shopping to dining and from activities to sightseeing, innumerable things are there to do in this thriving seat of history, tradition, culture, nature and of course, technology and science - right at the southernmost region of the Indian Subcontinent.

Best time to Enjoy the Activities at Thiruvananthapuram

The rich tropical climate of the region makes Thiruvananthapuram a place to visit all round the year, the pleasant time to explore the city being the winter months. The exotic beach destinations in Thiruvananthapuram featuring various interesting options for beach activities are the best to be surveyed during the summer months whereas the ideal time to be a part the rich cultural tradition of this prime tourist destination in Kerala are the months of August and September. This is the time of the year when Onam is celebrated with zeal and enthusiasm and across the entire state of Kerala. Monsoons are perfect for the visitors interested in indulging into the water-soaked charms of the unexplored treasures of nature.

Sightseeing at Thiruvananthapuram

A short tour to the innumerable attractions in the city of Thiruvananthapuram is the ultimate option for getting acquainted with the city. Being a historical site with a wide array of buildings and monuments that date back to several centuries, Thiruvananthapuram features so many places to visit and witness. The iconic site of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, the nearby Ramanayar Palace Museum, the historic East Fort in proximity and the Kuthiramallikka Palace are some of the most popular sites to visit in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Keralan Museum, Napier Museum, Kerala Government Secretariat, Kerala Art College, Padmanabhapuram Palace, Attingal Palace, Kanaka Kunnu Palace, Koyikkal Palace and the Kowidar Palace are some of the other famous historical destinations in Thiruvananthapuram. The Zoological Park, Sree Chithra Art Gallery, Chacha Nehru Children’s Museum, Priyadarshini Space Planetarium, Kerala Science and Technology Museum, Neyyar Dam, Aruvikkara Dam, Sree Mahadeva Temple, Vizhinjam and the India Coffee House Thampanoor are some of the other well-known places in Thiruvananthapuram that are also worth visiting.

Exploring Nature at Thiruvananthapuram

Nature can be best explored in Thiruvananthapuram at some of the most fascinating beaches of international acclaim, one such being the Kovalam Beach, which draws crowd from all around the world. The Shanghumukham Beach situated in proximity to the Trivandrum International Airport is the ideal location to enjoy a sunset and also some snacking at the onsite restaurant, which is a popular hangout in the area. The Veli Tourist Village is an exotic tourist destination in Thiruvananthapuram by the beach for thrilling beach activities such as adventure sports, horse riding, boating and feeding fish.

Visiting Wildlife in Thiruvananthapuram

A nearby getaway from Thiruvananthapuram is the landscaped hill station of the Ponmudi Hills, one of the best locations to explore wildlife as well as also for enjoying adventure sports like hiking and trekking. Positioned amidst unspoiled riches of tropical greeneries, the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary happens to be a perfect destination for wildlife watching, the most known species here being the Malabar grey hornbills, lion-tailed macaws, sambars, leopards and Asian elephants. This wildlife habitat serves as another popular site for exciting adventure activities like trekking. The Agasthyakoodam Biosphere Reserve is an expansive stretch of nature reserve in the region offering innumerable options for wildlife exploration and adventure sports like camping, trekking and many more.

Healing of Mind and Body in Thiruvananthapuram

Exhilarating the mind and body with an ayurvedic massage is one of the other innumerable things to do in Thiruvananthapuram. Some of the best venues for this activity are the Mukthi Health Care Center, Sanjeevani Ayurveda Hospital, Kailasa Ayurvedic & Panchkarma Centre and Beach and Lake Ayurvedic Resort. If a vacationer is really eager to join some yoga classes on a visit to this famous tourist destination in South India, the Bhagyodayam Yoga Ashram is the best place to visit. A visit to the Anjaneya Kalari Sangam at Chantamuku, East Fort’s CVN Kalari, Buddha Kalari of Mullur Temple Road or Kalari Dharmikam at Parusuvaikal is one of the most interesting things to do in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, these being the most famous Kalaripayattu learning centers in Trivandrum.

Shopping in Thiruvananthapuram

Other engaging activities in Thiruvananthapuram undoubtedly include shopping for souvenirs at the local shops of the city and at the exclusive shopping destinations of the various shopping complexes located at premium destinations across the most popular neighbourhoods in the city. The Saphalyam Shopping Complex, Narmada Shopping Complex, Arcade Shopping Complex, Attukal Shopping Complex, Kedaram Shopping Complex, SARWAA, Glen Lear, Style Plus, Anna’s Arcade and De Options are best shopping hubs in Thiruvananthapuram. SARWAA at Sankar Road is one of the best shops in town for purchasing stunning handcrafted objects such as decorative articles, jewellery pieces, paper-made artifacts, naturally coloured apparels and gifts of a wide variety.

Kairali at Statue Junction in East fort is a nice place to shop for handicrafts and handloom products like khadi. Handcrafted wooden statues made from rosewood, sandalwood and white cidar are sold here are genuinely low cost. For buying clothes at reasonable rates, the areas in and around the over-bridge and the East Fort are the best options in town as these places thrive with numerous roadside apparel stores. Exclusive trendy as well as traditional attires are available at the stores of Karalkada, Kalyan Silk, JayaLakshmi, Aiyappas, Last Option and Naaz, apart from being sold at the most popular branded apparel stores in the city. Jewellery shopping is one of the most interesting activities in Thiruvananthapuram for the shopaholics, especially for the admirers of traditional gold and diamond jewelleries, the best showrooms in the city being the Saravana Jewellers, Josco Jewellers, Chemmannur Jewellers, Lekhsmi Jewellery, Bhima Jewellery, Prince Jewellery, Alappat Fashion Jewellery and Malaba Gold & Diamonds.

Local Entertainment in Thiruvananthapuram

In Thiruvananthapuram one can also join a religious procession at a temple to comprehend the rituals that take place after a traditional festival, one such being the egress of an idol atop an elephant. Watching a live performance of Kathakali dance or any theatrical performance at a local venue is also an unusual experience for a visitor in Trivandrum. Enjoying a regional film without any subtitle is really an experience worth remembering. The public library is another quite interesting place in the city where one can behold the architectural splendors of the Victorian Era. And if one wants to be familiar with the rich cultural tradition of Kerala, exploring Thiruvananthapuram during any of the festive celebrations in the region is the best option.

Dining in Thiruvananthapuram

Various restaurants in Thiruvanathapuram serve classic South Indian cuisine for the lovers of traditional South Indian food and if any visitor in the city wishes to try something different the best options are the eateries that feature typical North Indian food as well as Continental and Chinese specialties. A wide array of non-vegetarian delights can be enjoyed at the popular food joints of Dakhni Deg, Balan’s Tattukada, Mubarak Restaurant, Azad Resutarant, Marry Brown Restaurant, Kaithal Restaurant, Varnam Seafood Family Restaurant, Buhari Hotel, Café Coffee Day, Café Sarwaa, Maveli Café, Indian Coffee House, Open House and Zam Zam. Vegetarian dining options are available at Green Sign Restaurant, Anand Bhavan, Ariya Bhavan, Arukalam, Arul Jyothi, Arya Nivas and Mani Mess.

Budget restaurants and confectioneries in the city are also perfect for fine dining, which comprise of Maurya Rajdhani, Ruby Arena, Zink n Rock, Ambrosia, Casa Bianca, Hotel Geeth, Sindhoor, The Seven Hills, Park Field, Indraprastha and KTDC floating restaurant. Taj Residency, Taj Green Cove, South Park, KTDC Mascot Hotel, Leela Kempinski, and Muthoot Plaza are some of best places in town for both food and drinks.