Padmanabhapuram
Palace
:
Located
at
54
kms
from
Thiruvananthapuram
across
the
border
in
Tamil
Nadu's
Kanyakumari
district,
the
palace
nestles
at
the
foot
of
the
Veli
hills.
Built
during
the
14th
cenury
it
was
called
Darpakulangara,
but
later
in
the
18th
century
it
was
renovated
and
renamed
as
the
Padmanabhapuram
palace.
A
place
of
elaborate
woodwork,
it
was
the
ancient
seat
of
the
Travancore
rulers
Anizham
Thirunal
Marthanda
Varma
till
the
capital
was
shifted
to
Thiruvananthapuram
in
1780.
It
contains
relics
of
historical
and
artistic
value.
Kaudiar
Palace:
This
palace
is
the
home
of
the
late
Maharaja
Sree
Chitra
Thirunal
Bala
Rama
Varma
and
his
family.
The
view
of
the
grand
old
building
from
the
gate
is
excellent,
but
unforunately
it
is
off
limits
to
the
public.
If
you
are
lucky,
you
could
probably
walk
a
few
steps
inside
to
get
a
better
view
provided
the
gate
keeper
is
friendly
enough.
Anchuthengu
Fort:
Located
36
kms
from
Thiruvananthapuram,
the
historic
remains
of
the
fort
built
by
the
British
East
India
Company
in
the
17th
century
and
an
adjoining
cemetery
are
the
noteworthy
relics
of
this
first
major
British
trading
station
on
the
Malabar
Coast.
This
colossal
monument
was
once
the
trading
station
of
the
mighty
British.
The
monument
built
in
the
1800s
stands
as
an
excellent
example
of
sturdy
and
lasting
forts
constructed
in
the
English
style.
Koyikkal
Palace:
Classified
as
a
double
storeyed
‘nalukettu’,
Koyikkal
Palace
was
the
official
residence
of
the
of
the
rulers
of
the
erstwhile
State
of
Travancore.
This
ancient
palace,
located
18
km
from
Thiruvananthapuram
on
the
way
to
Ponmudi
hillstation
and
the
Kuttalam
waterfalls,
dates
back
to
the
15th
century.
In1979
this
Palace
was
declared
as
a
protected
monument
and
further
in
1990
after
carrying
out
restoration
work,
it
was
converted
into
a
Folklore
Museum
and
Numismatic
Museum.
Famed
Museums
Napier
Museum:
The
museum
contains
a
fine
collection
of
Kerala's
bronzes,
ornaments
and
contumes,
and
a
model
of
"Tharawad'-the
traditional
Nair
family
home.
Kuthiramalika
Palace
Museum:
Kuthiramalika
Palace
Museum,
a
classic
specimen
of
Kerala
Architecture
is
situated
in
'Kuthiramalika'.
The
palace,
with
its
excellent
carvings
and
amazing
architectural
designs,
is
by
itself
a
slice
of
heritage.
The
museum
has
a
wide
range
of
exhibits
representing
the
erstwhile
state
of
Travancore.
Science
&
Technology
Museum:
The
Science
and
Technology
Museum,
situated
in
Thiruvananthapuram
was
established
with
the
prime
objective
of
setting
up
of
galleries
with
working,
animated
or
participatory
type
of
exhibits,
on
all
disciplines
of
Science
and
Technology.
Veli
Tourist
Village:
The
seemingly
placid
sheet
of
water
that
backed
away
from
the
visibility
reverberant
sea
offers
a
general
idea
of
the
famous
backwaters
of
Kerala.
Located
near
the
airport
this
popular
picnic
spot
offers
landscaped
gardens
and
water-sports
facilities.Pedal
boats,
rowboats,
and
motored
boats
are
available.Children
in
particular
have
a
lot
of
fun
and
frolic
climbing
over
the
huge
sculptures,
which
dot
the
landscape,
and
riding
a
ferry.
Sankhumugham
Beach:
Located
8
kms
from
Thiruvananthapuram
city,
the
Shankhumugham
Beach
is
a
favourite
haunt
of
sunset
watchers.
The
beach
is
adjacent
to
the
Thiruvananthapuram
Airport
and
Veli
Tourist
Village.the
'Matsya
Kanyaka',
a
gigantic
35
m
long
sculpture
of
a
mermaid
and
a
restaurant
shaped
like
a
starfish
are
the
major
attractions
here.
Varkala
Beach:
Varkala
is
a
sea
side
resort,
as
well
as
an
important
Hindu
centre
of
pilgrimage.
High
cliffs
with
rich
mineral
springs
rise
majestically
from
the
coastline.
The
2000
year
old
Janardana
Swamy
Temple
and
the
Nature
Centre
are
the
two
main
attractions
here.
High
cliffs
border
the
excellent
beach.
Located
55
kms
north
of
Trivandrum
with
unusual
land
formations,
Varkala
beach
does
has
not
many
visitors.
Cliffs,
3
kilometers
of
shining
white
sands,
the
red
soil
of
the
hilltop
and
coconut
trees
makes
it
unique.
The
beach
named
as
Papanasam-
an
auspicious
place,
for
Hindus
to
worship
their
ancestors.
