|
Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum is Kerala's capital city. It is situated in the southern tip of the Indian subcontinent. To the west lie the Arabian Sea and to the east Tamil Nadu. The woods on the Western Ghats give the traveler some of the most scenic landscapes in the whole of Kerala. This is coupled by an extensive shoreline with beaches of international prominence, celebrated monuments, backwater stretches and a prosperous cultural tradition. Thiruvananthapuram is accessible from the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, road links that connect Trivandrum with major areas of the country, as well as by trains to the principal towns of Kerala. The Kovalam Beach in Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum is a favorite haunt of travelers since the pre-independence era. There are three crescent beaches in Kovalam, the most favorite being the Lighthouse Beach in the south. The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located within the East Fort of Trivandrum. It is dedicated to honor Lord Vishnu and contains the Keralite and Dravidian styles of architecture. The murals and stone carvings are a special attraction. The Kuthiramalika Palace Museum was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma the gifted king of Travancore. The Travancore style of architecture in Thiruvananthapuram/Trivandrum has exquisite wood carvings. Built in the 19th century, the Napier Museum has a natural constructed structure that contributes to air conditioning. This is one of the attractions of Thiruvananthapuram that houses a wealth of archaeological artifacts, bronze idols and ancient ornaments including a temple chariot and ivory sculptures. Sree Chitbra Art Gallery displays selective artworks of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich, as well as efforts from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools. The edge of the subcontinent is the Kannyakumari or Cape Comorin which is the point of confluence of three seas - the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean. Of significant interest are the Thiruvalluvar statue, the Gandhi memorial, the Guganathaswamy Temple, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Padmanabhapuram Swami Temple.
|
