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Location: The Padmanabhaswamy temple Trivandrum, India is a famous Hindu temple located inside the East Fort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in the state of Kerala in India. Thiruvananthapuram is a district surrounded by the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. Thiruvananthapuram itself means the abode of the sacred serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu rests. How to reach: The Padmanabhaswamy temple Trivandrum, India is 3 or 4 miles away from the Thiruvananathapuram Central Railway Station. There are many bus and train facilities available. By road the city is connected to Calicut, Cochin, Kanyakumari, Madurai, Periyar, Ponmudi, Quilon and Varkala. Special railway service, which runs between Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram, are present. Boarding and Lodging facilities are present in large numbers. By air it is connected to Mumbai, Madras, Cochin, Delhi and Colombo. Places of Interest: The temple has a seven-tier gopuram. There is a tank called Padma Theertham near the temple. The corridor of the temple has 365 and one-quarter sculptured granite-stone pillars with grandiose carvings. The corridor includes and leads the viewers from the eastern side into the sanctum sanctorum. The ground floor under the gopuram is called as the Nataka Sala. In the sanctum sanctorum, Vishnu is in a resting position over the Anantha, which means the serpent with his face directed upwards. The right hand of Vishnu is hanging over Lord Shiva. Sridevi and Bhoodevi are the two consorts of Vishnu and they are standing side by side. The temple has a seven-story tower and a myriad of pillars. The other sites worth visiting are the Zoological Park, Napier Museum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery, Science & Technology Museum, Veli Lagoon, Shanmugham Beach, Aruvikkara Dam, Neyyar Dam and SMSM Institute. Shopping: Kerala is famous for metal work. Such a rich tradition of art and crafts are worth shopping. Coir products, Wood carving, Horn carving, Snake boats and Kath kali masks are some of the items which may be bought. There are various antique dealers in Thiruvananthapuram. Some of the main shops are Natesan's and Gift Corner. The handicraft emporium there are beautifully carved rosewood and sandalwood carvings. Ivory works, which continue a very old artistic tradition and brass and bell-metal lamps are available. Handy things made of coconut, coir, cane; bamboo and straw are also for sale.
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