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Napier Museum
Napier Museum houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot, ivory carvings and life-size Kathakali dancers. The figurines preserved here amply illustrate the varying features of South-Indian sculpture from the 8th to 18th century.
Timings :
Open from Tuesdays to Sundays - 10 am to 4.45 pm. On Wednesdays, the museum opens only at 1 pm.
Sri Chitra Art Gallery
The Sri Chitra Art Gallery, near the Napier Museum, in Thiruvananthapuram was established in 1935. The gallery has on display a century old world famous paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. The gallery also has a good collection of miniature paintings from the Mughal and Rajasthani schools, Roerich paintings, paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali and copies of murals. The four hundred year old Tanjore miniature paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones are also on display at the gallery.
The gallery is open from 10 am to 5 pm. The gallery is closed on Mondays and Wednesday mornings.
Kanakakunnu Palace
The Kanakakunnu Palace, situated near the Napier Museum in Thiruvananthapuram, is one of the last vestiges of the colonial era. Kanakakunnu Palace is a testimony to grand times and the resort of kings. This palace was constructed during the reign of His Highness Sree Moolam Thirunal. Swati Tirunal, one of the most popular rulers, of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore, modified the palace and constructed tennis courts in the palace premises. He once used it as a summer retreat. This stunning piece of architectural excellence was used by the Travancore royal family to entertain their guests in the earlier days. The interiors are decorated with large crystal chandeliers and exquisite pieces of royal furniture.
Kovalam Beach
Kovalam Beach, an internationally renowned tourist destination and seaside resort with three adjacent crescent beaches, is around 15 kms from Thiruvananthapuram. It is undoubtedly the most popular beach hangouts in India today. The beaches of Kovalam can be divided in three parts. On the southern side is the most popular one - the Lighthouse Beach. The central beach and the northern beach are called Hawah and Samudra respectively.
Kovalam Beach, a favorite haunt of foreign tourists, has crystal clear blue waters, rocky promontories and miles of white sands. The leisure activities at the beach include sunbathing, swimming and herbal body toning massages. Shops dealing in handicrafts, jewellery and clothes are situated along the beachfront. Delectable sea-food such as lobsters and king prawns are available at the beachside restaurants. Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers and water sport facilities make Kovalam Beach a paradise for tourists from all over the globe.
Shanghumugham beach
Shanghumugham beach, a popular city beach adjacent to the airport, is located 8 km from Thiruvananthapuram city. This beach near the Veli Tourist Village is an ideal spot for watching the sunset. An indoor recreation club, Children's Traffic Training Park and a star shaped restaurant are some of the facilities at the beach. A gigantic, 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid called the 'Matsya Kanyaka' is the major attraction of the beach.
Varkala Beach
Varkala Beach, one of the famous tourist destinations in Kerala, is situated on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram district. This white sandy beach, of about 1 km stretched along the western coastline of India in the Arabian Sea, is around 51 km north of Thiruvananthapuram city. Visitors can enjoy a relaxing beach holiday without the crowds and bustle of some of the busier beaches in Kerala. Varkala Beach has a number of tourist attractions nearby. The mineral springs near the Varkala Beach are considered to have medicinal and curative properties and many people visit here to drink and bathe in the water from the mineral springs. The 2000 year old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple is another major tourist attraction near the beach.
Kuthiramalika Palace or Puthenmalika
Kuthiramalika Palace or Puthenmalika (the new mansion) is situated on the south-eastern side of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. This wooden architectural delight was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal, the ruler of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. Kuthiramalika, which literally means Horse Bungalow, takes its name from the roof beams that are carved to resemble the faces of horses.
This rare specimen of workmanship in traditional Travancore style of architecture has exquisite woodcarvings. A portion of the palace is converted into a museum which has on display paintings, ornaments and artifacts of the royal family. Swathi Thirunal’s ivory throne, marble idols, Chinese artifacts and rare musical instruments are kept in the museum. The 16 rooms in the palace feature 16 different patterns.
The palace is open all days except Mondays between 8:30 am – 12:30 pm and 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm.
Padmanabhapuram Palace
The Padmanabhapuram Palace, a magnificent wooden palace of the 16th century, is situated at Thuckalay, 60 km from Thiruvananthapuram, in Kanyakumari District. This old palace of the Rajas of the erstwhile Travancore (1550 to 1750 AD) is a fine specimen of Kerala's indigenous style of architecture. Padmanabhapuram Palace, actually a complex of 14 palaces, is spread over 6.5 acres. The antique interiors are replete with intricate rosewood carvings and sculptured decor. The palace also contains 17th and 18th century murals.
The ancient and majestic Padmanabhapuram Palace, an epitome of Kerala architecture, is housed in a small idyllic town set against a backdrop of hills. The Palace was the seat and capital of the rulers of Travancore, a princely state, for over 400 years, which included a good part of present day Kerala and parts of western Tamil Nadu. A heritage museum has been opened within the premises of this spacious and antique palace. The walls of its central hall are extravagantly decorated with mural paintings. The themes of paintings are various episodes and moments drawn from Hindu epics.
The museum, even though it is geographically in Tamilnadu, is managed by the government of Kerala. The palace, known for its exquisite architecture and fine woodwork, is maintained by Kerala Archaeology Department.
Agasthyarkoodam
Agasthyarkoodam, a prominent peak of the Western Ghats, is in the form of a sharp cone. It is about 1869 metres above sea level. This peak, a pilgrim centre of the Hindus, according to tradition was home to the great sage Agastya, who was a confirmed bachelor. Hence, the aborigines dislike the presence of women on the hill. Women are not allowed up the peak.
Agasthyarkoodam is 70 km from Thiruvananthapuram. The place is famous for its abundant ayurvedic herbs and medicinal plants. Another major attraction of this spectacular peak is the Neelakurinji, a flower which blooms only once in twelve years. A forest pass has to be obtained from the Wildlife Warden at the Forest Department for trekking.
The Kerala State Science and Technology Museum
The Kerala State Science and Technology Museum, established in 1984, is situated close to the Napier museum and the Postmaster General's Office in Thiruvananthapuram. It serves as a dynamic medium of science communication and the activities are aimed at popularisation of science among the common man especially students. This is a study-cum-recreation center and an important tourist attraction. The museum aims at setting up of galleries with working/animated and participatory type of exhibits, on all disciplines of science and technology. Organizing and conducting mobile and temporary science exhibitions and competitions along with science film shows and conducting science educational programmes through TV, radio and other media of communication are some of its objectives.
A rare collection of electronic components are displayed at the Electronics Engineering Gallery. Visitors can acquire information about the natural form of electricity, its generation, distribution, application and usage with the help of various exhibits at the Electrical Engineering Gallery. Educative medical and bio-medical film shows and interactive working models of bio-medical equipments along with animation graphics on computers and digital announcement systems are the major highlights of the Bio-Medical Engineering Gallery. Interactive models on basic mathematical principles and number spectrum are exhibited at the Mathematical Puzzle Corner.
Admissions to the museum and galleries are through tickets. The museum is open to the public from 10 am to 5 pm on all days except on Mondays and holidays notified by the museum authorities.
Priyadarshini Planetarium
The Priyadarshini Planetarium is situated within the Kerala State Science and Technology Museum premises in Thiruvananthapuram. It is one of the most sophisticated and versatile planetariums in India. The marvellous planetarium complex has a centrally air-conditioned sky theatre, conference hall, workshops and a sound-studio.
The planetarium, rated as one of the best horizontal domed planetariums by global standards, has a seating capacity of 184 persons. The planetarium organises various science-related shows, the best example being – “Man and the Universe", which deals with the origin and different stages of development of astronomy, the structure of different planets and the origin of the Universe.
The museum park at the planetarium premises has numerous outdoor exhibits which include models of rockets and aeroplanes.
Timings of the Planetarium shows:
Malayalam: 10:30 am, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm English : 12 Noon
Natural History Museum
The Natural History Museum in Thiruvananthapuram is housed in a spacious, modern, double-storeyed building at the eastern end of the Napier Museum and zoo complex within the museum premises. This museum was established with the personnel collection of minerals and books presented by General Cullen in 1885. The varied and rich collections are now on display at this new building built in 1964.
The museum has separate galleries displaying stuffed mammals, birds, lower vertebrates and invertebrates. The exhibits of fossil tree trunks near the entrance are another big draw. There is an art collection that highlight Kerala's rich heritage in stone, wood and metal sculpture. There are index collections, a skeleton gallery and laboratory. Besides these archeological and cultural specimens, this museum has an excellent ethnographic collection. This includes implements and models of the various communities, primarily of South-India. Replicas of traditional houses (Tharawad) and customs of the communities of Kerala are exclusive exhibits at the Natural History Museum.
Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, one of the oldest and the best in the country, actually forms part of the Botanical Gardens. The zoo was established as an annexe to the Napier Museum in 1857 by Maharaja Swati Thirunal, the erstwhile maharaja of Travancore.
Spread over 55 acres of land in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram, the zoo which is set among woodlands and lakes is a natural habitat for the animals. The zoo provides people from all over the country a chance to watch 75 different species of animals from India and abroad. The Lion tailed Macaque, Nilgiri Langur, Nilgiri Tahr, Indian Rhino, Asiatic Lion and the Royal Bengal Tiger are the prominent attractions of the zoo. An aviary and a reptile house with different varieties of poisonous and non-poisonous snakes are located within the premises.
The snake house at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo, which is nearing completion, would be the nocturnal home for housing creatures such as the slender lorris, jungles cats and porcupines. The reptile house and the open enclosure for the panther are the last major construction works in the ongoing modernisation project at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo. The entrance to the snake house resembles the head of the snake as the overall structure resembles the undulating body of a snake in motion. The king cobra and the python, however, would have enclosure twice as big. The speciality of the snake house is that each of these cubicles would have a `micro-climate' designed to simulate the natural habitat of each variety of snake. The zoo plans to add five new species of snakes to its collection once the snake house is operational. The exit point of the snake house will serve as the entrance to the rest of the reptile house that would be the home of the crocodiles, the turtles and the monitor lizard.
The Botanical Garden, also within the zoo premises, has varied specimens of tropical plants and trees.
Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
Peppara, situated on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, is well known for the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary. It is about 50 km north-east of Thiruvananthapuram city enroute to Ponmudi. The sanctuary is spread over an area of 53 sq km. on the Western Ghats. Considering the ecological significance of the area, it was declared as a sanctuary during 1983. The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary is composed of the dense forests and the Peppara dam constructed across the Karamana River. Parts of the Palode (24 sq km) and Kottoor reserves (29 sq km) form part of this sanctuary.
The Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, with its rich fauna and birds, is a popular attraction to tourists and wildlife enthusiasts. This area is dotted with large hills and numerous hillocks with forests and Eucalyptus plantations. The sanctuary is home to elephants, sambhar, lion-tailed macaques, barking deer, wild boars, tigers, nilgiri langurs and leopards. The area has a variety of moths and butterflies. Several species of snakes including the king cobra and python are present in this sanctuary.
Ponmudi
Ponmudi is a beautiful hill station with natural scenery and salubrious climate, situated 61 km from Thiruvananthapuram city. The name Ponmudi in Malayalam means ‘Golden Crown’. Tucked away in the Western Ghats, this quaint little hill station lies at an altitude of 1100 ft above the sea level. Ponmudi is famous for its mist-covered valleys, tea-estates, winding streams and verdant woods. The scope of hiking in high trails makes a visit to Ponmudi a lively and joyful experience. Trekking is also a passion with visitors to Ponmudi.
The places of interest around Ponmudi are the Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary, Golden Valley and the Deer Park. Ponmudi, with excellent dining and cottage accommodation facilities for the tourists, is on the verge of being a major hill resort. Ponmudi is worth visiting any time of the year except during monsoons.
Neyyar Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary
Neyyar Dam is situated around 32 km east of Thiruvananthapuram. It is a popular picnic spot with a lake and a picturesque dam site. This area has some of the rarest medicinal herbs in Kerala. The Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary was established in 1958. Covering a total area of 128 sq km, it is located at the foot of the Western Ghats. The sanctuary, of which the dam is a part, is the habitat of over a hundred rare species of fauna including elephants, wild buffaloes, wild boars, porcupines, tigers and a variety of snakes. It is the drainage basin for the Neyyar River and its tributaries - Mullayar and Kallar. The sanctuary has a wide variety of vegetation and landscape, ranging from tropical wet evergreen forest to grasslands. The best way to explore the sanctuary is by boat.
A crocodile farm-cum-breeding centre, started in 1977, and a lion safari park are located at the dam site. The gardens near the dam have large statues. The fascinating Agastyakoodam mountains in this area provide an opportunity for the visitors to engage in hiking, trekking and mountaineering. On the upper reaches of the Neyyar reservoir there are two magnificent waterfalls; the Meenmutty and Kombaikani waterfalls.
Kallar
Kallar is situated en-route to the popular hill station of Ponmudi. This place situated 16 km from Ponmudi, is famous for round-shaped boulders and pebbles. The place gets its name from the River Kallar, which flows through the region. Kallu means 'stone' and Aru means 'river’. It is a favourite haunt for picnickers and attracts visitors with an interest in trekking, angling and bird watching. The main attractions are the nearby Golden Valley and the Meenmutty waterfalls. The Neyyar Dam occupies the drainage basin of the rivers Neyyar, Mullayar and Kallar.
Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave
The Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave is about 17 km from Thiruvananthapuram city. It is a historic spot which was left unnoticed for long time. Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave basically constitutes the rock cut sculptures of the 18th century in the cave temple at Vizhinjam. The granite cave here encloses a one-celled shrine with a loose sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshinamurthi. The outer wall of the cave depicts half-complete reliefs of the Hindu God Shiva with Goddess Parvathi. Another nearby tourist attraction is the Marine Aquarium at Vizhinjam which houses the world's rarest and most exotic species of invertebrates and fishes.
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