Trivandrum Sightseeing : Places to visit in destination Trivandrum

Places to visit in the city Trivandrum

SRI PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE - Trivandrum

Covering an area of about 2,400 sq. metres, the temple of Sri Padmanabhaswamy is believed to be around 260 years old. The temple with its gopuram (tower) soaring majestically upwards is believed to be one of the 108 shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India. The main entrance to the temple is through the eastern gopuram that towers to over 30 metres and is devised in the Dravidian style. The deity of the temple, Padmanabha (an incarnation of Vishnu) reclines on the sacred serpent in the inner sanctum. The main shrine inside the temple is well guarded with a number of massive doors and darshan (audience) can be had through the three-door openings into the sanctum sanctorum.

NAPIER MUSEUM - Trivandrum

Dating back to 1880, the Napier Museum building is a combination of the Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian architectural styles. The building has a unique natural air-conditioning system. A visit to this museum gives you glimpses of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage. The museum has an excellent collection of bronzes, historic ornaments, ivory carvings and chariots, and life-size figures of the Kathakali dancers in full costume.

SRI CHITRA ART GALLERY - Trivandrum

The Sri Chitra Art Gallery houses paintings from the Mughal, Rajput and Tanjore schools of art. Besides these, the gallery has a rare collection of paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Svetoslav and Nicholas Roerich. An Oriental collection consisting of paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali are a visual treat to the visitor.

ZOO AT TRIVENDRAM - Trivandrum

The spacious zoological garden is set among the pleasant surroundings of woodlands and lakes. The garden provides delightful shaded walks for the visitors. You can also have a look at the wide variety of the animals and birds that are housed here. The Reptile House has a collection of snakes worth seeing. The nearby botanical gardens have a large number of trees that can be easily identified by their labels.

OBSERVATORY - Trivandrum

The Government Observatory is located on a hill opposite the Kanakakunnu Palace. It is an interesting attraction worth a visit. The terrace of this Observatory offers you a fascinating view of the city.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY MUSEUM - Trivandrum

Located in the heart of the city, the Science and Technology Museum has interactive displays and scores of other items that highlight the science, technology and electronics. Near the museum lies a planetarium. The planetarium presents a daily 40-minute show that provides a panoramic experience of the universe.

CHACHA NEHRU CHILDREN’S MUSEUM - Trivandrum

The children’s museum, situated at Thycaud, has been named after Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, the first prime minister of India. The museum has a wonderful display of dolls, masks and paintings.