Thiruvananthapuram

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

One of the most significant Vaishnava temples in India. The temple is mentioned in ancient texts including the Bhagavata Purana and is one of the 108 Divya Desams. Built in the Kerala and Dravidian architectural styles, the temple treasury contains the largest collection of valuables found in any temple in the world.

Timing: Open daily,
• 3:30 AM to 4:45 AM
• 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM
• 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
• 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM
• 11:45 AM to 12:00 PM
• 4:30 PM to 6:15 PM
• 6:45 PM to 7:20 PM
Entry Fee: No entry fee. Traditional dress mandatory. Entry restricted to Hindus only
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Puthen Maliga Palace Museum

A royal palace built in the early 19th century by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma. The palace is a masterpiece of traditional Kerala architecture — carved wooden ceilings, Belgian glass windows, Chinese porcelain seats, and a collection of royal artefacts.

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday. 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:45 PM. Closed Mondays
Entry Fee: ₹200 (cash at counter), Mobile camera — ₹50 (outside museum only)
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Napier Museum

A natural history and cultural museum established in 1855, in an Indo-Saracenic style blending Kerala, Mughal, Chinese, and Italian architectural elements. The collection includes South Indian bronze statues, 17th century wooden temple chariots, ivory carvings, and ancient musical instruments.

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday. 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM. Closed Mondays and Wednesday mornings
Entry Fee: ₹30 (cash at counter)
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Sri Chitra Art Gallery

An art gallery established in 1935 by Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal. The collection contains paintings by Raja Ravi Varma — the most significant Indian painter of the 19th century who combined European academic technique with Indian mythological subjects.

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday. 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Mondays
Entry Fee: ₹200 (cash at counter)
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Kovalam Beach

A coastal town 18 km south of Thiruvananthapuram with three adjacent crescent-shaped beaches separated by rocky headlands. Lighthouse Beach, Hawa Beach and Samudra Beach. Kovalam has been an internationally known beach destination since the 1970s.

Timing: Open daily
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Poovar

A small island at the southernmost point of Thiruvananthapuram district, approximately 27 km from the city. The island is accessible only by boat and is surrounded by a backwater lagoon on one side and the sea on the other.

Timing: Daily, accessible by boat
Entry Fee: Boat fare varies by operator

Shanghumugham Beach

A beach, adjacent to Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. Known for the Jalakanyaka — a 35-metre granite sculpture of a mermaid by the sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman, one of the largest sculptures in Kerala. The beach faces west and is one of the better sunset viewpoints in the city.

Timing: Open daily
Entry Fee: No entry fee
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Padmanabhapuram Palace

The largest wooden palace in India. Built in the 16th century and expanded over subsequent centuries by the Travancore kings, the palace is constructed primarily of teak and rosewood with traditional Kerala architecture across multiple interconnected buildings.

Timing: Tuesday to Sunday. 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM to 4:45 PM. Closed Mondays
Entry Fee: ₹500 (cash at counter), Mobile Camera — ₹10, Camera Still & Video — ₹250
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Ponmudi Hill Station

A hill station at 1,067 meters elevation, 61 km from the city. The road to Ponmudi climbs through 22 hairpin bends and passes through Kallar, a valley of waterfalls and tea estates.

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Metro in Thiruvananthapuram

Not available.

Local buses in Thiruvananthapuram

Partially practical. City buses run but routes are difficult to navigate without local knowledge.

Ride-hailing apps in Thiruvananthapuram

Practical. Ride-hailing apps like Ola and Uber operate in Thiruvananthapuram. Select the vehicle type and book through the app; fares are shown upfront before confirmation. Drivers may call to confirm the pickup point. Before getting in, verify the vehicle number and OTP shown in the app. Payment can be made by card through the app or in cash directly to the driver at the end of the trip.

Street-hailing auto rickshaw in Thiruvananthapuram

Practical. For short distances (5 km) or when apps are unavailable. Tell or show the auto driver your destination — they can refuse, in which case move to the next one. Agree on the fare (approx. ₹30—₹40 per km) before you get in. Know the distance to your destination via maps before negotiating.

Attukal Pongala in Thiruvananthapuram

The world's largest gathering of women — millions of women cook pongal simultaneously on improvised hearths across the city streets, offering it to Attukal Bhagavathy. Guinness World Record holder for the most women at a religious gathering.
2026 Dates:

Onam in Thiruvananthapuram

Kerala’s most significant harvest festival, celebrated with the Onam Sadhya — a 26-course vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf. Intricate floral decorations (pookalam) are laid in front of homes and public buildings.
2026 Dates:

Thiruvananthapuram's food reflects both the coastal Kerala tradition and the Travancore Brahmin vegetarian tradition of South Kerala — appam and stew, puttu and kadala, and the full range of Kerala seafood preparations.

Local food to eat in Thiruvananthapuram

Appam with stew · Puttu and kadala curry · Fish molee · Prawn curry · Kappa and meen curry · Banana leaf sadya · Pazham pori · Filter coffee

Food streets in Thiruvananthapuram

• Chalai Bazaar — the oldest market in the city, local food and sweets
• East Fort area — street food, snacks, local restaurants
• Palayam market area — local vegetarian restaurants
• Kovalam (15 km) — seafood restaurants along the beach

Thiruvananthapuram is well connected by air and rail and serves as the southern gateway to Kerala. Whether arriving or departing, use the station codes, airport, and bus terminal information below.

Thiruvananthapuram — Stations, Airport & Bus Stands

Rail Station: Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC)
Airport: Trivandrum International Airport (TRV)
Bus Terminal: KSRTC Bus Stand, Thampanoor

By Train
Search “Thiruvananthapuram” as your origin (if departing) or destination (if arriving). Thiruvananthapuram Central (TVC) is the main station. Choose a train based on journey duration, departure time, and class availability.

By Flight
Search by city name across IndiGo, Air India, and Air India Express. Trivandrum International Airport (TRV) has direct domestic connections from major Indian cities.

By Bus
Buses (AC or non-AC) operate from the bus terminal — head to the counter and ask for your destination. Or, use app-based platforms such as redBus to search and book buses on your route. Both state-run (KSRTC) and private operators are listed — prefer buses with ratings of 4★ or higher.

All fees and charges listed on this page are applicable to foreign nationals only.