:: Country Club – Kovalam

Trivandrum is the capital of Southern state of Kerala, is built over low hills near the seashore. Though a well-developed capital city, it is not noisy. Trivandrum is clean, green and peaceful. Picturesque, idyllic - perhaps no epithet is sufficient for the city. Shady lagoons, unspoiled greenery and soothing sea breeze from the Arabian Sea make Trivandrum a place for perfect holiday. This is a place where you can let your hair loose, indulge with sense.

Main Languages: Malayalam, Hindi and English
City Telephone Code/ STD Code: 0471
Best time to visit: October to February
Tourist Information: Kerala Tourism (PH: 2321132) and Private tour operators.
Distance from other cities: Ahmedabad – 2040 kms,
Kolkatta – 2384 kms, Bangalore – 753 kms, Chennai – 708 kms,
Delhi – 2814 kms, Hyderabad – 1315 kms, Mumbai – 1543 kms

Getting there and away

By Air: Trivandrum is well networked with rest of the country and has many international Airlines operate flights to Trivandrum from various parts of world.

By Rail: Trivandrum is well connected with rest of the country by an extensive railway network. By Road: State transport and Private Operators have extensive services in Kerala and to the neighboring states.

Getting around

By Bus: The local bus service with its extensive network connects important places within the city, with a good frequency.

Other mode of transport: Apart from the local buses, you may also avail the services of taxis and autos.

Attractions in Trivandrum

Kovalam Beach: The most popular attraction of Trivandrum, Kovalam Beach lies just 16 KM from the city and has soft white sands, emerald sea and swaying palms and is the perfect idyllic destination for those who love sun, sand and surf. Kovalam can be a good place to kick back for a few days, especially if you are here during the quieter times.

Besides Kovalam, there are many more places that are worth visiting like Padmanabha Swamy temple, Kuthiramalika palace museum, the Zoological Park, Priyadarshini Planetarium, Shankhumugham beach and Connemera Market. Also, the bazaars of Trivandrum offer intricately-carved wooden objects, bronze items, Kathakali masks, traditional fabrics and other handicrafts that are a collector's delight.

Around Trivandrum

Kanyakumari: Kanyakumari is the ‘Land’s End’ of Indian Subcontinent and located on the Southern most tip of Tamilnadu. It’s just 87 KM from Trivandrum. Off the coast of Kanyakumari, the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal swill and merge into the Indian Ocean. Besides the waters and the coast, Kanyakumari is essentially a temple town and has many temples. The famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial is built in several architectural styles off the coast on rocks that protrude from the ocean and boat facilities are available to reach the memorial.

Varkala: This town, 51 Km. north of Trivandrum and 37 Km. south of Quilon, is known for its beautiful beaches and a Vishnu shrine dedicated to Lord Janardhana. This ancient Janardhana Swamy temple is believed to be of 2000 years old. The Sivagiri mutt is situated at an elevation, 3 Km. east of the Janardhana temple. This was built in 1904 by the great Hindu reformist Sree Narayana Guru. It was here that this Great Leader breathed his last, in 1928. His Samadhi is visited by thousands of devotees every year.

Neyyar Dam: Neyyar Dam is located 29km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is a picnic spot and dam site. Facilities are available for boating in the reservoir. The surrounding Neyyar wildlife sanctuary has a lion park and a crocodile-breeding park. It is a popular location for picnics and day trips.

Padmanabhpuram Palace: Located 54km from Thiruvananthapuram on the way to Nagercoil, Padmanabhapuram was the capital of the rulers of Travancore for more than 400 years. The Padmanabhpuram Palace, now in Tamil Nadu, is the property of Kerala. The palace was built with local teakwood and granite. The oldest structures date back to the 16th century. The palace has rosewood ceilings carved in floral patterns, highly polished flooring with a special mix of locally made grout. The architecture is exquisite and the 18th century murals in the palace are well preserved. The banquet halls, audience chamber, women's quarters and galleries make a visit to the palace worthwhile.

Vizhijam: About 15km from the capital city and just 1 KM from Kovalam is the small fishing village of Vizhinjam, once the capital of Ay kings of 8th-9th century AD. The historical monument is a cave rock temple, assigned to the period to Cheras and has the sculpture of Vinandhara Dakshnimurthi. The temple has a strong influence of Pallava and Chola temple architecture. It is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India.

Peppara Wild Life Sanctuary: 50 KM from Thiruvananthapuram, Peppara is a major attraction to wild life enthusiasts and its spread over an area of 53sq.km on the Western Ghats. This is doted with large hills and numerous hillocks with forests and eucalyptus plantations. Elephants, Sambar, Leopard and Lion tailed macaque are commonly seen here.