Often compared to Rome Thiruvananthapuram is situated upon the top of seven hills that slope towards the shining Arabian Sea.

Previously known as Trivandrum, this sloping has lent a hand to the mythological origins of the city, rumor has it that Thiruvananthapuram was raised from the sea and gifted to the Brahmins by Lord Parasurama.  Named as the Capital of Kerala State it is the epitome of tropical India.

Tourism in Thiruvananthapuram.

Tropical and evergreen forests are absolutely stunning and weave untold magic, casting visions of panoramas so beautiful you really do believe you are dreaming – that’s why you have to make Thiruvananthapuram part of your India tour. It stretches along the southern coast of India, and the backwaters weave their way deep into the state, providing water for the rich, verdant soil.  The city itself is spread out and lends its hand to a peaceful and regulated way of life.  Thiruvananthapuram is a brilliant place to base yourself to travel around the countryside and see some of the beauty this state has to offer.

Thiruvananthapurams relentless climate

Thiruvananthapuram has a tropical climate that does not have such distinct seasons as some of Indias other states.  It is the first in line for the south-west monsoon which means that it gets its first monsoon showers in June.  The best time for travelling to Thiranvananthapuram is between October and February.  That is of course unless you want to get absolutely drenched in the monsoon rains and get stuck inside for much of your trip.

Historic Thiruvananthapuram

Drenched in history as it is, Thiruvananthapuram is not shy about advertising its many gems.  The city is packed with historical structures, parks, museums, tourist centres and palaces. A pleasant surprise is that Thiruvananthapuram is famous for its distinctive greenery, presented in parks and gardens all over the city, which is sadly a rare site in modern world.

The temple and fort at Sri Padmanabhaswamy is what the city has been built up around. It was nominated to be one of the new “7 wonders of the world”.  It brings back visions of days long gone and is a must see purely for its historical value.  It is a mixture of Tamil and Kerala architecture and houses many temples. The illumination of East Fort Gate in the evenings is a major attraction, a beautiful sight, great for photographers.

An evening walk at the beach

A long stroll at Veli beach is an absolute precious set of moments that many overlook on their travel.  One of the best parts of visiting a foreign culture is to see it as a local sees it or to interact with some locals at the very least.  While on this walk you will notice as you pass the tourist village zone that you will come to areas where the locals literally live by the beach.  At times the villagers may question you  - this isn’t because you have done anything wrong but a greeting to an unfamiliar face - feel free to chat with them or to send a friendly wave and move on.  One of the most memorable panoramas here would be the fishermen coming in against a backdrop of a brilliant purple orange sunset, or a bird of prey swooping to catch its dinner from the water below.