Thiruvananthapuram, the official name for Trivandrum, is the capital of one of the most bountiful states endowed by nature in the southern regions of India, the State of Kerala.
A tropical paradise, this is a state in hues of green, gold and silver. It lies on the southwestern coast of the country, and is sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats It is a land that arouses your senses to the enthralling tropical panorama of verdant greenery, with swaying coconut palms, undulating hills clothed in a natural vegetation forests and plantations of rubber, coffee, cashew, and spices, long stretches of silken yellow sands, and the most unusual feature of all---its picturesque, shimmering backwaters, as the coastal sand dunes shelter a linked chain of lagoons and backwaters country boats ply lazily, and an unusual calm prevails, giving it an idyllic charm.
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Is crowning metropolis, Thiruvananthapuram, is a fitting prelude to these surroundings, besides providing some fascinating sightseeing that results from a culture most rich, interwoven with Hindu and Muslim, Christian and Jewish influences. Those interested in the muses, will get to see some classical regional forms of dance and drama, such as Kathakali, Koothu, Mohiniattam, or the health enthusiasts may enjoy the mystic eastern way of healing and rejuvenation, the Kairali massage, based on the ancient Hindu science of Ayurveda. Finally, for that ultimate welcome, you will come across smiling people, in sparkling whitewashed little homesteads, as you make an excursion to the palm spangled countryside, who converse with you readily, as this state has the proud record of having 100 percent literacy, the spoken languages being Malayali and English.
Getting there
Thiruvananthapuram is well connected to other major cities of India, with direct flights to Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, and Delhi. Some of the neighboring countries like Colombo, Malé, Singapore, and some cities in the Arabian Gulf are also connected by the international airlines.
It would be advisable to consider a train journey to Thiruvananthapuram, if you happen to be in one of the neighboring states, such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. If you are heading towards North India, there is the Himsagar Express, but, although, this being a fast train, it would still involve two nights of travel time..
The closest cities and towns nearby, for road journeys are Kollam, ((1½ hours), Alappuzha (3¼ hours), Ernakulam (5 hours), Trichur (6¾ hours) and Madurai ,Chennai , Pondicherry are further away, and the journey to these cities range from 10-17 hours.
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Historical Background
Places to Visit
Excursions
Shopping
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