The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram also known as Trivandrum is known for its rolling low coastal hills and busy business alleys. It is also home to several prestigious educational, science, technology and research institutions such as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, Technopark and the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER). Trivandrum is also called as "God's own capital". There are many tourist destinations in the city including Kovalam beach, SanghumukhamBeach,Napier museum and Zoo, Agasthyarkoodam peak, Neyyar Wild life sanctuary and NeyyarDam,KuthiraMalikapalace, SreePadmanabhaSwamytemple, Beaches and many others. Trivandrum is also famous for being the Evergreen city of India.

SRI PADMANABHASWAMY TEMPLE

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

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

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

TRIVANDRUM ZOO

This is one of the oldest and best-kept zoos in India. Located within the lush Botanical Gardens right in the heart of the city, this impressive little zoo showcases more than 75 species of wildlife from India, including such stars as the Indian rhino and royal Bengal tiger. The newly-opened snake house is one of the best in the world, rounding out the collections including the aviary and reptile house. A stroll through the expansive Botanical Gardens will teach you about the native flora in Kerala

AGASTHYARKOODAM

This prominent peak in the neighbouring Western Ghats rises nearly 2,000 metres in the dramatic shape of a sharp cone. A traditional pilgrimage site for Hindus, this sacred mountain has some of the best trekking and hiking in the region. Unfortunately, women aren't allowed to climb this holy peak.

KANAKAKUNNU PALACE

This testament to the legacy of colonialism in Kerala aptly portrays the opulence of the final kings of Travancore. The palace is a lovely piece of architecture, with expansive grounds open to the public. In the evenings, hundreds of locals come to exercise, stroll around or just relax, making this one of the best sites in Trivandrum to see local life at ease. The palace is located on Museum road.

PADMANABHAPURAM PALACE

One of the few wooden palaces in Kerala dates to the 16th century, and is actually a complex of 16 buildings. The main palace is a perfect example of Kerala architecture, and the onsite Heritage Museum aptly displays the fine woodwork and paintings from this era. The complex is located in the Kanyakumari district, 60kms from Trivandrum.