Dear friend ,
if you are a tourist who does not want everything kerala has to offer at one place ---it is trivandrum you should go to.
Be it you want to relax by the world famous beaches of kovalam or see the historic splendours of the kings --museums , festivals ---trivandrum has it all.
first: the sights to see :
kovalam : this beautiful beach in arabian sea is 15 kms from the heart of the city. regular bus service are there and very cheap though crowded during morning and evening rush hours. if using taxi always fix fares before you go. kovalam has many good hotels --- 5 star and 4 star . ashok beach resort is 5 star and expensive.
beaches you can swim provided you take care . ashok has a private beach .
lot of souvenier shops and u can get cheap souveniers-- elephant, shell etc.
massage parlours are there--- go to reputed ones if you are not price conscious.
be careful with food:eat only at good hotels (dont want diarrhoea to spoil ur fun:)
museum complex: there are many museums but this is the museum complex with zoo in the heart of trivandrum city . it has a natural history museum and a museum with archaeological finds. zoo also is very good . do not miss the artgallery where ravivarma paintings are also exhibited. museum timings : 10 am---4 pm except mondays
sree padmanabha swamy temple and kuthiramalika museum : this is a famous temple where lord vishnu is seen in a reclining position. lot of souvenier shops and there is a famous clock like a cuckoo clock -- but here goats ram against each other to show the time. the kuthiramalika museum has relics from days of maharaja
kanakakunnu palace : near to museum complex this was the summer palace of kings . go to trivandrum during festivals like onam or christmas when the palace is opened to public and some kalaripayatt and other native dances can be seen .
ponmudi: so you have come to trivandrum . suddenly u want to see the mountains .
ponmudi is a hill resort close to trivandrum . there is a deer park . it is approx 1 hr from tvm . u have to take a taxi
neyyar dam : here you can go boating . there is crocodile farm and lion safari park .
how to reach there : close your eyes and you will reach there :) no confusion --well connected to any place in india through highways and railways . and by air flights are easy as mallus are everywhere in the world(mallu--malayalee slang )
people speak english and most hindi : so getting around is never a problem
police is active so if any problem contact : but avoid too late night going around especially with ladies . avoid areas where people are little . 100 is police number
food : I lived here so I can recommend many local places also but: for the traveller be careful with food as unlike me he cant afford diarrhoea .
so always eat from good hotels : hotel mascot (5 star )
residency tower , near secreteriate: good food and moderately priced
kalavara restaurant
if you are staying at trivandrum city expense will be less compared to kovalam -- many good hotels near british library, statue junction--hotel residency tower included
if you are careful you can get around trivandrum with a cheap budget
for 2 people
double room 600-1000 rs
food 300 -500 rs per day
travel etc --- 300-500 rs per day
ie approx 40 -50 dollars per day
best wishes and bon voyage
haroon .