Holiday at the city of the holy serpent on which Lord Vishnu resides. Capital of the kaleidoscopic Indian state of Kerala, offers you beautiful backwater holidays.

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the kaleidoscopic state of Kerala is named through a combination of the words 'tiru' 'anantha' and 'puram', meaning 'the abode of the sacred thousand headed serpent Anantha'. Mythlogically, Anantha forms the couch where which Lord Vishnu resides. This political, commercial and tourist center is built on seven hills. You could row a canoe to reach the Kovalam beach, the paradise a little south of city where tourists from all over the world throng to various massage and ayurveda centers besides the Yoga and the meditation centers that abound here. The Padmanabha Swamy temple with its renowned mural paintings and stone carvings is dedicated to Lord Vishnu is worth more than a visit.

You must visit the Kuthiramalika Palace Museum and the Napier Museum to get a better insight into the glorious past of the city. The former is an exquisite example of the Tranvancore architecture and houses priceless collections of the royal family. The latter is built on the Indo-Saracenic style and exhibits several historical and archaeological items. For catching the festive spirit of the city you must participate in the annual festival held at the Sreekandeswasram temple. And for all those of you who are food lovers, the Flavor Food Festival is not to be missed. Discover pulsating picnic spots, sultry shorelines, balmy beaches, majestic monuments and beautiful backwaters this Indian Holiday in tantalizing Thiruvananthapuram.

Places to see

The capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, has are several places to see in and around. The nearest must see place is the Veli tourist village. The lovely lagoon attracts several tourists from Thiruvananthapuram to Veli. You may even enjoy the water sport facilities offered at Veli Kerala. Then there is a place called Shankhumuggam that too lies around Thiruvananthapuram. You must travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Shanhkhuggam for the spectacular sunset. Plus you may see the lovely temples and the splendid statue of a mermaid. Kovalam one of the finest beach resorts in India is around 18 km from Thiruvananthapuram. You may see the beautiful beach and even indulge in water sports at Kovalam. For relaxation Kovalam offers Yoga and Ayurvedic massages. The animal lovers visiting Thiruvananthapuram must see the Neyyar Dam. In Neyyar Dam you must see the wildlife sanctuary and the crocodile farm. The place offers boating and trekking opportunities.

For trekking tourists to Thiruvananthapuram must visit Ponmudi. Ponmudi is a picturesque place around Thiruvananthapuram with charming cottages and treks. Trekking trails of the Agasthya forest are also popular with the tourists. The Agasthya forest also lies around Thiruvananthapuram. Kollam, Varkala, Colachel, Suchindram and Kanyakumari are other places worth seeing around Thiruvananthapuram.

Make your holidays at Thiruvananthapuram more enjoyable by seeing these nearby places. These places not only enhance tourism potential in Thiruvananthapuram but also are worth seeing holiday spots themselves.