Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala.
As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 km2, making it the most populous city in Kerala. The larger Thiruvananthapuram metropolitan area has over 1.7 million inhabitants within an area of 543 km2, making it the second-most populous metropolitan area in Kerala after Kochi.. Thiruvananthapuram is one of the few cities in India that serves as a state capital and is also centre for heritage, maritime activities, information technology, research and development, space research, defence, automotive technology, and biosciences. It is also among the few cities in the world where both an international airport and an international seaport are located within the city in close proximity to the city centre.
Getting to Thiruvananthapuram
- 01Thiruvananthapuram International Airport
One of the few privately-owned airports in India.
- 02Thiruvananthapuram Central SR
One of the largest railway stations in South India.
- 03Kochuveli
Several trains operate from Kochuveli to avoid congestion at Thiruv Central.
Worth seeing
Thiruvananthapuram is a historical city, dotted with many historical structures, parks, museums, tourist centers and palaces. It's also famous for its distinctive greenery, present all over, a rare site in any bustling Indian city. Most ticketed museums are closed on Mondays, so do check online/by phone before visiting. Visit the official website of Kerala Tourism for more details. Attingal Palace.
Things to do
- 01Priyadarshini Space Planetarium
One of the largest planetaria in India and rated as one of the best horizontal planetaria of the world.
- 02Shanghumukham Beach
This city beach is 8 km outside the city centre, adjacent to the airport.
- 03Veli Tourist Village
A lake blending into the beach, almost as if it were teasing the sea.
- 04Greenfield International Stadium
A multipurpose stadium used mainly for cricket.
Where to eat
There are plenty of restaurants in Thiruvananthapuram serving South Indian food. There are also quite a few eating places serving other cuisines, such as North Indian, Chinese and American food. Please note that the word 'hotel' is used for restaurants. Non vegetarian Kerala cuisine is served in - Azad Restaurant/Hotel.
Getting around Thiruvananthapuram the local way
- Get inIt has direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Malaysia, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, as well as seasonal charter flights to Russia, the UK and less frequently to other parts of Europe.
- Get aroundAuto-rickshaws, or simply "autos", are a cheap way of travelling between attractions.
- Get aroundThe minimum charge for the autorickshaw is ₹25 and the running charge per km is ₹12 (as of Dec 2021).
- Get aroundThere are pre-paid autorickshaw counters available near the airport and the railway station.
- Get aroundComplaints related to auto-rickshaws in Thiruvananthapuram can be made to RTO Trivandrum, .
- Go nextThiruvananthapuram (district) has many more attractions which are a day trip away.
From Wikivoyage: Thiruvananthapuram, CC BY-SA. Not yet checked by us. Last edited 2026-09.
Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Ajithpithu (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.
