AIR
IA and Jet fly regularly from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Bangalore. IA also flies to Male and Colombo while AI has flights from Mumbai, onward to Singapore and destinations in the Gulf. Apart from IA and AI, Air Maldives, Air Lanka ,Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and Kuwait Airways also operate international flights from Male, Colombo and the Middle East.

Airport
The Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, at a distance of 6 km from the city, has friendly staff and all the amenities to help you out. A taxi transfer will cost you in the range of Rs 150 while an autorickshaw will cost you Rs 40.

RAIL
There are direct trains connecting Thiruvananthapuram to all the places in the state and most major cities in India. However, if you plan to cover the whole of coastal Kerala, take one of the several trains that run along the coast touching Varkala, Kollam (Quilon), Ernakulam and Kozhikode on the way.

Railway station
Thiruvananthapuram Central Station is in Thampanoor in the southern part of the city. It is conveniently located near the KTDC Tourist Information Centre in front of Hotel Chaithram.

ROAD
Thiruvananthapuram, at the junction of four national highways (NH 7, 17, 45 and 47), is extremely well connected with all parts of the country. While Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses ply on the state highway network within the state, State Express Transport Corporation of Tamil Nadu operates long distance services to Kanyakumari, Madurai, Chennai, Pondicherry and Bangalore.

Bus stands
Long distance buses operate from the Central Bus Station at Thampanoor (near the railway station) and local services are available from the City Bus Stand, southwest of the railway station (near the Fort).

CLIMATE
Pleasantly tropical throughout the year. Proximity to the sea induces a moderate variation in temperature with the figures for summer being 32°C (maximum) and 23.8°C (minimum) while the winters vary from 29°C (maximum) to 20°C (minimum). However, it pours long and heavy during the monsoon months (May to October).

STD CODE
0471

City Population
5,23,733

Area
74 sq km

Language
Malayalam

The Zoological Gardens
Set among vast woodlands and beautiful lakes, this is one of Asia s best laid-out zoos. Good for a day s outing and also for its proximity to a host of other interesting sights.

Government Art Museum
Also known as the Napier Museum after the erstwhile Governor General of Madras John Napier, this picturesque 19th century building stands near the zoo, right in the heart of the city. An architectural wonder, it is a beautiful blend of Kerala, Mughal, Chinese and Italian styles and boasts of a unique natural air-conditioning system. And, with exquisite bronzes, ancient ornaments and costumes, ivory carvings and musical instruments, and a whole temple chariot on display, this is the place for the art lover to be! Tel: 0471-316 275

Sree Chitra Art Gallery
While in the museum compound, don t forget to take a peek at the Art Gallery which features an eclectic collection of works by Roerich and Raja Ravi Verma, among other paintings from the Mughal, Rajput, Bengal and Tanjore schools of art. A fabulous collection of oriental art ? from the Far East and Bali ? is an added attraction.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple
Marked by a huge 100-ft gopuram, this 260-year-old temple stands inside the East Fort in the heart of the city. Spread over a huge expanse, this wonderful blend of Kerala and Dravidian architecture is presided over by Sree Padmanabhaswamy, an incarnation of Vishnu reclining on the serpent Anantha.

Puttan Malika Palace Museum
Built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balrama Verma of Travancore, an accomplished poet and musician, this is a rare example of the traditional Travancore style embellished with exquisite woodcarvings. Apart from the priceless art collection, the other exhibits in the palace speak of the once thriving spice trade with China and Europe. The palace also hosts an annual classical music festival between 27th January and 3rd February.

Indian School of Martial Arts (ISMA)
Established in 1983, the ISMA is one of the foremost government recognised institutions for preserving and imparting training in the 5,000-year-old martial art of Kerala ? Kalarippayattu. Located in Vazhuthacaud in the heart of the city, it is housed in a three-storeyed building with a traditional kalari ? the arena for practising the art, built 10 ft below ground level. ISMA is also famous for being a healing centre where the traditional kalarichikitsa ? an exclusive branch of medicine ? has been practised for years. The rare collection of olagranthas ? palm leaf manuscripts ? is an added attraction for students of history.

CVN Kalari Sangham
Built in 1956, the Sangham is situated just a stone s throw away from the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple. Apart from preserving the Kalarippayattu tradition, it also arranges for training sessions for the youth which can be witnessed for free at specified hours of the day.
Kovalam Beach Arguably one of the best beaches anywhere in the world, Kovalam is endowed with a sheltered bay which is extremely safe and pleasant for swimming during the off-monsoon months. A 30-minute drive from the city (about 16 km), the sea front is dotted with a lot of decent hotels, Ayurvedic spas and exciting food stalls frequented by hordes of leisurely tourists everyday.

The Ashok Beach Resort with its excellent location is an ideal choice to put up for a night or two.

Apart from the frequent buses that depart from the City Bus Stand in East Fort, taxis are also available from the airport and the railway station for Kovalam. For further information get in touch with the KTDC office at the Ashok Beach Resort.

Koyikkal Palace, Nedmangad (18 km)
On the way to the Ponmudi hill station and the Courtallam water falls, this ancient palace dates back to the 15th century. A double-storeyed traditional nalukettu building with slanting gabled roofs, its inner courtyard houses the museum of folklore and numismatics. While the musical heritage of Kerala has been preserved in the folklore museum, drop into the numismatics section for a glimpse of some ancient coins that speak of the extensive trade relations of the state in olden days.

Neyyar Dam (32 km)
A dam site with a lake and an adjoining sanctuary, this is a popular picnic spot for the city-dwellers. Boating facilities are available on the lake fringed by rare medicinal herbs. The sanctuary is the natural habitat for elephants and wild buffaloes. A crocodile-breeding centre and a lion safari park are also part of the dam site.

Varkala (51 km)
A fabulous beach on the outskirts of the city, it is famous for mineral water springs, the Sivagiri Mutt and a 2,000-year-old Vishnu Temple (Janardhanswamy Temple) among other things. Excellent accommodation and an upcoming Ayurvedic healing centre are the added attractions. However, for those who can afford it, the Taj Garden Retreat here should prove to be a dream experience.

Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary (50 km)
Spread over the steppes of Western Ghats, it is accessible from Vithurai on the way to Ponmudi. With thick eucalyptus plantations and a wide variety of birds around, this will prove to be a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts.

Padmanabhapuram Palace (55 km)
En route to Kanyakumari, this 16th century palace was the ancient seat of the Travancore rulers. Even today there exists a network of tunnels and passages under the floors of this elaborately wood carved building, originally planned as escape routes for the kings. With a wonderful collection of weapons, rosewood carvings and murals it serves as a treasure house of historical relics. Open all days except Mondays.

Beyond the usual fare of government crafts emporia, Thiruvananthapuram offers some exotic buys for the avid shopper. From carved rosewood and teak items to Kathakali masks, all of them are available at the various shops in and around MG Road that runs along the heart of the city from the Fort area in the south to Palayam in the north.

Flag off your shopping run north of the Station Road, where the assortment of craft shops sell sandalwood and brass products, and the traditional Keralan bell-metal oil lamps. Move up to the Khadi Gramodyog Bhavan (opposite the Ayurvedic College, MG Road) if you are looking for those exotic Kasava sarees. Traditionally handwoven, they have always been a favourite with women. Gram Sree, the village crafts centre around that area, is the place for ethnic objets d art.

Natesan s Antique Arts, further up, is one of the best places to fish for local handicrafts. Take your pick from exquisite temple woodcarvings, brilliant Thanjur paintings or traditional inlaid chests used for storing Kathakali costumes.

Cashewnuts and spices being the traditional goodies of Kerala, drop in at the Triveni Departmental Store (opposite the Secretariat) or roam the Chala Bazaar area (near Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, Fort) for a good haul. Sankar s Tea and Coffee, also on MG Road, is another popular place to look for garden-fresh nuts besides serving invigorating tea and coffee, fresh from the Nilgiris.

As you near the northern end of MG Road, you will find the Connemara Market on the right. This is the place for all those coir products you ve been dying to buy. And if you happen to be in Thiruvananthapuram around Christmas time, then Connemara is where you ll get your mistletoe and wine!