Places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram

• Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple: There are many places to visit in Trivandrum. The most prominent landmark and pride of the city is the 8th century Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple inside the East fort gateway with its stunning Kerala-Dravidian architecture and seven-tiered gopuram or tower. In its sanctum lies the magnificent 18ft sculpture of the presiding deity, the reclining Vishnu stretched on his hooded snake, Anantha. Like several temples in Kerala, it has an 'open only to Hindus' policy and a strict dress code. Men must wear dhotis only and women should wear saris. A chance to discover hidden treasures of gold, silver, and jewellery in the shrine a few years ago means that it is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as 'the richest Hindu temple in the world.'
• Shankhumugham Beach: The other big attraction among Trivandrum tourist places is Shankhumugham Beach, 7km away. The beach has an iconic sculpture of a mermaid, a restaurant, a recreation club and a park. Join the crowds as they gather every evening to witness spectacular sunsets on the horizon. It is adjacent to the international airport and Veli Tourist Village.
• Napier Museum: Don't miss the Napier Museum among Trivandrum city points of interest, an architectural landmark with a superb collection of sculptures in bronze and wood, ivory carvings and coins and the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, a treasure trove of royal paintings, artworks across genres including originals by renowned artist Raja Ravi Varma.
• Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden: Built by the Maharaja of Travancore in 1857, the Thiruvananthapuram Zoological Garden, regarded as the country's oldest zoo and botanical garden. Besides several species of animals and birds, the well-stocked Snake farm is a popular attraction. Not surprisingly, Yann Martel drew inspiration for his classic Life of Pi from the animals he observed in this zoo! Check for Trivandrum zoo timings before heading there.

High-end shopping/luxury shopping/shopping malls in Thiruvananthapuram

• Mall of Travancore
• Parthas Textiles
• Saphalyam Shopping Complex
• Avenue Centre Shoppe
• Narmada Shopping Complex
• Attukal Shopping Complex

Street shopping in Thiruvananthapuram

• Kairali and SMSM Institute:The State-owned handicrafts emporia, Kairali and SMSM Institute on MG Road offer an excellent platform for ethnic curios, arts and crafts, at fixed prices.

• Connemara Market:If you are adventurous enough for a slice of local life, enter the grand arch of the historic Connemara Market (also called the Palayam Market), which once catered to the needs of the royal army. Here you'll find everything from live goats, spices, vegetables and fruits, to gifts and apparel, handicrafts and more.

• Chalai Bazaar:Another action-packed market is Chalai Bazaar which is chockful with shops selling fruits, dates and perfumes from the Gulf to shoe shops and goldsmiths catering to the demands of wedding shoppers.

• Saarwa boutique store:For classy ethnic-style home décor, antiques, jewellery, handicrafts and designer wear, check out Saarwa, a cosy boutique with a backyard café. Run by Tigi and Ren, it's a great place to shop for your lifestyle needs.

• India Ethnic Weaves: For a stunning range of traditional and contemporary saris collected from across India, Ethnic Weaves is an irresistible shopping outlet that also stocks unstitched salwar suits.

• Keralashopee:For unique handpicked collectables and carvings showcasing Kerala's amazing crafts and artisan skills, try Keralashopee in Nedumcaud. It houses a vast collection of items that make great gifts and souvenirs.

• Ramachandran Textiles:From fabrics to kitchen appliances and footwear, this is where you attain shopping nirvana. So, turn your feet to Ramachandran Textiles for the best bargains.

Nightlife/party places in Thiruvananthapuram

Trivandrum is not exactly party central, thanks to its policy to discourage alcohol consumption, with five-star hotels being the only exception. Try Oakwood The Pub at The South Park (a Fortune Hotel), V Bar at the Hilton Garden Inn Trivandrum or Twist Bar at Vivanta by Taj. Purple Lounge is the city's lone lounge bar with a discotheque at Hotel Safari, centrally located on MG Road. Kerala is also known for its kallu shaaps (toddy shops) that serve the heady brew with kappa (tapioca)-meen (fish) curry.

Puthenmalika Palace

Don't forget to drop in at the Puthenmalika Palace, a two-story museum with notable architecture. Besides its collection of priceless paintings and royal heirlooms, it has the Methan Mani or Meshamani at its gateway, a star attraction. This old chimer with a sense of humour is perched near the east entry of Padmanabhaswamy temple and is Trivandrum's alternative to London's Big Ben. Its mechanism has two butting rams crashing into the face of a bearded man, making his jaw drop on each ticking hour! The unique mechanical wonder has been keeping time on a pulley system with precision since the 1840s under Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma of the erstwhile Travancore Dynasty. Recently upgraded to continue its unique operation, it's easily one of the city's prized possessions and one of the most popular attractions in Trivandrum for locals and visitors alike.

The Reading Room in Kowdiar

If the bookworm in you pooh-poohs digital books that don't compare to the real thing, here's something to crow about. The Reading Room in Kowdiar is a great place to browse. A lovely reading club with a dedicated space to read for adults and children, you can pick up rare books, vintage comics and graphic novels.

Places to visit near Thiruvananthapuram

Kovalam

A half-hour drive south takes you to scenic Kovalam, 16km away, and its famous trio of beaches – Lighthouse, Hawa and Samudra. Tourists have flocked to these clean, crescent-shaped shores since the 1930s to rejuvenate mind, body, and soul through yoga, Ayurveda, massages, sunbathe, swim, and dive the bay.

Ponmudi

For a mountain escape, Ponmudi, a hill station that's about 60km from the city, is your best bet. Its winding roads and lush tea gardens are ideal for treks, nature trails, and resort stays.

Varkala

About 50km away is another favourite beach getaway Varkala, famous for its panoramic beauty and peaceful surroundings.

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival

The Nishagandhi Dance Festival, which showcases various dance forms from all over India, is held every year in January at the Kanakakunnu Palace and organised by the Tourism Development Corporation. Dances are performed here in an open-air setting, ideal for the audience to immerse themselves in an ambience of swara, raga and laya. It showcases the best of classical dance from all over India. Specially choreographed dance shows, often fusing such dances as Mohiniattam, Kathak, Bharatanatyam and Manipuri, are also part of the cultural extravaganza.

Onam

During Onam, a host of fairs and exhibitions make it the perfect time to pick up handicrafts and handlooms. This exhibition displays Kerala's handicrafts' bets, including coir products, Aranmula mirrors, metal lamps, pottery, bronze and stone statues, jewellery, and sarees. Other state emporiums too put up stalls displaying their products.

Kovalam Literary Festival

Launched in 2008, the Kovalam Literary Festival is held every October for two days and attracts writers and lovers of literature worldwide. It comprises 15 sessions chaired by eminent writers, giving a glimpse into the minds behind English Indian writing.

Soorya Dance and Music Festival

The Soorya Dance and Music Festival is held for ten days every October and portrays various dance styles performed by renowned dancers from all over India.

Navaratri festival

The Navaratri festival at the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple also sees many renowned musicians from all over the country performing to an eager audience. It takes place during Dusshera and is held in honour of Goddess Saraswathi, with each performance is held between 6 and 8.30 pm every day of the festival.