Festivals

Onam (August - September)
Onam is one of the most widely celebrated festivals of Kerala, and it commemorates the legendary rule of King Mahabali, during which time the people were so happy that it aroused the jealousy of the gods
To mark the Onam festivities, the Tourism Week is celebrated in the state especially in Thiruvananthapuram during which the streets in the city are illuminated and a unique package of traditional and cultural programmes are staged at the Kanakakkunnu Palace and other landmark points. It culminates in a colourful carnival which the vast majority of the populace turn out to watch.

Arattu
The vetta and arattu processions are held twice a year from the Padmanabhaswamy Temple to Shanghumugham Beach, led by the members of the royal family of erstwhile Travancore. The idols from the temple are subjected to a ritual purification in the sea. Cultural performances, including Kathakali, are staged during the occasion.

Attukal Pongala
The ten day Pongala festival held at Attukal
Bhagavathy Temple, 2 km from Thiruvananthapuram, attracts thousands of female devotees from many parts of the country.
Men are not allowed in the vicinity of the temple during the Pongala. Pongala is a kind of sweet porridge, considered to be the goddess1 favourite offering. It is cooked by each devotee in a clay pot on an open fire and the long line of women making the ritual offering extends up to East Fort and beyond.

Chandanakudam Maholsavam
This colourful Islamic festival is celebrated to commemorate Bee Umma, a saintly lady, whose tomb is in Beemapally near Thiruvananthapuram. Devotees bring money in pots decorated with flowers, incense sticks and sandalwood paste, as an offering during the festival

Nishagandhi Dance and Music Festival (February)
This festival of Indian classical dances and music is held at the Nishagandhi open air theatre, Kanakakunnu Palace grounds,Thiruvananthapuram. • Bharathanatyam • Kathak • Kathakali• Kuchipudi • Manipuri • Mohiniyattom • Odissi • Specially choreographed ballet combining one or more of these classical dance forms • Classical music (insturmental and vocal) • Jugalbandi (concertos) are performed in the evenings.

Gramam (the Kerala village fair), Kovalam (January)
An entire Kerala village is recreated on the beach, during this ten day long festival. The traditional nalukettu (the quadrangular upper class house with a central open courtyard) and its premises become the venue of the fair, where the culture, arts and crafts of Kerala come alive. Festival highlights: • Arts and crafts fair • Kathakali . Thiruvathirakali • Mohiniattam • Oppana • Kalaripayattu Sarpapattu • Theyyam • Kummattikali • Kakkarisi natakam Panchavadyam • Chakyarkoothu • Ottanthullal

Flavour Food Festival (April)
Renowned hotels from across Kerala participate in this week long international festival of the various cuisines of the world held at the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram.

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) city is the capital of one of the most beautiful states in India, Kerala. It is situated on the southern tip of Malabar coast in Peninsular India. ‘Thiru-anantha-puram’ means the town of the sacred snake-god Ananthan. It stretches along the shores of the Arabian sea for a distance of 78 kms and an area of 2192 sq kms. Trivandrum, is famous for its enchanting tourist spots including internationally renowned beaches like Kovalam, historic monuments with Gothic architecture, lakes and backwaters, unexplored mountain ranges etc. The city enjoys a notable position in the tourist map of India

Location
Trivandrum is the southern most district of the 14 districts in Kerala. It stretches along the shores of the Arabian sea for a distance of 78 kms and an area of 2192 sq kms. It also possess a handful of naturalistic and magnificent beaches, backwaters, mountains, wild life sancturies, historic monuments etc. The surrounding taluks include Chirayinkeezhu, Nedumangad and Neyyatinkara
Geographical location
North latitudes 8° 17' and 8° 54' east
longitudes 76° 41' and 77° 17'.

Name
Thiruvananthapuram is named after the holy serpent, the thousand-headed Anantha. Thiruvananthapuram means 'The town of Lord Anantha' is believed to be originated due the presence of the temple of Lord Anantha in the heart of the city. Another view is that the name originated from 'Aananthapuram'.

History
The city once formed a part of the kingdom of Travancore, which had its capital at Padmanabhapuram. Even now most of the buildings in the city possess the royal heritage of the Travancore Kings. It was earlier part of the Travancore-Cochin state and was formed as a district on November 1, 1956.

Physiography
The district can be divided into three geographical regions-highlands, midlands and lowlands. Chirayinkeezhu and Thiruvananthapuram taluks lie in midland and low land regions, while Nedumangad taluk lies in midland and highland regions and Neyyattinkara taluk stretch over all the three regions. The Agastyarkoodam, the southern most peak in the Ghats, is 1869 meters above sea level is the largest peak in the district.

Climate
The climate is pleasant and mild all the year along though the June - November months are quite wet. The March-May months are the hottest. Average temperature ranges from 28-33 in summer and 27-30 in other seasons.

Cuisine
Traditional food is dominated by rice and related dishes. Coconut, spices etc form an integral part of the food. Fish, meat, vegetables are abundantly available

Formation

The trivandrum district was formed in July 1, 1949.

Religion
Hindus, Christians, Muslims

Others
Time 5.30 GMT
STD Code 0471
ISD Code +91

Features

Area 2,192 sq km
Population 32,34,707 (2001 census)
Border North-Kollam District, East-Tirunelveli District, South-Kanyakumari District, West-Arabian sea.
Males 15,71,424
Females 16,63,283
Sex ratio : Females/1000 1,058
Density 1476 people
Per Capita Income 20,484 Rs
Literacy rate 89.36%; Male 92.68%; Female 86.26%
Length North south-60 km, East west-56 km
Forest area in ha. 49,861
Coastal line in km. 78
Water bodied area in 5,525 hectares
Latitude North latitudes 8° 17' and 8° 54'
Longitude East longitudes 76° 41' and 77° 17'.

Constituents 140

Taluks 4

Villages 115

Block Panchayat 12

Gram Panchayat 78

Av. Rainfall 1685 m

Post Office 419

Trivandrum

Thiruvananthapuram (known as Trivandrum) the capital of Kerala. Located at the South Western tip of India, is bounded by the Arabian sea on the West and Tamil Nadu on the East. The wooded highlands on the Western Ghats in the Eastern and North Eastern borders give some of the most enchanting picnic spots, a long shorline, with internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage make this district a much sought after tourist destination.

Area - 2192 sq.km
Population - 2,938,583 (1991 census)


Access :

Air - thiruvananthapuram international airport 6 kms from the city.
Rail - there are direct trains to all the main towns in kerala as well as the major cities in india.
Road - well connected to all towns & cities.

Places to visit :

Kovalam Beach - 16 kms away this Internationally renowned Beach Resort has been a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930s. Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The Southernmost, known as the Lighthouse beach, is the most popular Kovalam offers accommodation options to suit all budgets.

Padmanabha Swamy Temple - The temple is located inside the East Fort. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, & a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is known for its Mural Paintings and Stone Carvings. One among the 108 sacred Vishnu Temples in India, the presiding deity in here is Lord Vishnu reclining on anantha the serpent.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum - The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore, who was a great poet, musician, social reformer and statesman. This rare specimen of workmanship in the traditional travancore style of architecture also has exquisite wood carvings. The palace museum displays paintings and various priceless collections of the royal family.

The Napier Museum - Built in the 19th century, the indo - saracenic structure boasts a "natural" Airconditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plaxtic is banned in the museum premises.

Sree Chitbra Art Gallery - Located near the Napier Museum. This are gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich and exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore schools of Art In India. Other places of interest 1.. The zoological park , priyadarshini planetarium , observatory, shankhumugham beach & connemera market.


Excursions :

Thiruvallam - 10 kms away this serene backwater stretch enroute to Kovalam, is famous for its Canoe Rides.

Aruvikkara Dam - 16 kms away this picturesque picnic spot is on the banks of the Karamana River. Near the Durga Temple here is a stream full of fish that fearlessly come close to the shore to be fed by the visitors.

Kanyakumari (Cape Comorin) - The land's end of india or the point where the three seas meet, is the enchanting kanniyakumari. It is one of the most popular tourist spots in the country. Part of the fascination is, of course, the fact that it is the very tip of the indian peninsula and the confluence of the bay of bengal, the arabian sea and the indian ocean.


Places of interest at Kanyakumari :

» Tiruvalluvar statue
» Gandhi memorial
» Guganathaswamy Temple
» Vivekananda Rock Memorial & Padmanabhapuram Swami Temple which is enroute Trivandrum & Kanniyakumari.


Other excursions :

» Vizhinjam rock cut cave
» Koyikkal palace nejumangad
» Neyyar dam.

hiruvananthapuram which was previously called Trivandrum, is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750.

The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.

Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland spreading over a total of 2,192sq.km.

The city is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills with narrow winding lanes and busy commercial alleys. The best season to visit Thiruvananthapuram is during September to May.

King Marthandavarma, the erstwhile founder of Travancore made Thiruvananthapuram his capital. After Marthandavarma, it remained the capital of Travancore and after independence, became the capital of State of Travancore-Cochin.

In 1956, when Kerala state was formed, Thiruvananthapuram was again chosen as the capital of Kerala. Being the state capital, it also throbs with political activity. Thiruvananthapuram and its famous beaches are one of the top tourist destinations in India.

Thiruvananthapuram derives its name from the deity at the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is the most recognisable icon of the city, nearly 2000 years old. The city has grown as a tourist and commercial centre, with the International airport becoming the main gateway into Kerala.