Thiruvananthapuram
the capital of the state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or the City of the Sacred
Snake, is built over seven hills. Named after Anantha, the thousand - headed
serpent of Hindu mythology, the city once formed a part of the Travancore kingdom,
its capital at Padmanabhapuram, now a part of Tamil Nadu.
Thiruvananthapuram is, decidedly, one of the cleaner and well-planned cities
of the country. The city's scenic appeal, its enchanting beaches, and overwhelming
greenery only add to its uniqueness.
It embodies the magical feel of Kerala, as a whole, and lends terrific insight
into the culture of the state. The red-tiled roofs, the never-ending stretches
of palm trees, the maze of narrow, winding streets and above all, the sea, make
for a fascinating mixture.
There is an element of understated and effortless elegance about the city, which
leaves a lasting impression on the visitor.
The area of historical interest in the city is the Fort, at the southern end
of M.G.Road, which encloses the famous Shri Padmanabhaswamy Vishnu Temple.
The fort gateway leads to the temple, which is surprisingly enough, in the Dravidian
style of architecture, typical of Tamil Nadu. The temple enshrines, and is dedicated,
to the presiding deity of Thiruvananthapuram, Lord Vishnu.
It
was constructed by a Maharaja of Travancore, in 1733. The temple is open only
to Hindus. The city derives its name from this temple, as the deity i.e Lord
Vishnu, is shown as reclining on his serpent, Anantha.
The Museum, Zoo, and the park they are located are in, are quite popular with
the local people and tourists. The Napier Museum is housed in a striking building,
and has a good collection of bronzes, ivory carvings, ancient musical instruments
and life-size figures of Kathakali dancers.
The art collection at the Sri Chitra Art Gallery, contains paintings of the
Mughal, Tanjore and Rajput schools and a special section, devoted exclusively
to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma. There are, also, works of art from China,
Bali, Tibet and Japan.
The Zoological Gardens are, said to be, among the most well-planned zoos in
Asia. The Botanical Garden within the zoo, houses specimens of almost every
tropical tree existing. The Observatory, located on the highest point of the
city, is one of the impressive architectural landmarks of Thiruvananthapuram.
Destination Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram,
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