15 Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram for Travelling Architect

Thiruvananthapuram also formerly known as Trivandrum is a capital city in the Indian state of Kerala located in the southwestern part of India. Spread over seven hills and situated along the Arabian sea, this city is draped in history and culture where its shores are washed by the warm waters of the Arabian sea. Looking back in history, it is said that the ancient kingdom identified today as Poovar was located here and it was known to have trade ties with Solomon’s kingdom where they exported spices, ivory, and sandalwood. In the 18th century when Maharaja Swathi reigned here, it became an art and culture center that is still prevalent to date. Given Thiruvananthapuram’s richness in art, culture, traditional elements, and geography, the salubrious city is a conduit and magnet for tourists, as well as businessmen and professionals, and listed below are the fifteen places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram for any traveling architect.

Parnasala at the Santhigiri Ashram | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

In form of a full-bloomed Lotus and the biggest of its kind in the world, the lotus Parnasala is a monument located at Sathigiri Ashram, 21km from Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram. The monument which is made out of white marble is the final resting place of Navajyothisree Karunakara who was the founder of Santhigiri Ashram. The shape and structure of this monument were not designed by an architect but conceived by the head of the Santhigiri Ashram through inner visions. Currently, Parnasala stands at a height of 91 feet, a radius of 84 feet, 64 feet inner diameter, and 21 petals. 

Neyyar Dam and Wildlife Sanctuary

Located about 32km from Thiruvananthapuram, the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary which is also the drainage basin of the Neyyar river and its tributaries occupies approximately 12,000 hectares of natural vegetation. The prevalent forest types are West coast tropical evergreen, southern hilltop tropical evergreen, and sub-tropical savannahs. These int turn aid and characterize the sanctuary with unique species of flora and fauna. The sanctuary is home to 39 species of mammals, 176 species of birds, 30 species of reptiles, 17 species of amphibians, and 40 species of fishes. The Neyyar dam boasts a beautiful watch tower, a deer park, a lion safari park, and a crocodile rehabilitation and research center. The area is ideal for trekking both for individuals and groups, sightseeing, and even picnics.

East Fort | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Known as the heart of the city since it is located in the center of Thiruvananthapuram, Kizhakke Kotta also commonly known as East Fort Is a busy commercial street located in the heart of the central business district. It also stands up as the second largest shopping area after Pulimoodu which makes it one of the biggest commercial hubs with the majority of branded jewelry showrooms having their shops inside the fort premises. Inside the Fort are various landmarks like temples devoted to Hanuman and Ganesh, government offices, institutions, and palaces. This makes it a place worth visiting because more than the fort being a commercial hub, it offers more sites to see, and a whole shopping experience. Being in the central business district ensures that it can easily be accessed by all means of transport.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Also located in Thiruvananthapuram, the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple also known as the richest temple in the world is a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Anatha. Built with an intricate fusion of Chera and Dravidian style, the temple is a marvel to look at featuring a 100-foot tall ornate entrance gate and an 18-foot tall idol in the main shrine. The temple also stands out for its detailed work in stone and bronze, elaborate designs of the seven-tier high gopuram, beautifully carved stone pillars, and sculptures in the interior of the temple making it a place worth visiting.

Kerala legislature complex | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

The Kerala legislature complex also known as Niyamasabha is located in Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and is the seat of the Kerala state legislative assembly. Primarily, it is built in the classical style of Kerala architecture but with strong influences of many other contemporary styles. Some of the features of the complex include a grand staircase, gardens, waterbodies, and a large Central assembly hall. Given the fact that the architecture of the complex consists of many styles, the Kerala legislature complex is one place to visit for any architect in Thiruvananthapuram. 

Vizhinjam Rock Cut Cave

Vizhinjam found in Thiruvananthapuram is one of the ancient rock-cut temples in Kerala and it is believed that the temple was built by the Ay dynasty rulers. The granite temple is considered to be the smallest rock-cut shrine in southern India. With a central cell having a sculpture of seated Dakshinamurthi, the sides of the cell are unfinished sculptures of Siva and Parvathi. Currently, the rock-cut cave is a protected monument under the control of the archaeological survey of India since 1965.

Koyikkal palace

Koyikkal palace, located 18 kilometers from the capital city of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram is also one of the places a traveling architect in this area should visit. Here, history slumbers in all its pristine glory showing a double-story building, built in the conventional Nalukettu architectural style of Kerala which features sloping gable roofs, and large rooms built around a central courtyard. The palace houses the Numismatics museum on the ground floor and the Folklore museum on the first floor. These house numerous objects ranging from a rare collection of coins from all over the world to occupational tools, household appliances, musical instruments, and folk art, all of which are a rich cultural heritage of Kerala.

Agasthyakoodam peak in Kerala | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Agasthyakoodam, one of the highest peaks in Kerala given that Kerala is a state of many hills is nature’s ode to bird watchers. It is known as a bird watcher’s paradise and it attracts many people to catch sight of the many exotic avian species of birds. The peak can be viewed from both the Neyyar dam and Bonacaud. Besides bird watching, it is also known for its flora and fauna where over 2000 species of rare herbs have been found here and it has been under the authority of the wildlife office in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Beemapalli Dargah Shareef

The Beemapalli Dargah Shareef is an important place of worship in Thiruvananthapuram and is among the ancient places of worship for Muslims in Kerala. It is dedicated to Bee Umma, a pious Muslim woman who is believed to have possessed great spiritual powers. The mosque was designed and built according to Hindu art and architecture and it houses the graves of three renowned disciples as well as hosts the annual Chandanakkudam festival which sees crowds of devotees and followers flock to this place. The architecture and history of the place are one to see when visiting Thiruvananthapuram.

Kuthiramalika Palace and Museum | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Kuthiramalika palace and museum has a sum of 122 wooden horses waiting for all who visit. Kuthiramalika which is translated as ‘palace of horses’ is a two-story palace near the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram. The palace is made from teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite and it is an interesting case study for the Kerala school of architecture. The museum houses idols and sculptures made from white marble, Kathakali figures, Belgian mirrors, and paintings. Apart from learning more about the historical culture of Kerala, the palace is also famous for barefoot walks.

Sunil’s Wax Museum

Situated near the south Gate of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram, the Sunil wax museum is the first-ever wax museum in Kerala. It houses over 37 life-size wax figures and the collection ranges from great rulers, leaders, freedom fighters, soldiers, sportsmen, politicians, and film stars among others. Featuring almost real-life wax figures of prominent people, the wax museum with its colored facades would be a good place to visit when in Thiruvananthapuram for any traveling architect.

Karunasai Psychopark | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Located in Vellanadu, Thiruvananthapuram, Karunasai Psychopark is listed under mental hospitals. It is associated with the Karunasai mental health research institute which has developed its treatment methods by refining and redefining the conventional and lawful therapy methods. It offers a unique edutainment park themed on various aspects of psychology portrayed through statues, portraits, artifacts, photographs, installations, and other installations. The park is interactive that it has audio-visual shows and sessions on psychology and it houses a brain museum, a socio-cultural museum, and a drama theatre. With the vast knowledge available in the park about psychology, this psycho park is the ideal place to conduct research on psychology and experience the mind and its working.

Sree Chitra Enclave, Thiruvananthapuram

Sree Chitra Enclave is a museum dedicated in memory of the last king of the erstwhile Travancore dynasty. It is located inside the museum complex and it houses artifacts such as the royal chariot used by the king and his personal artifacts such as swords, coins, stamps, and medals. The museum also features 14 murals painted by famous artists and these highlight the evolution of the Travancore dynasty both geographically and socio-culturally throughout its existence. Old newspaper footage and deeds describing events are also exhibited here.

Kanakakkunnu Palace

Situated in Thiruvananthapuram near the Napier Museum, the Kanakakkunnu Palace was built during the last reign of the Travancore king Sree Moolam Thirunal and it is one of the last architectural vestiges of colonial times. Then, it was constructed to serve as a guest house and it is made of white stone dressings. The palace is a combination of Kerala and gothic architectural styles. The interior hosts a beautiful array of royal furniture pieces and crystal chandeliers. The premises of the palace constitute meadows, groves, and flowering shrubs and the first digital garden where its plants can be scanned using a QR code to get more details about botanical names, species, nativity, and distribution.

Napier Museum | Places to Visit in Thiruvananthapuram

Napier museum is located in the heart of Thiruvananthapuram and alongside it lies the natural history museum all in the same museum compound. Housed in the museum complex are the zoological park, art museum, art gallery, Sree Chitra enclave, an aquarium, and many other structures. Since it was built in the 19th century, it utilizes natural ventilation. It also contains historical artifacts and here, and Kerala’s rich cultural heritage is on full display here which makes it another great place to visit to learn more about the culture of Kerala.

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