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Caressed by turquoise blue waters of the Arabian Sea and blessed with a verdant landscape, Kerala is home to Technopark, strategically located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala in South India. It currently plays host to some of the best-known corporate names in the country and worldwide, and is also widely acknowledged as one of India's most advanced and prestigious technology parks. The International Airport at Thiruvananthapuram offers excellent air connectivity into Singapore, Europe, and Middle East and to metros in India.
Given below are details of some of the tourist spots ...
Padmanabha Swamy Temple:
(Open: 0415 - 0515 hrs, 0645 - 0730 hrs, 0830 - 1030 hrs, 1130 - 1145 hrs, 1715 - 1930 hrs)
The temple is located inside the East Fort. Dedicated to Lord Vishnu, the temple is a blend of the Kerala and Dravidian styles of architecture. It is known for its mural paintings and stone carvings. Only Hindus are allowed inside the temple.
Dress code: Men - Dhoti; Women - Saree and blouse.
Phone:2450233
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Kuthiramalika (Puthenmalika) Palace Museum:
(Open 0830 - 1230 hrs & 1530 - 1730 hrs. Closed on Mondays.)
(Entrance fee: Rs. 5/- for Adults, Rs. 3/- for Children, Rs. 20/- for Foreigners and Rs. 25/- for
Camera permit)
The palace was built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Balarama Varma - the King of Travancore. 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 and is located near the Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple.
Phone: 2473952
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The Napier Museum:
(Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays & Wednesday forenoons)
Built in the 19th century, the Indo-Saracenic structure boasts of a "natural" air conditioning system and houses a rare collection of archaeological and historic artifacts, bronze idols, ancient ornaments, a temple chariot and ivory carvings. The use of plastic is banned in the museum premises.
Phone: 2316275
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Sree Chithra Art Gallery:
(Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays & Wednesday forenoons)
(Entrance fee to the Museum and Art Gallery: Rs. 5/- for Adults and Rs. 2/- for Children)
Located near the Napier Museum, this art gallery displays select paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, Svetlova and Nicholas Roerich and other exquisite works from the Rajput, Mughal and Tanjore Schools of Art in India. The collection also includes paintings from China, Japan, Tibet and Bali.
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The Zoological Park:
(Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays.)
(Entrance fee: Rs.4/- for Adults, Rs.2/- for Children, Rs.5/- for Camera permit)
One of the first zoos in India, it is located in a well-planned botanical garden. With huge trees like Frangipani and Jacaranda dotting the sprawling lawns and Wild Fowl swimming in the lake, the zoo makes a small jungle in the heart of the city. A reptile house with different species of snakes is also located in the premises.
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The Kanakakunnu Palace:
(Entrance fee: Rs. 2/- for Adults and Re. 1/- for Children)
The palace and its sprawling grounds are today the venue for many cultural meets and events. Phone: 2314615
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The Science and Technology Museum Complex:
(Open 1000 - 1700 hrs. Closed on Mondays.)
This museum exhibits some of the sophisticated gadgets and technical wizardry related to science, technology and electronics.
Phone: 2306024
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Veli Tourist Village:
(Open 0800 - 1800 hrs) This picnic spot, where the Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea, offers boating facilities. Pedal boats and paddleboats can be hired to explore the charms of the lagoon in a leisurely manner. For a quick ride over the waters, speedboats are available for hire. Children enjoy climbing over the huge sculptures which dot the landscape.
Phone: 2500785
Boat rentals (1000 - 1730 hrs): Safari boat: Rs.10/- per head, Speedboat: Rs.120/-, Four-Seater Pedal boat: Rs.50/- for half an hour and Two-Seater Pedal Boat - Rs.40/- for half an hour.
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Akkulam Tourist Village:
(Open 1000 - 1700 hrs) A picnic spot with boating facilities, Akkulam is a place children flock to. It has a well equipped children's park and a paddle pool. There is a swimming pool for adults too. Phone: 2443043
Boat rentals (Open 1000 - 1700 hrs): Safari boat: Rs.15/- per head, Speedboat: Rs.150/- for four persons
Entrance to Children's park (Open 0930 - 1930 hrs): Rs.2/- for Adults, Re.1/- for Children
Swimming pool (Open 0730 - 1830 hrs): Rs.15/- for Adults and Rs.10/- for Children
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Ponmudi :
(61 km - 2 1/2 hours) An idyllic hill resort with narrow, winding pathways and cool, green, wooded environs, Ponmudi is located 915 meters above sea level. Along with a variety of beautiful mountain flowers, exotic butterflies, small rivulets, springs and the deer park nearby, this hill station also has excellent trekking trails.
Food: KTDC restaurant; the government guesthouse
Accommodation: Guesthouse: Cottages and rooms Rs.250 - 600, Dormitory: Rs.800/-
For reservations contact: The Secretary, General Administration Department (Political), Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram.
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Padmanabhapuram Palace:
(63 km - 2 1/2 hours. Closed on Mondays)
The seat of the erstwhile rulers of Travancore, this splendid palace is situated at Thuckalai, on the way to Kanyakumari. There is a well preserved wooden palace that stands testimony to the traditional Kerala School of Architecture. The extraordinary murals, exquisite floral carvings and the black glossy granite floor have withstood the test of time.
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Most of India's finest beaches are in Kerala. For virtually its entire 900 km length, the Kerala coast is lined with sandy beaches, rocky promontories and coconut palms. The palm-lined beaches of Kerala are renowned for the gentle surf and azure blue waters. To this add a delectable seafood cuisine, a smiling sun and friendly people to make an unforgettable holiday. Each year greater numbers of visitors arrive here in search of the tranquil, palm fringed beaches.
Kovalam:
This internationally renowned beach resort is a favourite haunt of tourists since the 1930's Kovalam consists of three adjacent crescent beaches. The southern most, known as the lighthouse beach, is the most popular of the three. About 14 kms from Thiruvananthapuram this is a beautiful beach to relax.
Shanghumukham:
08 kms from Thiruvanathapuram, this is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The beach is adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram airport and Veli tourist village. An indoor recreation club, the Matsya kanyaka and a restaurant shaped like a starfish are the major attractions here.
Varkala:
41 kms from Thiruvananthapuram city, Varkala is a seaside resort and spa, as well as an important Hindu centre of pilgrimage. A quiet, secluded stretch of sand, the Papanasam Beach in Varkala is known for its mineral springs and rocky cliffs. The 2000-year-old Sree Janardhana Swamy Temple and the nature care centre are the two main attractions here.
The Marari Beach (Mararikulam):
Right in the heart of the "spice coast" just four hours from Trivandrum is the most fabulous stretch of soft sandy beach fringed with palm, an idyllic retreat for those who want to "get away from it all". Marari originates from "Mararikulam", one of the local fishing villages, where life still goes on much as it did a hundred years ago, with the men going out to sea each day to earn a living bringing in the daily catch. An experience that is completely new to the holidaymaker. Marari offers endless miles of superb sand beaches backed by swaying palms, virgin territory where you can experience to local charm and traditional Kerala hospitality at its best.
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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.
Take the houseboat trip from Kollam to Alleppey: 
Kerala offers a unique mini - canvas to the traveller; the backwaters consist of a complex network of lagoons, lakes & canals. Life on the backwaters is entirely different; water being the key to everything. There are no roads here, only waterways. On the banks one can see lush green rice fields spreading away into the distance and coconut groves with the occasional temple or church.
The backwaters are best experienced while slowly punting down the labyrinth of canals in a traditional thatch-roofed houseboat. The houseboats are renovated cargo boats… kettuvallams… and are provided with all modern conveniences and comforts to make your stay a pleasant experience. To complement the traditional way of rowing using large poles, outboard engines are also provided. The boats are designed to facilitate a most eco-friendly functioning.
Wide selections of beautiful routes are available for the cruises. Each route is comprehensive, serene and enjoyable in itself, extending to you a complete experience of Kuttanad………the unique waterland of Kerala. For those from TECHNOPARK, the ideal trip is the short cruise from Kollam to Alleppey. Kollam is considered the ideal gateway to the backwaters of Kerala, and Alleppey has been known for years by the sobriquet 'Venice of the East'.
Other excursions
Vizhinjam rock cut cave, Koyikkal palace Nedumangad, Neyyar dam.
Other places of interest:
The Zoological Park, Priyadarshini planetarium, Observatory, Connemera market.
Water Sports
Kerala being the land of rivers, lagoons and lakes in the interiors and the sea on the west, makes it an ideal destination for those inclined to water sports for relaxation and adventure. We setting up water sports activities like:
More on Kerala tourism....
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The information provided in this section has been derived from reliable sources, however, Technopark does not offer guarantee over the validity of such information and would not be held responsible for errors and omissions in the given information. |
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