The beautiful capital city is the centre of the industry and development, but for tourist purposes it is mostly seen as a gateway to Kovalam. One of the most beautiful beaches in India, 16 km away from Trivandrum, it has for long been known as the "Paradise of the South". "Kovalam" translated to the local language means a ‘grove of coconut trees. True to its name, the town welcomes with view of endless coconut trees, crescent-shaped shoreline and its three beaches. The Lighthouse beach is located southern-most and is the most popular sight in town offering an amazing sight of Vizhinjam mosque. The northern beach, Samudra is laid-back and here time seems to stand still. Last but not the least, the Hawah Beach is a beehive of activities. Starting from the early morning, when fishermen setting out for sea to swimming in the calm bay of blue waters, to the romantic walks and activities on moonlit nights.

Complementing the scenic and serene setting is the availability of excellent accommodation. The restaurants in the town provide western as well as Indian style food, especially grilled seafood items such as lobster, king prawns and kalamari fresh from the sea at Kovalam. Additionally, Ayurvedic massage parlours, yoga centers, water sport facilities, and more have transformed Kovalam to a popular haven for tourists from all over the globe.

Getting to Trivandrum by Air

Trivandrum is well connected by air domestically as well as internationally. Flights are available from Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai, while the international airport has frequent connections of with Silk Air, Kuwait Airways, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Gulf Air, Air Lanka and Air India.

Getting to Trivandrum by Rail

Long-distance express trains connect Trivandrum with other important places in the state and to places all over India. Six railway stations operate within city limits, including Thiruvananthapuram central station and three stations that serve the metropolitan area. 

Getting to Trivandrum by Road

Trivandrum is well connected by road to Cochin, Kumarakom, Periyar, Alleppey and Madurai. National Highway 66 (old NH 47) passes through the city. It connects southern cities such as Kollam, Kochi, Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore and Salem.

Other Mode of Transportation

Port

A deep-water container trans-shipment port is under construction at Vizhinjam. The natural sea depth facilitates the maintenance of deep draft with limited dredging. It is one of the deepest ports in India. It is in close proximity to the international shipping lanes between Europe and the Far East.

Bus

It is the most common and economical mode of transport used in Trivandrum. KSRTC and other bus operators have regular fleet of buses operating within the city. Some of the major bus depots in the city are city depot, Vikas Bhavan, Peroorkada, Pappanamcode and Kaniyapuram. A new fleet of air-conditioned buses also run in the city and the fare ranges from Rs. 40 to Rs.10 depending upon the distance covered.

Taxi

If you are travelling in a group, it is more comfortable to board a taxi. Most of the local taxis will be Ambassadors. However, if you wish for a different car, you can always place a request with your hotel for the same. The cab fare would vary with the distance covered and the type of vehicle used.

Auto

You can easily spot an auto-rickshaw anywhere in the city. Make sure you the auto-rickshaw driver turns the meter on before you start the journey. You should not pay him anything more than the metered fare. Some pre-paid auto-rickshaw counters have been set up at the airport and railway station for the convenience of tourists.

On Foot

Most of the attractions in Trivandrum are closely located to each other. You can choose to walk and discover the city at your own pace. Even the roads have proper zebra lanes and side lanes making it easier for the passenger to walk effortlessly.

Cycles/Motorbikes

Though it is not preferred, some agencies rent bicycles for a day tour. Now a days, some of the companies also offer Bullet motorcycle tours of Trivandrum.