Thiruvananthapuram

Tourism — Kerala

Kerala Tourism's "God's Own Country" campaign centres four experiences — the Vembanad-Kuttanad backwaters, the Munnar–Wayanad–Idukki tea and hill country, the Kappad–Varkala–Kovalam beach coast, and Ayurveda wellness — all in a state of 38,863 km² with a single international airport in every region.

Kerala received 21.8 million domestic and 649,000 foreign tourists in 2023 (Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala). Alappuzha's houseboats on Vembanad Lake and the Kuttanad backwaters are the state's most-photographed experience; the National Geographic Traveler named Kerala one of the "10 paradises of the world" in 2007. The Munnar–Thekkady–Wayanad hill-country belt centres Periyar Tiger Reserve (925 km², one of India's 54 tiger reserves) and India's highest tea estate at Kolukkumalai (2,200 m). Kerala's coast has three notable beach clusters: Kovalam and Varkala (south), Cherai (Kochi) and Bekal (north). Ayurveda tourism is regulated by the Kerala state Green Leaf / Olive Leaf certification (over 300 approved centres). Kerala has four international airports — Thiruvananthapuram (TRV, 1932, India's first), Kochi (COK, world's first fully solar-powered airport, 2015), Kozhikode (CCJ) and Kannur (CNN) — more than any other state.

• Vembanad-Kuttanad houseboats
• Munnar & Wayanad tea country
• Kovalam, Varkala & Bekal beaches
• 4 international airports

Source: Indias.com · Kerala state guide

Nature & wildlife — Kerala

Kerala protects 30% of its land as forest (Forest Survey of India 2021), including 6 national parks, 18 wildlife sanctuaries, 2 tiger reserves and 3 UNESCO World Heritage-listed Western Ghats clusters — home to about 4,700 flowering plant species and 450 bird species.

Kerala's forest cover is 11,309 km², or 29.10% of geographical area, per the India State of Forest Report 2021 — well above the national average of 24.6%. The Western Ghats, running the length of the eastern state boundary, hold the state's biodiversity hotspots; five Kerala clusters (Silent Valley–New Amarambalam–Karimpuzha; Kalakkad–Mundanthurai; Periyar; Anamudi Shola; and Kudremukh partial) are inscribed in the UNESCO Western Ghats World Heritage list (2012). Kerala has 2 tiger reserves — Periyar (925 km²) and Parambikulam (391 km²) — 6 national parks (Silent Valley, Eravikulam, Periyar, Mathikettan Shola, Anamudi Shola, Pambadum Shola) and 18 wildlife sanctuaries. Notable species: Nilgiri tahr (Eravikulam holds ~50% of the world population, 2020 census 3,122 individuals), Malabar giant squirrel, Nilgiri langur and lion-tailed macaque. Kerala reported 190 tigers in the 2022 All India Tiger Estimation.

• UNESCO Western Ghats World Heritage cluster
• 6 national parks + 18 sanctuaries
• Eravikulam holds ~50% of world Nilgiri tahr
• 11,309 km² (29.10%)

Source: Indias.com · Kerala state guide

Culture & festivals

Thiruvananthapuram's cultural landmarks include the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple (one of India's 108 Divya Desams), the Kuthiramalika Palace and Napier Museum, the annual 10-day Attukal Pongala (world's largest religious gathering of women), and Kalakshetra-style Bharatanatyam anchored by the Swathi Thirunal music festival every January.

The Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, rebuilt in its present form in the 18th century by Marthanda Varma of Travancore, is one of the four Divya Desams in Kerala and among the wealthiest religious institutions in the world. The Attukal Bhagavathy Temple's Attukal Pongala festival holds the Guinness World Record for the largest religious gathering of women in a single day (4.5 million women in 2009). The Napier Museum, opened 1855, is one of India's oldest museums. Swathi Sangeethotsavam — the classical music festival honouring composer Maharaja Swathi Thirunal — has been held annually since 1978 at the Kuthiramalika Palace.

Source: Indias.com · Thiruvananthapuram

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