About Thiruvananthapuram
City of the Cosmic Serpent
Kerala's capital is anchored by the Padmanabhaswamy Temple — dedicated to Vishnu reclining on the cosmic serpent Ananta. The city is graceful and culturally rich, with the Napier Museum, Kuthiramalika Palace, and the atmospheric fort area offering layers of royal and spiritual heritage. It is the entry point for Kanyakumari, two and a half hours south, and for the ashram communities of southern Kerala.
The Padmanabhaswamy Temple is one of the 108 Divya Desams and one of the wealthiest temples on earth. The wealth discovered here is considered offered entirely to the deity — never human property. A living centre of Vaishnava tradition with rituals unchanged for centuries.