The city of Trivandrum is probably one of the India's most ancient cities. Steeped in legends, myth and a royal past, the history of Trivandrum goes back to more than a thousand years before the birth of Christ. The city of Trivandrum is one of the cities in the country that still carries an unmistakable flavor of its regal and heritage drenched past. Also known as “Thiruvananthapuram”, the establishment of the city dates back to around the 1000 BC.
The city was then named after the dwelling place of the mythical serpent ‘Ananta‘– ‘Tiru Ananta Puram' – who serves as the Lord Vishnu's familiar. Literally translated it means, ‘the town of Lord Anantha'. A city constructed around seven hills; Trivandrum reached fame in sometime around the year 1750, when it became the famed capital city of the Raja of Travancore. However, even long before that, the city of Trivandrum was a popular trading post; mainly doing business in spices, ivory and sandalwood. Most of these business and trading transactions took place mostly with the traders from the Far East.
However, the city of Trivandrum began to reach for new heights with the ascension of the Marthanda Varma. He came into power in 1729 and founded the royal state that was named as “Trivancore” or “Thiruvithamkoor”. By the year 1745, Trivandrum had flourished and become a name and set as a benchmark in art, culture and intellectual capacity.Today Trivandrum stands as the capital of the state of Kerala. However, much of the city remained unchanged politically and socially until early in the 19 th century. What can be seen of Trivandrum today is the result of the joint efforts of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal. Together they changed the face of Trivandrum and made as it stands today. Also, the freedom movement had its own impact; finally resulting in the city as it stands today.
Trivandrum India, Trivandrum, India, India Trivandrum, Tourism in Trivandrum India There are a number of tourist attractions in Trivandrum, India. A must on every tourist itinerary for Trivandrum, the Padmanabhaswami temple with its gopuram (tower) soaring majestically upwards, is believed to be one of the 108 shrines sacred to the Vaishnavites in India.
Besides this magnificent temple, Trivandrum offers a great deal more. There is the Observatory to start with, established over a hundred years ago in Trivandrum in India. Several kings have also built their palaces in and around the Trivandrum, India, each more impressive than the other. Despite a few attempts at modernity, Trivandrum retains its discreet, old-world charm.
In Trivandrum one can visit the Museum with its profusion of gables and turrets. A repository of fine works of art, the chief attraction here is the 250-year-old temple car made for Lord Vishnu, artistically designed and ornamented. Besides this, objects carved out of wood, models of temple, antique jewelry, etc., make the museum worth a visit.
Lying within the museum compound of Trivandrum, Sri Chitra Art Gallery proves to be an ideal place for art lovers. The piece de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the country's modern art. Besides him, the Indian section also contains works of Rabindranath Tagore, Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the Rajput and Mughal schools of painting and the famous Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones. The gallery's collection also includes paintings from Indonesia, China, and Japan.
Then, of course, a trip to Trivandrum in India is incomplete without a boat-ride on its enchanting backwaters. These waterways of Trivandrum in India teem with life. One can be seduced by the panorama of beautiful landscapes, beaches and waterways, coconut palms and, of course, beautiful, friendly people of Trivandrum in India.
Two nearby places worth visiting while in Trivandrum, India are Veli and Shankhumuggam; the former has been converted into a superb tourist village while the latter boasts of lovely temples and a huge statue of a mermaid presently being worked upon by a famous sculptor.
An absolute must is Kovalam that lies barely 18 km away Trivandrum. The beach is considered one of the finest in the world and provides ingredients for an ideal holiday excursion from Trivandrum. Besides swimming, there are opportunities for surfing and water skiing-even an exhilarating catamaran ride into the sea.
Deer Bus takes you to the Trivandrum and makes the journey comfortable.
About Kottarakkara
Book online bus tickets to Kottarakkara By Deer Bus
Kottarakkara Deer Bus also transliterated as Kottarakara, is a village with almost all urban facilities, located in Kollam District (formerly known as Quilon), in Kerala state, India. It is 72 km to the north of the Thiruvananthapuram, the State Capital,on the Main Central Road and 80 km to the south of Kottayam. The village lies 27 km to the east of Kollam, the District headquarters and 18 km to the west of Punalur on National Highway 208/220. It is also the headquarters of Kottarakkara Block and Taluk comprising six panchayaths.
Kottarakkara is one of the important towns in Kollam.
For many centuries, the city served as a place of residence for kings, hence the name "Kottarakara", which means "the land of the palaces". (Kottaram means palace and Kara means land) The "Elayidath Swaroopam", a branch of the Travancore Royal family, was the last ruling family of the area. The last queen of the dynasty was defeated by King Marthanda Varma (a distant cousin of hers), in the 18th century and she fled to Cochin to seekt asylum with her allies, the Dutch. They pensioned her with 2 rupees and 5 annas. Later, during Tipu Sultan's invasion of Malabar, a Royal family from North Malabar was settled in Kottarakara by Dharma Raja. This family line became extinct in the mid 19th century.
Kottarakara is a town located in the district of Kollam, formerly known as Quilon, in the Kerala state of India. 25 km to the east of Kollam on the National Highway. It served as a place of residence for the king. Thus, it is named 'Kottarakara', or 'the place of the palace'. The 'Elayidath Swaroopam' was the last ruling family of the area. The last queen of the dynasty voluntarily surrendered to king Marthanda Varma of Travancore in the 18th century.
The region is primarily agrarian. It has grown in population as well as economically. There are lots of educational institutions including the St. Gregorious College and the IHRD Engineering College. The place is well connected, with a good network of roads and frequent bus services to all places. The Kollam - Chennai railway passes through Kottarakara and there is a railway station here.
The Mahaganapathi temple at Kottarakara is famous for its 'Unniappom', is one of the most venered Ganesh temples in Kerala.
Kottarakkara is one of the tourists place in kerala and also beautiful place which can make journey through Deer Bus