Places to visit in Thiruvananthapuram

• Operating hours: Open daily in specific morning and evening sessions:
  • Morning Darshan: 3:30 AM to 4:45 AM, 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM, and 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
  • Evening Darshan: 5:00 PM to 6:15 PM, and 6:45 PM to 7:20 PM.
• Admission fees: General entry and darshan is completely free of charge. Special express darshan tickets (typically ₹150 to ₹250) can be purchased at the Devaswom counter for faster queue access.
• Strict security screening: Metal detectors and frisking are enforced at all four entrance gates; all bags, mobile phones, smartwatches, and cameras must be deposited at the temple cloakroom counters.
• Photography: Photography of the temple exterior and Padmatheertham tank from public areas is permitted. All photography or filming inside the temple gates is strictly forbidden.

Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is located in East Fort (Kizhakkekotta), roughly 2 km south of the central Secretariat at Palayam and 1 km from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station. It is easily accessible by auto-rickshaw, taxi, or local bus in 5 to 10 minutes from anywhere in central Trivandrum. The vast East Fort city bus terminal sits right outside the northern palace gates, connecting to every corner of the city. Paid municipal parking is available outside the East Fort entrance gates.

• Operating hours: Open Tuesday to Sunday in two sessions:
  • Morning session: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
  • Afternoon session: 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM.
  • Closed: Strictly closed on all Mondays and designated state holidays.
• Admission fees: (Includes guided palace tour):
  • Indian adults: ₹100 per person.
  • Children: ₹30 per child.
  • Foreign tourists: ₹200 per person.
• Photography: Photography of the palace exterior courtyard and the carved wooden horse brackets is permitted. Photography and videography inside the palace museum chambers are strictly prohibited to preserve historical artifacts.

Kuthiramalika Palace Museum is located in East Fort, just 200 metres southeast of Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple and about 2 km south of the central Secretariat at Palayam. It is within a 5-to-10-minute auto-rickshaw or taxi drive from central Thiruvananthapuram or the Central Railway Station. Public buses running to East Fort stop within a 3-minute walk of the palace gates. Paid vehicle parking is available in the public municipal lot outside the East Fort entrance.

• Operating hours:
  • Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
  • Wednesday: 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM (closed Wednesday mornings for conservation).
  • Closed: Strictly closed on all Mondays and designated national holidays (Republic Day, Independence Day, Gandhi Jayanti).
  • Museum Compound grounds and park: Open daily from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
• Admission fees: (Nominal state entry tickets):
  • Adults: ₹20 per person.
  • Children (5 to 12 years): ₹10 per child.
  • Composite tickets covering Napier Museum and Sri Chitra Art Gallery can be purchased at the main counter.
• Photography: Photography of the museum exterior and the surrounding botanical park is permitted. Photography and videography inside the museum galleries are strictly prohibited to protect the historical exhibits.

Napier Museum is located in the Public Gardens / Museum Compound near LMS Junction, roughly 1.5 km north of Palayam and 3.5 km north of the Central Railway Station. Auto-rickshaws, taxis, and city buses reach the Museum Compound gate from central Thiruvananthapuram in 5 to 10 minutes. City bus routes connecting East Fort to Peroorkada and Kowdiar stop directly outside the Museum bus stop. Ample paid vehicle parking is provided at the main gate of the Museum Compound.

• Operating hours:
  • Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10:00 AM to 4:45 PM.
  • Wednesday: 1:00 PM to 4:45 PM (closed Wednesday mornings for conservation).
  • Closed: Strictly closed on all Mondays and designated national public holidays.
• Admission fees: Regulated by the Directorate of Museums and Zoos:
  • Adults: ₹20 per person.
  • Children (5 to 12 years): ₹10 per child.
  • Combined composite tickets covering both Napier Museum and Sri Chitra Art Gallery are available at the main ticket counter.
• Photography: Photography and videography inside the art gallery are strictly prohibited. High-quality art prints, reproductions, and collector’s catalogues of Raja Ravi Varma’s paintings are available for purchase at the reception counter.

Sri Chitra Art Gallery is located inside the Public Gardens / Museum Compound near LMS Junction, roughly 1.5 km north of Palayam and just a 2-minute walk across the lawn from Napier Museum. It is an easy 5-to-10-minute auto-rickshaw or taxi ride from central Thiruvananthapuram or the Central Railway Station. Public buses stopping at the Museum or LMS Junction bus stops provide direct access. Ample vehicle parking is available inside the main Museum Compound entrance.

• Operating hours:
  • Open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 AM to 5:15 PM (ticket counter closes at 5:00 PM).
  • Closed: Strictly closed on all Mondays throughout the year.
• Admission fees: (Nominal state entry tickets):
  • Adults (above 12 years): ₹30 per person.
  • Children (5 to 12 years): ₹10 per child.
  • Family ticket (two adults and two children): Approx. ₹80.
  • Battery vehicle ride: Approx. ₹50 per passenger for the complete circuit.
• Photography: Personal still photography and mobile filming are permitted (nominal camera ticket fee ₹50; video camera ₹150). Flash photography inside nocturnal and reptile enclosures is strictly prohibited.

Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is located inside the Public Gardens / Museum Compound near LMS Junction, roughly 1.5 km north of Palayam and 3.5 km north of the Central Railway Station. It is easily accessible by auto-rickshaw, taxi, or city bus in 5 to 10 minutes from anywhere in central Trivandrum. City buses running along the Museum-Kowdiar corridor stop directly outside the main gates. Ample paid vehicle parking is provided outside the Museum Compound entrance.

• Operating hours: Check the current visiting hours and permitted access with the site operator before departure; ceremonies, closures and visitor sessions can affect access.
  • Vizhinjam Lighthouse: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 AM to 12:45 PM, and 2:00 PM to 5:45 PM.
  • Closed: Lighthouse tower strictly closed on all Mondays.
• Admission fees:
  • Beach access: Completely free of charge.
  • Vizhinjam Lighthouse entry ticket: ₹20 per adult (Indian nationals); ₹10 for children; ₹50 for foreign tourists.
  • Lighthouse lift/elevator fee: Nominal fee of ₹10 per passenger.
  • Still camera fee inside lighthouse: ₹20.
• Photography: Photography of the beaches, coastline, and fishing boats is permitted. Commercial drone filming over the neighboring Vizhinjam Port channel is strictly restricted by maritime security.

Kovalam is located in Thiruvananthapuram district, approximately 16 km south of the central Secretariat at Palayam and 14 km from the Central Railway Station. Private cars, taxis, and auto-rickshaws travel along the smooth 4-lane bypass road (NH66) directly to the Kovalam junction in about 25 to 35 minutes. Frequent, inexpensive KSRTC city buses depart every 15 minutes from the East Fort Bus Stand directly to the Kovalam Beach bus terminus, located just a 3-minute walk up from the sands of Hawa Beach. Dedicated vehicle parking is available in the municipal parking grounds behind Lighthouse Beach and Hawa Beach.