Yume no Yado › Trivandrum guide
夢の宿
A local host's guide to Thiruvananthapuram: temples and palaces, golden beaches, quiet backwaters, misty hills and the food you shouldn't miss.
Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) is Kerala's capital and its southernmost city. It's greener and calmer than most state capitals, and within an hour or two you can be on a palm-fringed beach, in a boat on the backwaters or up in the hills of the Western Ghats.
We're Manjusha and Prakash, the hosts of Yume no Yado, a 2-bedroom homestay in quiet Nettayam. This is the advice we give our own guests. Distances are from our house, about 11 km from the airport.
Plan your trip
Easy sightseeing
The easiest way to see Trivandrum's highlights in one go is the KSRTC "City Ride", an open-top double-decker bus tour run by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation's Budget Tourism Cell. Sit on the upper deck for the best views of the old city, palaces and the sea.
You can also book in the Ente KSRTC Neo-OPRS app, or buy tickets on the bus if seats are free. Weekend and holiday rides fill up, so book a day ahead. Fares and timings change from time to time, so please confirm when booking. We're happy to help you book.
Explore
Grouped by type, with the approximate drive time from Yume no Yado. Tap a filter to narrow the list.
The temple the city is named after, with a towering seven-tiered gopuram and the famous reclining image of Lord Vishnu. One of the most important temples in Kerala.
Tip: Only Hindus may enter, and there is a strict dress code: mundu/dhoti for men (no shirt), saree or long skirt for women. Dhotis can be hired near the entrance.
A palace built by Maharaja Swathi Thirunal in traditional Kerala style. Its eaves are supported by 122 carved wooden horses, which give it its name. Inside are royal Travancore treasures.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. Usually open mornings and afternoons, with a lunch break.
A striking 19th-century museum of bronzes, jewellery and ivory carvings. The Sree Chitra Art Gallery holds paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, and the zoo is in the same leafy park.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. Go in the morning, when it's cooler and the animals are more active.
The bustling old-city bazaar next to the temple, good for spices, banana chips, brass lamps and saris. In the evening, try snacks and tea from the stalls around Kizhakkekotta (East Fort).
Tip: Go in the late afternoon to shop, then stay for evening snacks.
The city's favourite beach for sunsets, home to a giant reclining mermaid sculpture. It's close to the airport, so it works well before an evening flight.
Tip: Best at sunset. The sea is rough, so it isn't safe for swimming.
A park where Veli Lake meets the Arabian Sea, with pedal boats, a floating bridge, sculptures and gardens. Families with children enjoy it.
Tip: Open roughly 9 AM–6 PM. Late afternoon is pleasant.
A much-loved temple to the goddess Attukal Amma, famous for Attukal Pongala, when huge numbers of women cook offerings along the city's streets.
Tip: Visit early in the morning. On Pongala day the whole area is closed to traffic.
A hilltop palace with wide lawns and old trees, next to Napier Museum. It hosts cultural events and festivals, and its grounds are a favourite spot for an evening walk.
Tip: Combine it with Napier Museum. Evenings are pleasant for a stroll.
A world-class shooting range built for the 2015 National Games. It has hosted National Shooting Championships, and athletes come here to train and compete.
Tip: Coming for a camp or championship? Yume no Yado is less than 1 km away, with a kitchen and quiet rooms to rest between sessions.
Kerala's best-known beach town: three crescent beaches (Lighthouse, Hawa and Samudra) with seafood restaurants and Ayurvedic massage. Climb the red-and-white lighthouse for the view.
Tip: Best from September to May. Swim only where lifeguards are on duty.
A colourful fishing harbour just south of Kovalam, with an ancient rock-cut cave temple. Combine it with a Kovalam visit.
Tip: Come early in the morning to see the boats come in with the day's catch.
Take a boat through mangrove-lined backwaters to the golden sandbar where the Neyyar River meets the sea. This is a classic Kerala backwater experience close to the city.
Tip: Boats leave from the jetties at Poovar. Mornings are calmer and cooler.
Dramatic red laterite cliffs above Papanasam Beach, lined with cafés and shops. Nearby is the ancient Janardhana Swamy Temple.
Tip: Stay for the sunset from the North Cliff walkway.
A seaside temple on the cliffs near Vizhinjam, known for its 58-foot (18 m) statue of Lord Shiva as Gangadhareshwara, the tallest Shiva sculpture in Kerala, set against the Arabian Sea.
Tip: Combine it with Kovalam, Vizhinjam or Poovar. Go towards sunset, and keep away from the cliff edges and rough sea.
A small, peaceful reservoir and riverside temple just a short drive from the house. It's a quiet spot for a morning walk or an evening outing.
Tip: A nice short outing when you have an hour or two to spare.
A large reservoir framed by the Western Ghats, with boating and a crocodile rehabilitation centre. The Kappukadu elephant rehabilitation centre is nearby.
Tip: Arrive by 10 AM. The elephant centre is closed on Mondays.
A cool, misty hill station reached by a scenic road with 22 hairpin bends through forest and tea estates. You can see Golden Valley, waterfalls, viewpoints and trekking trails.
Tip: Best from November to February. Carry a light jacket. The road may close in heavy rain.
A large freshwater lake south of the city, lined with paddy fields and coconut palms. It's lovely at sunrise and sunset, and popular with photographers and birdwatchers.
Tip: Go at dawn or dusk for the best light and birds.
A clear mountain river with rocky pools at Kallar, and the Meenmutty waterfall reached by a forest walk. Both are on the road to Ponmudi.
Tip: Stop here on your way up to Ponmudi. Avoid the river after heavy rain.
A giant sculpture of the mythical bird Jatayu from the Ramayana, set on a rocky hilltop. A cable car takes you to the top, where there are wide views and adventure activities.
Tip: Book tickets online in advance, especially on weekends.
The former seat of the Travancore kings, a 400-year-old masterpiece of Kerala woodwork with carved ceilings and polished floors. It's just across the border in Tamil Nadu.
Tip: Closed on Mondays. Combine it with Kanyakumari for a full day out.
The southern tip of India, where three seas meet. See the sunrise, take the ferry to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue, and visit the Kumari Amman Temple.
Tip: Leave very early to catch the sunrise, or go for the sunset.
The Sree Siva Parvathi Temple at Chenkal, near Neyyattinkara, is home to a 111-foot Shivalingam, one of the tallest in the world. You can walk up through the levels inside the lingam.
Tip: Combine it with Poovar or Azhimala on the same southern route. Follow the temple's dress code and check timings before you go.
Distances and drive times from Yume no Yado are approximate and depend on traffic. Opening hours change, so please check before you go, or just ask us.
Eat like a local
Kerala food is built on coconut, rice, spices and the catch of the day. Small family-run eateries and "meals" restaurants are often the best and cheapest places to eat. There are several within walking distance of our house.
Lacy rice pancakes with a mild coconut-milk stew. A classic breakfast.
Steamed rice and coconut cylinders with a spicy black chickpea curry.
Rice with many small vegetarian dishes, served on a banana leaf. At Onam it becomes a grand feast.
Pearl-spot fish marinated in spices and cooked wrapped in a banana leaf.
Flaky layered flatbread with beef, chicken or egg roast. Found in every corner eatery.
Ripe-banana fritters with milky tea: the classic evening snack.
Choose your fish at a beachside restaurant and have it grilled or fried.
Fresh, coconut-oil-fried chips and sweet halwa to take home, from Chalai market.
Our picks
Don't feel like cooking? These are the places we order from and eat at ourselves. Order through Swiggy or Zomato and food is delivered to Yume no Yado. Just enter the house address in the app.
Vegetarian Kerala sadya, served every day. A full traditional banana-leaf meal delivered to your door.
A trusted family restaurant in Pulimoodu, serving authentic Kerala food since 1976: idli, dosa, puttu and kanji for breakfast, and traditional meals through the day. Open daily, 6:30 AM–10 PM.
Must try: their kanji (rice porridge), a simple and healthy dinner.
Home-style Kerala food to take away or order in, good for a simple, tasty meal.
Vegetarian breakfast and dinner: dosa, idli, appam and other South Indian favourites.
The famous Kerala restaurant brand, best known for its biriyani and Malabar dishes.
Chinese and local Kerala recipes, served in an easygoing restaurant with a garden courtyard. Perfect for a relaxed lunch or dinner out.
A busy, family-friendly multi-cuisine restaurant near Kochuveli, with Kerala, Chinese, North Indian, grill and seafood dishes. It has pleasant interiors with murals and plants. Favourites include Jakarta fried rice, chilli chicken and butter chicken with naan.
Tip: go a little early to beat the peak-hour rush.
Celebrity chef Suresh Pillai's restaurant, in a beautiful old heritage property on Airport Road. A contemporary take on Kerala cuisine, with both veg and non-veg dishes. Try the nool porotta, prawn fry and beef curry. Open daily, 12 noon–11 PM.
Tip: call ahead to reserve a table before you go.
Menus, timings and delivery areas change, so check the app before ordering. Ask us anytime for more recommendations.
Shopping & entertainment
Kerala's biggest shopping mall, at Akkulam on the NH 66 bypass near Technopark. It's air-conditioned and easy to spend a whole afternoon in, which makes it a good choice on a hot or rainy day.
Weekends and evenings get busy. Go on a weekday morning for a quieter visit. The KSRTC night city tour also passes by the mall.
Seasons & festivals
Best weather. Warm, sunny days and the calmest seas, ideal for beaches and sightseeing. Ponmudi is at its best from November to February. Book early for December and January.
Hot and humid. Plan outdoor visits for early morning and evening, and spend the middle of the day indoors or in the hills.
Monsoon. Lush and green, with fewer crowds. It's the traditional season for Ayurvedic treatments. Seas are rough, so avoid swimming.
Festival dates follow the Malayalam calendar and change every year. Ask us for this year's dates.
Getting around
Autos and app cabs are easy to find in Nettayam. For a full day out to Ponmudi, Varkala or Kanyakumari, hiring a car with a driver is the most comfortable option, and we can recommend a trusted local driver.
KSRTC buses run across the city and to most destinations here. They're cheap, but slower and busier.
From your hosts
夢の宿
Yume no Yado is a peaceful 2-bedroom homestay in green Nettayam: ₹2,500 a night, 11 km from the airport, with free parking and fast Wi-Fi.