Thiruvananthapuram (City of the Sacred Serpent) is small and relaxed compared with other Indian state capitals. The city gets its name from the word, Thiruvananthapuram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines.
Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala is a beautiful seaside city built on seven hills. The famous Sri. Padmanabha Swami Temple is dicated to Vishnu and is a landmark in the city. The sprawling city has an international airport. Most visitors to Kerala use it only as an arrival point, speeding on immediately to Kovalam.Trivandrum has good shopping areas and a variety of comfortable and reasonably priced hotels.