Traveling with family brings a special kind of happiness. For a very long time, I wanted to visit Thiruvananthapuram with my family. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala. It is full of history, beautiful beaches, and green places. My children also wanted to visit a special theme park there called Magic Planet. Finally, the day came when we decided to pack our bags and make this dream come true.
TRIP AT A GLANCE
We are the Ishabil family! My name is Ikbal Valiyathodi, and I went on this beautiful journey with my wife, Sabeera, and our two wonderful children, Isha and Shabil. We love to share our honest travel experiences on our blog, ishabil.com. This trip became even more special because of my close friend and old colleague, Sajad. He lives in the southern part of Kerala. He invited us to visit his place and offered his full support to help us explore the city. Having a good friend in a new city makes travel so much easier.
A Smooth Ride on the Rajdhani Express
Our journey started from the Tirur Railway Station in Malappuram. We booked tickets on the famous Rajdhani Express train. We chose the AC Chair Car coach for our journey. The train was scheduled to leave in the afternoon at 2 o’clock. The children were very excited because this was the first time they were going to experience a long train ride. The AC coach was very clean, quiet, and comfortable. Outside the big windows, we could see green trees, fields, and small towns passing by very quickly.
The train ride was incredibly smooth. Isha and Shabil did not get tired at all. They played games, ate snacks, and looked out of the window with big smiles. Traveling by train in India is a wonderful experience for small children. Finally, after a comfortable six-hour ride, our train arrived at the Varkala Shivagiri Railway Station at 8 o’clock in the night. The night air was warm and pleasant.
As soon as we stepped out of the railway station, we saw my friend Sajad. He was waiting for us with a big smile and his car. We were so happy to see him. We put our heavy bags in the back of his car and climbed inside. Sajad drove us safely to his hometown area called Chathannoor. He had already arranged a nice room for us at a comfortable lodge there. We were tired from the day of travel, so we quickly went to bed and slept well to prepare for our big exploration the next morning.
📌 ishabil tips
If you are traveling with small children in Kerala, booking an AC train coach like the Rajdhani Express is a great choice. It keeps the kids cool, safe, and away from heavy dust, making the journey pleasant for parents too.
Exploring Thiruvananthapuram: Sports, Spirituality, and Beautiful Beaches
The next morning started very early for us. The sun was just rising, and the air was fresh. Sajad came to our lodge with his car, and we started our full-day Thiruvananthapuram exploration together. Our very first stop of the morning was the Greenfield International Stadium, which is also known as the Sports Hub. This is a very modern and massive stadium used for cricket and football matches. Because it was very early in the morning, the main gates of the stadium were closed for visitors. However, we could see the grand design and the beautiful green grass area from the outside. We stood near the gates, took some beautiful family photos, and admired the huge structure.
The Holy Atmosphere at Beemapally
Next, Sajad drove us to the famous Beemapally Mosque. This is one of the most important spiritual centers and historic mosques in Kerala. It is dedicated to Bee Umma, a holy woman who had great spiritual powers. The building has beautiful large domes and tall minarets painted in soft colors. As we walked near the mosque, we could feel a very deep sense of peace. Many people from different places come here to pray and seek blessings. We spent some quiet time looking at the beautiful architecture and experiencing the calm, holy atmosphere of this grand place.
The Golden Sands of Shankumugham Beach
From the mosque, we went straight to the famous Shankumugham Beach. This beach is known for its wide open white sands and beautiful views of the Arabian Sea. The morning waves were crashing heavily against the shore. The main attraction at this beach is a giant, beautiful sculpture named *Matsya Kanyaka*, which means the Mermaid. This massive concrete sculpture was made by the famous artist Kanayi Kunhiraman. It is more than 35 meters long! The children were amazed to see such a big mermaid sitting on the sand. We walked along the beach, felt the cool sea breeze on our faces, and took many beautiful pictures next to the artwork.
Animals, Art, and a Surprise Lunch in the City
After enjoying the beach breeze, we started our journey toward the city center to visit the zoo. On our way, Sajad pointed out a very grand and beautiful building. It was the Kerala Niyamasabha, which is the official Legislative Assembly building where the government leaders meet. The building has a majestic traditional Kerala roof design mixed with modern style. We saw it from our car windows and were impressed by its beautiful gardens and large fountains.
Fun Times at the Thiruvananthapuram Zoo
Soon, we arrived at the famous Thiruvananthapuram Zoo. This is one of the oldest zoos in the country, established way back in 1857 by the King of Travancore. It is spread across a very wide area of green forest land with big trees and lakes. Because the zoo area is so huge, walking all the way with two small children like Isha and Shabil would be very difficult. Luckily, we saw that the zoo authorities rented out battery-operated carts! We immediately rented one of these open golf carts. A friendly driver took our family to each and every animal enclosure. We saw wild tigers, lions, majestic leopards, huge elephants, deer, and many colorful birds. The kids were jumping with joy from their seats every time they saw an animal.
💡 ishabil fact
The Thiruvananthapuram Zoo is not just an animal park; it is a historic botanical garden too! It was built over 160 years ago by ancient kings to give the public a place to see rare plants and animals from all over the world.
Raja Ravi Varma Art and the Napier Museum
Right next to the zoo grounds, we visited the Sree Chitra Art Gallery. This gallery holds the famous paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, who was an incredibly famous royal painter from Kerala. His paintings look almost real! We showed the kids the beautiful oil paintings of gods, kings, and common people from old times. After that, we walked past the beautiful Napier Museum building. The museum looks like a grand palace with colorful bricks and a unique roof. We could not go deep inside the museum due to time, but we took many photos from the outside gardens.
By now, it was afternoon and our stomachs were completely empty. We were very hungry. Sajad took us to the famous KH Hotel in the city for lunch. We ordered a traditional, delicious Kerala meal served with hot rice, fish fry, and different side curries. The food was amazing! When the bill came, we noticed something wonderful.
😂 ishabil fun
When we finished our heavy lunch at the hotel, the cashier looked at our cute kids, Isha and Shabil, and smiled warmly. He completely crossed out the cost of the kids' food from our bill and said it was free for them! We felt so happy and told Sajad that our kids are lucky charms for saving us money!
A Coastal Drive: Forts, Harbors, and Spiritual Hills
The afternoon sun became very hot, making it difficult to walk outside. To cool down, Sajad drove us to the modern Mall of Travancore. It was the perfect place for some relaxation. We enjoyed the cool air conditioning, walked around the beautiful shops, and did some window shopping while the kids looked at the colorful displays. Once the intense heat of the sun went down, we started our journey back from the main city toward the Varkala route.
Sailing Past Muthalapozhi Harbor and Anjengo Fort
Sajad chose a very beautiful and scenic road that goes right next to the blue ocean. Driving with the sea on one side was an unforgettable experience. On our way, we visited the Muthalapozhi Harbor. This is a beautiful place where the lake water meets the big sea. We saw many traditional fishing boats moving out into the water. Next, we visited the historic Anchuthengu Fort, which is also called the Anjengo Fort. This fort was built by the British East India Company hundreds of years ago. We walked through the old stone walls and stood in the seaside garden area, feeling the deep history of our land.
Climbing the Hills of Sivagiri Mutt
Our next stop was the highly respected Sivagiri Mutt at Varkala. This is the sacred memorial area of Sree Narayana Guru, the great social reformer and saint of Kerala who taught the message of "One Caste, One Religion, One God for Man." The entire area is filled with green trees and peaceful energy. We walked through the main prayer halls and then climbed the steps to the top of the hill where the Guru's Samadhi Mandapam stands. Standing on top of the quiet hill gave us a wonderful sense of inner peace and relaxation.
The Perfect Ending at Varkala Cliff Beach
As the evening approached, Sajad took us to the world-famous Varkala Cliff Beach. This beach is unique because it has giant red clay cliffs standing right next to the blue Arabian Sea. The view from the top of the cliff was absolutely breathtaking! There are small shops and cafes lined up along the edge of the cliff. We walked down the steps to the sandy beach below.
Isha and Shabil were so happy to see the sand and water. They ran straight toward the shore and spent hours playing happily on the rolling waves. They built small sandcastles and laughed every time the cool water touched their feet. Sabeera and I sat on the soft sand, watching our kids play while the sun slowly dipped below the ocean horizon. The sunset was full of bright orange and purple colors. It was the perfect ending to a very long and beautiful day of exploration.
After the beautiful sunset, the sky became dark. We said goodbye to the beautiful waves and climbed back into Sajad's car. He drove us to his wife's family house located at Venjaramoodu. They welcomed us with open arms and warm hearts. We ate a delicious homemade dinner and stayed overnight at their beautiful house. We went to sleep with excited minds because the next day was going to be dedicated to the magical world of Magic Planet! To read more about our family budget trips and upcoming travel stories, keep following our updates on ishabil.com!
Ikbal Valiyathodi is the founder of Ishabil.com, a travel blog sharing budget-friendly travel stories, stopover hacks, and real experiences from around the world. He believes travel should be simple, honest, and possible for everyone.
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