Kovalam is an excellent beach which is an ideal place for rest and relaxation. Traditionally a fishing village it was brought to the notice of the public by the Maharaja of Travancore. It is also known as ‘Paradise of the South’. The nearest airport and railhead is at Thiruvananthapuram which is 16kms away from Kovalam. The Padmanabhapuram Palace located at the foot of the Veli hills was the ancient seat of the Travancore rulers. Notable feature is the intricate woodwork in this palace; although the artistic and historic relics also is worth a look. Anchuthengu Fort was built by the British East India Company in the 17th century. It is an excellent example of British architecture. It was once the trading station of the English. Koyikkal Palace was the official residence of the of the rulers of the erstwhile State of Travancore. It has now been converted into a Folklore Museum and Numismatic Museum. Napier Museum contains a fine collection of Kerala's bronzes, ornaments and contumes, and a model of "Tharawad'-the traditional Nair family home. A classic specimen of Kerala Architecture can be seen in Kuthiramalika Palace Museum. The intricate carvings and the spectacular architecture captures the mind of the viewer. A Hindu centre of pilgrimage as well as a sea side beach resort is Varkala beach. The Janardana Swamy Temple which is 2000 year old is here. The other attraction is the Nature Centre. The beach is surmounted by high cliffs with rich mineral springs. This is a calm and serene beach and not many people visit here. It is approximately an hours drive from Kovalam. Shankhumugham Beach s adjacent to the Thiruvananthapuram Airport and Veli Tourist Village and is a favourite haunt of sunset watchers. The major attractions here are 'Matsya Kanyaka', a gigantic 35 m long sculpture of a mermaid and a restaurant shaped like a starfish. Other than these places, most tourists visit Kanyakumari located at a junction at the southernmost tip of India where the three water bodies, namely, Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean meet. The Kanyakumari temple is swarmed by devotees. The Gandhi Smarak Mandir and Vivekananda Rock Memorial are additional tourist attractions. Sri Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu who is depicted reclining on Sri Anantha, the hooded snake. The temple is open only to Hindus and dress regulations are strictly enforced.