Kilimanoor

Kilimanoor is a historic place located about 40 km from Thiruvananthapuram. It is the birth place of the world famous painter Raja Ravi Varma. Main attraction of this place is the Kilimanoor Palace with numerous buildings and temples.
Accommodation facilities are available for the tourists. Hotel Shilpa Gardens is one of the good hotels available.
Kilimanoor is located en route to various tourist locations in Thiruvananthapuram District. Nearby attractions are Sivagiri Mutt, Varkala Beach, Palode, and Ponmudi Hill station.
Trivandrum International Airport is the nearest airport. The nearest Airport is Trivandrum International Airport and Kadakkavur Railway Station (16 km) is the nearest Railway Station.

Online Train time in Kadakkavur Railway Station
Online Train time in Varkala Sivagiri Railway Station
Location of Kilimanoor (Satellite view)

Kilimanoor Palace

Kilimanoor Palace is located 50 km away from Thiruvananthapuram. A branch of the royal family, related to the Travancore Royal House, lives here. Famous artist, Raja Ravi Varma was born in this palace. Swathi Thirunal visited this palace as a child. The complex comprises big and medium sized buildings, temples, sacred groves and two huge ponds. The nearest Airport is Trivandrum International Airport and Kadakkavur Railway Station (16 km) is the nearest Railway Station

Online Train time in Kadakkavur Railway Station

Raja Ravi Varma

 
Raja Ravi Varma was born in Kilimanoor Palace as the son of Umamba Thampuratti and Neelakandan Bhattathiripad, in 1848. At the age of seven, he started drawing on the palace walls using charcoal. His uncle Raja Raja Varma noticed the talent of the child and gave him the preliminary lessons in painting. At the age of 14, Ayilyam Thirunal Maharaja took him to Travancore Palace and taught him water painting under the guidance of the palace painter Rama Swamy Naidu. Three years later Theodor Jenson, a British painter, taught him oil painting. Raja Ravi Varma's paintings are mostly based on Hindu epics, myths and mythological characters. In 1873, he won the First Prize at the Madras Painting Exhibition and also won acclaim at Vienna Exhibition. Raja Ravi Varma also spent considerable time at the court of Maharaja Sayaji Rao Gaekwad of Baroda State (modern Vadodara) in Gujarat. A number of his works are displayed at the National Gallery of Modern Art, Sree Chitra Art Gallery and Maharaja Fatehsingh Rao Gaekwad Museum.

Painting of Raja Ravi Varma

Kilimanoor Bus Station

 Situated in the heart of Kilimanoor town, Kilimanoor Bus Station is on the Main Central Road (State Highway 1.) It is operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. The station offers short distance services to places such as Attingal, Kallara, Kadakkavur, Palode, Kadakkal, Ayoor, Chadayamangalam and Madathara. Fast passenger and ordinary buses are also available to Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam. Long distance services are operated to Guruvayoor and Ernakulam.
Trivandrum International Airport is about 45 km from Kilimanoor.
Kilimanoor Palace is the prime attraction in Kilimanoor. Hotel Shilpa Gardens provides accommodation facilities near the bus station.  The nearest Airport is Trivandrum International Airport and Kadakkavur Railway Station (16 km) is the nearest Railway Station

Online Train time in Kadakkavur Railway Station
Location of Kilimanoor Bus Station (Satellite view)