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Thiruvananthapuram

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Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city of Kerala, a state located on the west coast of India.

Kerala Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
Kerala Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

It sits near the extreme south of the Indian mainland. The landscape consists of undulating terrain, which means it has low, rolling coastal hills.

MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD
MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD

The city is a major hub for many different sectors. It functions as a maritime city, a space research center, and an information technology hub. It is also a heritage city and a center for bioscience and automotive technology. Thiruvananthapuram is unique because it has both an international airport and an international seaport near the city center.

Trivandrum International airport
Trivandrum International airport
MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD
MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD

The city's economy and movement rely on its strategic location. It sits along a heavily trafficked east-west shipping channel. This makes it a vital port city for international trade. The city is home to the Vizhinjam International Seaport. This is India's first deep-water trans-shipment port. This type of port allows very large ships to move cargo efficiently. The metropolitan area covers about 543 square kilometers. It supports over 1.7 million inhabitants. The main municipal area covers 214.86 square kilometers. As of 2011, the population of the municipal corporation was 957,730 people.

Thiruvananthapuram has a deep and complex history. Trading traditions in this region date back to 1000 BCE. Some believe the ships of King Solomon landed at the port of Ophir in 1036 BCE. In ancient times, the Ay dynasty ruled the coastal belt. Vizhinjam served as their important port city. Later, the Kingdom of Venad conquered the region in the 12th century. In the 18th century, King Marthanda Varma expanded the territory significantly. He founded the princely state of Travancore. He eventually moved the capital to Thiruvananthapuram in 1795.

1733 Homann Heirs Map of India - Geographicus - India-homannheirs-1733
1733 Homann Heirs Map of India - Geographicus - India-homannheirs-1733

The city's political status changed during the 20th century. After India gained independence in 1947, Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of the Travancore-Cochin state. This happened when Travancore joined with its neighbor, Kochi. In 1956, the modern state of Kerala was formed. Thiruvananthapuram has remained the capital of Kerala since then. The city also saw early democratic progress. In 1904, the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly was established. This was the first democratically elected legislative council in any Indian state.

Science and education are central to the city's identity. Thiruvananthapuram is a major academic hub. It hosts the University of Kerala and the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. The city is also where India's space program began. The headquarters of the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre is located here. Other major centers include the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Observatory at IIST
Observatory at IIST

There is also the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology. These institutions make the city a leader in research and development. The city also supports the media and animation industries. It is home to Toonz Animation India and the Kinfra Film and Video Park.

Thiruvananthapuram Infosys campus
Thiruvananthapuram Infosys campus

Cultural heritage is visible in the city's art and architecture. The name Thiruvananthapuram means "The City of Lord Ananda." This refers to the deity in the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

TVM Padmanabhaswamy Temple
TVM Padmanabhaswamy Temple

This temple is known as the richest temple in the world. The city is also famous for the painter Raja Ravi Varma.

Raja ravivarma painting 50 historic meeting
Raja ravivarma painting 50 historic meeting

It has a strong literary history too. Writers like Kumaran Asan and Narayana Guru contributed to Malayalam literature. The city's architecture includes unique Tamil-Dravidian styles. This style is seen in the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which differs from northern Kerala styles.

Thiruvananthapuram has consistently been recognized for its quality of life. In 2012, a survey by The Times of India named it the best city to live in within Kerala. In 2013, India Today ranked it as the fifteenth best city in India. The Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy conducted the Annual Survey of India's City-Systems. According to that survey, Thiruvananthapuram was the best Indian city for two years in a row, in 2015 and 2016. In 2017, it was selected as the best governed city in India. These rankings highlight the city's success in managing its growth and services.

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🖼️ Images & Media (38)
File:Raja ravivarma painting 50 historic meeting.jpg
Raja ravivarma painting 50 historic meeting.jpg
File:TVM Padmanabhaswamy Temple.jpg
TVM Padmanabhaswamy Temple.jpg
File:Padmanabhapuram Clock Tower.jpg
Padmanabhapuram Clock Tower.jpg
File:1733 Homann Heirs Map of India - Geographicus - India-homannheirs-1733.jpg
1733 Homann Heirs Map of India -...
File:Thambiran Vanakkam 1578.JPG
Thambiran Vanakkam 1578.JPG
File:A language map of India prepared for the missionary projects at Serampore, 1822.jpg
A language map of India prepared for the...
File:Palace of Trivandrum.jpg
Palace of Trivandrum.jpg
File:Kerala Legislative Assembly, Thiruvananthapuram.jpg
Kerala Legislative Assembly,...
File:Kerala Government Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.jpg
Kerala Government Secretariat,...
File:Thiruvananthapuram Infosys campus.JPG
Thiruvananthapuram Infosys campus.JPG
File:MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD.jpg
MSC IRINA TRIVANDRUM PORT HD.jpg
File:Lulumalltrivandrum.jpg
Lulumalltrivandrum.jpg

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