Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is in the southern end of the Indian State of Kerala. It is the most picturesque State in India, rich in traditions, and endowed with natural beauty. Thiruvananthapuram is the headquarters of the State of Kerala. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as “Evergreen City of India”, the city is characterised by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys.

Thiruvananthapuram is an ancient region with trading traditions dating back to 1000 BCE, when the Ay kings ruled it. The City’s trade links with continents across the Globe is more than a 1000 years old. The natural port of Vizhinjam is said to have facilitated this. Tracing from thereon, the ancient political and cultural history of the city is almost entirely independent from that of the rest of the State of Kerala. It is here - Colachel to be precise - that the Dutch forces were defeated by the forces of King of Travancore in 1741. The defeat of the Dutch by King Marthanda Varma of Travancore is regarded as the first ever incidence of a Colonial Army being defeated by a local Army in India, if not the World.

Trivandrum prides itself as the habitat of the most advanced civilisation in the State. Kanthalloor sala is called the Nalanda of the South and flourished from 900 CE to 1100 CE. It is said that Kanthalloor also was the arms manufacturing centre of South India and the Cheras and The Cholas fought a war over Vizhinjam and Kanthalloor. Almost all reforms which helped Kerala to rank high in social indicators were initiated by the rulers of Travancore. This includes first Girls School, Women’s College, first ever elected Legislative Assembly for Governance, Temple Entry Proclamation, and so on.

The city gets its name from the Malayalam word thiru-anantha-puram meaning the “City of Lord Anantha”. The name is derived from the deity of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple at the center of the city. This temple of Lord Vishnu reclining on Anantha (Serpant) remains the iconic landmark of the city. It is estimated that the value of the wealth and assets of the temple, though only partially revealed, is close to Rs.1000 billion (US$16 billion), making it the richest temple in the world.

VITAL STATISTICS : At 2192 Sq.Km Thiruvananthapuram is one of the smaller districts of Kerala. But it is on top of the table in terms of density of population with 1,509 persons per Sq,Km. followed by Alappuzha at 1,500 and Ernakulam at 1,362. From the laid back and pristine environment, Thiruvananthapuram contributes 80% of the state’s software exports and is also the major IT hub of Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram District ranks fourth in Green crown coverage in the State of Kerala with over 62% coverage.

Trivandrum was declared a Municipality in 1920. It was declared a Corporation in 1940. It is interesting to note that the City limits were redefined only post 2000, after 1940. As per latest figures based on revised city limits, Trivandrum is the most populous City in Kerala with 11.25 lakh population and an Urban Agglomeration of approximately 33.00 lakh.

Thiruvananthapuram is the centre the Government functioning. The City has no significant manufacturing activities. Because of this, the environment is cleaner than most cities. It is the home of Technopark, which is the first Information Technology Park in the Country and employs more than 70,000 people. It is projected that the City will see a three-fold growth in IT workers in the next ten years, added to a possible growth spurred by the Vizhinjam Mother Port.

Trivandrum finds top place in the list of Best Cities to Live and Work by various agencies. The City can boast of a character which is highly “laid back and homely” as many Foreign tourists put it. It’s narrow and unorthodox patterns of roads and soothing red and white massive heritage buildings, reminds us of the glorious colonial past and gives visitor a sense of belonging. It’s crowded, but clean, beaches of red fine sand add to the joy. Once called the cleanest City in India, Thiruvananthapuram can boast of best facilities in Education, Health Care and Housing in the State.

TOURISM :: There are over 35 places of interest for Tourists in Trivandrum. Places of interest for tourists include Padmanabhapuram Palace, Ponmudy, Varkala beaches, Thenmala Eco Tourism venue, Neyyar Dam, Kanyakumari, Vazhachal falls, and few other spots of interest on the other side of the State border with Tamil Nadu. Click here for a detailed list of places to visit.

The City offers great delight for Tourists with its renowned Zoo and Museum, Beach, Veli Tourist Village, visual feast of numerous heritage buildings from the colonial past, Ravi Varma Art Gallery and so on. Trivandrum also takes centre stage in musical and cultural activities, next only to Chennai in South India. The Navarathri Music Festival and the Kuthiramaalika concerts are premium events that attract the most renowned singers to this part of the Country. The 110-day long Surya Art and Dance Festival is a celebration in itself.

Kovalam beaches start just 15 km from the City. Stretching almost for another 40 km, you are treated with world renowned beach Resorts, where Celebrities from the across continents visit regularly.

If you have the time, Trivandrum has everything that you would want to spend it on!