Thiruvananthapuram (or Trivandrum) is the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala India. The main city of ‘Gods Own Country’it’s distinguished by its British colonial architecture and many art galleries. A cosmopolitan city, It’s also famous for Kuthira Malika (or Puthen Malika) Palace, adorned with carved horses and displaying collections related to the Travancore royal family, whose regional capital was here from the 18th–20th centuries.
Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist centre of Kerala and is known for the Padmanabhaswamy Temple, (worlds richest temple) the beaches of Kovalam and Varkala, the backwaters of Poovar and Anchuthengu and its Western Ghats tracts of Ponmudi and the Agastyamala. Trivandrum is one of the rare places in India where modern amenities, cultural heritage and natural splendour meet and complement each other. The city is a mix of modern facilities in terms of hotels, schools, sports arenas and infrastructure with temples mosques, churches and more.
The present regions that constitute Thiruvananthapuram were ruled by the Ays until their fall in the 10th century. The city takes its name from the Malayalam word Thiru-Anantha-Puram IPA: meaning “The City of Lord Ananta referring to the deity of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple located in the city. Thiruvananthapuram is also known in the literature, and popular reference as Ananthapuri derived from the Sanskrit word Syanandurapuram, meaning “The City of Bliss” in Carnatic kirtans composed by Swathi Thirunal, erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore.
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During the Ay dynasty rule, Thiruvananthapuram witnessed many battles in which the Chola and Pandyan dynasties attempted to capture the port town. The city was then taken over by the Chera dynasty. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of the Travancore-Cochin state and remained so till the new Indian state of Kerala was formed in 1956. In the 12th century, it was conquered by the Kingdom of Venad. Thiruvananthapuram is a notable academic and research hub and is home to some of the most important educational centres in India.
In the late 17th century, Marthanda Varma who inherited the Kingdom of Venad expanded the kingdom by conquering the kingdoms of Attingal, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Kottarakara, Kottayam, Changanassery, Meenachil, Poonjar and Ambalapuzha. In 1729, The city’s golden age was during the mid-19th century under the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal. This era saw the establishment of the first English school (1834), the Observatory (1837), the General Hospital (1839), the Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library and the University College (1873).
With the establishment of the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962, Thiruvananthapuram became the cradle of India’s ambitious space programme. The first Indian space rocket was developed and launched from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in the outskirts of the city in 1963. Several establishments of the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO were later established in Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram’s economy comprises IT / ITES, education, plantations, aerospace, commerce and tourism Thiruvananthapuram district contributes 10.31%, of the state’s GDP.
the city is home to numerous reputed government and private sector enterprises. #Tourism in Trivandrum is also known for its unique style of architecture involving Kerala Architecture with British and Dravidian influences. Well connected by rail, road, air and sea there are numerous places worth visiting in and around the city such as museums like Kerala Science and Technology Museum, Napier Museum, Kerala Soil Museum and Koyikkal Palace Museum. also worth visiting is the Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve listed in UNESCO’s World Network of Biosphere Reserves. The best time to visit Trivandrum is between October and February, the perfect time for beach vacations.
February to May is summer, which is very hot and humid while June to September is the monsoon season. Tourists can visit numerous palaces dams, wildlife sanctuaries, and parks. The city is a shopper’s paradise with numerous shopping destinations in the form of markets and shopping malls. The nightlife in the city is also happening with several restaurants, bars that serve a variety of delicious cuisine. Street food is also very popular There are numerous hotels lodges that offer luxurious,mid-range and budget accommodation. A visit to Trivandrum gives tourists a glimpse of Malayali culture
