Thiruvananthapuram which was previously called Trivandrum is an ancient city with trading tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750. The name is derived from ‘Tiru Ananta Puram’, the abode of the sacred serpent Ananta upon whose coils Vishnu lies in the main temple.Trivandrum, the capital of the state of Kerala, the God’s Own Country, now known by the name Thiruvananthapuram, literally translates into the “abode of Lord Anantha” and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the “Evergreen city of India”, the city is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys. With almost 745,000 inhabitants per the 2001 census, it is the largest and most populous city in Kerala; the wider urban agglomeration has a population of more than one million.The city is the state capital and houses many central and state government offices, organizations and companies. Apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the University of Kerala, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Technopark, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) and the Indian Institute of Science, Education and Research (IISER).The political background not withstanding, the city in itself is a marvelously beautiful place with its seven green hills, numerous beaches and a typical sunbathed tropical climate. The city has many other facets, the low undulating hills, narrow by lanes in the city center, the Yoga & massage centers and traditional medicine practitioners, the Ayurveda doctors. You sure will find many a quacks promising rejuvenation and restoration of sexual prowess with just one course of their special herbal medicine. Be careful, you may just get some bitter pills with a bitter experience.There are many Kerala massage parlors, a craze with the tourists, promising authentic massage with herbal oils but here you must take advice of authorized travel centers or your friends. The better hotels of the city may also recommend the authentic ones.The people of the city are lovers of art and the traditional dance form Kathakali, which literally means “the art of telling a story”, is just not to be missed when you are in Thiruvananthapuram. The people generally speak Malyalam, the official language of Kerala. However Tamil is also spoken and understood widely.
Location info:
The city of Thiruvananthapuram is located in the South of the state and bordered by Tiruneveli in the East, Kanyakumari to the South and Kollam district located to its North.
Climate/Weather:
The city has a tropical climate and therefore does not experience distinct seasons. The mean maximum temperature 34 °C and the mean minimum temperature is 21°C.Thiruvananthapuram is the first city along the path of the south-west monsoons and gets its first showers in early June.The city also gets rain from the receding north-east monsoons which hit the city by October. The dry season sets in by December.The winter temperature comes down to about 15 °C and Highest temperatures recorded 37 °C.
History of Thiruvananthapuram City:
The city of Thiruvananthapuram is considered the art capital of the state of Kerala. It is believed that the history of Thiruvananthapuram is largely disassociated from that of the state of Kerala. While most of the Kerala had the hold of the Brahmin Namboodaris, Trivandrum was under the Ays, a clan known for its rich traditional and religious heritage. The rule of Ays date back to the early tenth century and it extended from Nagercoil in the South to Tiruvala in the North.The Ays rule fell to the Venad rulers in the 12th century. The Venad rulers were known for their efficient administrative systems and the kingdom saw its pinnacle under the Varma King, Udaya Marthanda. The Venad rule brought about development of Kerala into a capital of art and learning.Though Portuguese were the first Europeans to land on the West coast in the early sixteenth century but the Dutch craftily expanded their domain by signing treaties and pacts with the British to ensure trading centers. The middle of 1600 saw the Dutch firmly entrenched in Travancore, the modern Thiruvananthapuram. The Mysore invasion and iron rule of Marthanda Varma drove the Dutch out from the region. The Varmas continued to rule the region for decades with Rama Varma. The rise of Tipu Sultan and Haider Ali brought misery for Rama Varma but it is believed that his defenses were impenetrable even to the might of Tipu’s army.The British started their great design to oust all the Europeans in the later part of 1600 and by 1680s they were ruling over most of the Kerala including the Travancore. The stiff resistance from the French yielded no results. The story goes that the East India Company grew in Travancore from a sandy strip, bought from Umayamma Rani, just 20 miles north of the modern day Thiruvananthapuram.
Educational Institutions Thiruvananthapuram City:
Colleges University in Kerala Cee Kerala Entarnce Palayam, Trivandrum, Keralaiiser tvm Kulathur Rd, Kulathur Rd, Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaC.S.I.I.T.C Avanakuzhi Avanakuzhi, Kodiyannoor konam, Thannimoodu P.o Thiruvananthapuram 695123, Avanakuzhi, Kodiyannoor konam, Thannimoodu P.o Thiruvananthapuram 695123Govt. College Attingal, BSC Dept BSC Dept, Govt. College Attingal, Attingal (PO)-695101 Kerala, India, BSC Dept, Govt. College Attingal, Attingal (PO)-695101 Kerala, IndiaGovt. College Attingal, BA Dept. Attingal, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaDreamZ Technologies 62, College Road, Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu 629001 09944444369TKM College of Engineering TKM College P.O., Kollam, Kollam, KeralaJayamatha Engineering College NH 47B, Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu 629301 04652 263440MG College Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaBarton Hill Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaMedical College Hospital Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala- 0471 2444270?Mar Ivanios College Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala?College of Engineering Men’s Hostel Trivandrum, KeralaFatima Matha National College Kollam, Kollam, KeralaYounis College Of Engineering Kollam, Kollam, KeralaSree Narayana College Kollam, Kollam, Kerala
Langauge
The local language spoken here is Malayalam the mother tongue of the people of Kerala known as keralites or Malayalees
Culture:
Sri Chitra Art Gallery, located within the museum compound, proves to be an ideal place for art lovers. The piece de resistance is the large section devoted to the paintings of Raja Ravi Varma, an Indian painter of distinction in the history of the country’s modern art. The art gallery also contains works of Rabindranath Tagore, Jamimi Roy, K. K. Hebar, miniatures from the Rajput and Mughal schools of painting and the famous Tanjore paintings encrusted with semi-precious stones. The gallery’s collection also includes paintings from Indonesia, China, and Japan.
How to reach Thiruvananthapuram City?
Nearest Railway Station:The Thiruvananthapuram central Railway Station is an important railway terminus on the South-Western Coast with train services from all parts of the country. The dty is well-connected by express train services to all major centres in the country.
Nearest Airport:Thiruvananthapuram is an international airport connected to some of the important centers in the Gulf, Europe and the U.S.A. by direct flights of Air India and other airlines. On the national network, Indian Airlines and other private airlines connect the city with Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi. Thiruvananthapuram is also connected with Sri Lanka and Lakshadweep by air. The Thiruvananthapuram airport is located at about 6 km. down town.
Road Transport:Thiruvananthapuram has a good network of roads that link the city to all parts of the state and country. National Highway 47 passes through Thiruvananthapuram city. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation KSRTC and other transport corporations provide regular bus services to all major centers of South India.
Tourist Attraction of Thiruvananthapuram City
Sri. Ananthapadmanabhaswamy Temple The ancient temple is the most dominating feature of Thiruvananthapuram. Overlooking the Padma Theertham Tank, the temple is devoted to Lord Vishnu who is depicted reclining on Sri Anantha, the hooded snake from which the city derives its name. Exquisite stone carvings and pavilions are worth admiring. The temple is open only to Hindus and dress regulations are strictly enforced.Veli lagoon Veli lagoon The boat club attracts tourists by providing facilities for pedal boating , row boating , swimming on the placid waters of the veli lake.Aruvikkara Aruvikkara 16 km. It is both a pilgrim centre and a picnic spot. On the banks of the Karamana river, this spot houses a Bhagavathy temple with a water fall nearby. A Stream with fishes which come up to be fed by visitors is another attraction.Ponmudi 61 km. A beautiful hill station away from the city. The natural scenery, salubrious climate and the scope of hiking in high trails make the visit an exhilarating experience.Kovalam Kovalam beach is only 16 km away from the city. This unique wonderful beach will get pride of place amongst the loveliest beaches in the world. It is a sheltered bay and is endowed with unusual natural beauty.Sankumukham Beach The long stretch of clean sand is located near the airport. The water here, however, is not suitable for bathing.Veli Tourist Village A large recreational centre located near the airport along a sheltered lagoon offers landscaped gardens and watersports facilities. It is a popular picnic spot. Accommodation facilities are available in the youth hostel.Public Park Truly a representative of the clean and verdant aspect of the city, the Public Park houses many important institutions, like Zoo and the Botanical Gardens. The Zoo is open from 09.00 hrs. to 17.00 hrs. The observatory on the Observatory Hill is also located in the Public Park.Kanyakumari Kanyakumari, the land’s end of India is only 87kms from Trivandrum. Also known as Cape Comorin, this beautiful spot is in the neighbouring Tamilnadu state.Varkala Varkala is a pilgrim centre for the devotees of Sree Narayana Guru, one of the patron saints of Kerala, whose motto was “One God, One Religion, One Caste”. It is only 51kms from Trivandrum by road and also boasts of one of the best beaches in the State.Vizhinjam Vizhinjam About 2kms south of Kovalam, it is believed to be an ancient port. The Dutch and Portugese had commercial establishments here. It is being developed as a modern fishing harbour.
Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation in Thiruvananthapuram City:
Keys Hotels Trivandrum Opposite Fire Brigade, Housing Board Junction, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695001 – 09820451618Comfort Inn Grand Trivandrum MG Road Trivandrum, 695001 – 0471 2573649Karikkathi Beach House Cliff Beach Garden, South of Kovalam, North of chowara,, Via Nagar Bhagavathi Temple, Mulloor Thottam, Pulinkudi, Trivandrum, Kerala 696521 – 0471 2400956Fortune Hotel The South Park, Trivandrum M. G. Road, Trivandrum, Kerala 695034 – 0471 2333333Shirleysbeach Hotels and Tour Behind Coconut Groove restaurant, kovalam Beach, trivandrum, Kerala 695527 – 0471 2317303keralagreenery Tutors Ln, Palayam, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695001 – 0471 2573011Classic Avenue Hotel Manjalikulam Rd, Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala 695001 – 0471 2333555Mascot Hotel Mascot Square, Pmg Junction, Palayam, Trivandrum, Kerala 695 033 – 0471 2318990Pankaj Hotel Opposite Old Secretariat, M.G.Road, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – 0471 2464645
