Trivandrum
About the city
This beautiful city, washed by the blue waters of Arabian Sea, is visited by thousands of pilgrims round the year. The temple of Sri Anantha Padmanabhaswami, one of the 108 Tirupatis, is situated within a fort in the city. The shrine is one of the seven Parasurma Kshetras of Kerla. Shanda puranam and Padma Puranam have extolled the sanctity of the shrine.Lord Vishnu had given darshan in the ananthasayanam posture to many rishis like Divakaramuni and Bilvamangalam Swami in the forest known as Ananthan Kaadu. Even a poor Ezhava couple had darshan of the Lord, who came to their hut as a small child and had gruel from their hands. Justifying this legend, even today the rice Neivedyam is offered to the Lord in a golden coconut shell. The seven-tier gopuram and Padma Theertham, the holy tank outside, offer an elegant look to the shrine. A broad corrider with 324 sculptured pillars leads one to thesancum. An 80-feet golden flag staff adorns the shrine. The Kulashekara Mandapam and Navaratri Mandapam are noteworthy. The Kulashekara Mandapam contains 24 pillars of excellent sculptures and four musical pillars.
Tucked away on the southern fringes of Kerala, Trivandrum is still steeped in its old-world-charm with its pastoral magic and rich heritage. This place boasts of magnificent temples and palaces, all manifesting architectural splendour and robust tradition. Have a date with legends and history as you tour the palaces. The museums have enough to hold your attention and interest with pieces from the past. You just cannot call it quit without the beautiful boat-rides on the brilliant backwaters of Kerala, now emerald-green, now sapphire-blue -- Trivandrum is like a never-ending shade-card for you.
Thiruvananthapuram, literally the ‘Holy City of Anantha' the thousand headed mythological serpent on whom Lord Vishnu reclines. The clean and beautiful capital city of Kerala sprawls elegantly over seven low coastal hills. Its tree lined avenues, massive buildings, ancestral homes, ancient temples, long sea coast and acres of palm trees and parks have a charm of their own. This ancient city was the spiritual centre of Travancore kings since 11th century and became their capital in 1750, when the Raja of Travancore shifted here from Padmanabhapuram (in Tamil Nadu). Today, it is a fine blend of traditions and modernity - an important seat of ‘Ayurveda', an ancient healing system as well as the ‘Space Research', the final frontier of mankind.
Previously known as Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, is located at the south western tip of India. It's name is derived from 'Tiru Ananta Puram', literally meaning the abode of the Sacred serpent Ananta. A peaceful attractive city built on the low hills by the sea, it offers all modern facilities needed by a visitor, but has managed to retain most of the ambience, characteristic of Kerala such as the traditional wooden houses, narrow winding lanes, historic monuments, temples and its rich cultural heritage. Internationally renowned beaches like Kovalam, palaces and temples make Thiruvananthapuram a much sought after tourist destination.
The erstwhile capital of the Travancore kingdom and present day capital of the state of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum as it is still widely known, is a peephole to the wonderful culture of 'God's Own Country'. A coastal city with an ancient history, it is quintessentially Keralan with generous helpings of art and culture. Its palm fringed environs shade palaces, art galleries, museums, Ayurvedic centres and schools specializing in the martial art form of Kalaripayyatu and the theatre and dance forms of Kathakali and Kutiyattam. Its most famous personality, the legendary Raja Ravi Varma, himself Travancore royalty, lives on through his paintings that are preserved at the Sree Chitra Art Gallery within the museum. Thiruvananthapuram's salty sea breeze leads further down south, a twenty minute bus ride, to its famous Kovalam beach. Once the mainstay of the 70s hippie culture, it is a popular tourist beach today that draws greater crowds than the city itself.
Demography
Kerala has a population of 889,191 according to the 2001 census. Within the city city, the density of population is about 90%. With the sex ratio being 1,037 females to every 1,000 males, there are more women in Thiruvananthapuram than men.History
Thriuvananthapuram which was previously called Trivandrum, is an ancient city with 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. The kings who ruled there have called themselves "Padmanabha-Dasa" or the "servants of Lord Anantha Padmanabha", and ruled the state as the representatives of Lord Anantha Padmanabha.Thiruvananthapuram's early history is independent of that of the rest of Kerala. The Ays were the leading political power here until the beginning of the 10th century A.D. when the rulers of Venad emerged into prominence. In 1684, during the reign of Umayamma Rani, the British East India Company obtained a coastal piece of land at Anchuthengu (Anjengo), 32 km north of present-day Thiruvananthapuram city, with the intention of building a factory and fortifying it. It was from here that the British gradually extended their control to other parts of Travancore. Thiruvananthapuram's modern history begins with Marthanda Varma (1729-1758 AD), considered the Father of modern Travancore. Under him, the city flourished as a cultural hub and the accession of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal (1829-1847 AD) signalled a new era of cultural and economic progress. By 1834, Thiruvananthapuram had its first English school and two years later, it had an observatory and a charity hospital. In the years that followed, during the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal (1860-1880), it had an Arts College, a hospital, a mental asylum, and several English, Malayalam and Tamil schools. The University College was opened in 1873 followed by the Sanskrit College, Ayurveda College, Law College and a College for Women during the reign of Sri Moolam Thirunal (1885-1924). A department for the preservation and publication of oriental manuscripts was also established. However, the most significant development was the inauguration of the Legislative Council in 1888 - the first legislative chamber to be instituted in an Indian State.