105-576: The National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (NIIST, formerly Regional Research Laboratory, Trivandrum ) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR , India , engaged in research and development activities in the field of agroprocessing and technology, microbial processes and technology, chemical sciences and technology, material sciences and technology and process engineering and environmental technology. Around approximately 80 scientists and 300 research fellows are working in various scientific disciplines in this institute. The programmes have
210-590: A commissioner of police . The Thiruvananthapuram city police is a division of the Kerala Police , and the administrative control lies with the Kerala Home Ministry . Thiruvananthapuram city police is the largest police division in Kerala, and it consists of four subdivisional offices and 24 police stations and a sanctioned strength of 3,500 police personnel. The Central Prison is the oldest prison in Kerala and
315-414: A blend of basic research, technology development and commercialization; have specific thrusts on frontier areas of research, National Mission Projects, regional resource-based activities and R & D - Industry - Academia linkages. The laboratory has excellent collaborative programmes with major National & International agencies too. the present director of the institute is Dr.C. Anandharamakrishnan. It
420-535: A close relationship with Tamil heritage. In the early 18th century CE, the Travancore royal family adopted some members from the royal family of Kolathunadu based at Kannur . Then, 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, Marthanda Varma founded
525-430: A cultural center. Marthanda Varma gave patronage to different temple art forms including Koothu , Padhakam , Kathakali , Thullal , and Koodiyattam . Noted artists such as Ramapurathu Warrier and Kunchan Nambiar amongst others served as his court poets. Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755. The city developed into
630-498: A moderately earthquake-prone urban centre and categorised the metropolis in the Seismic III Zone. Thiruvananthapuram lies on the shores of Karamana and Killi rivers . Vellayani , Thiruvallam and Aakulam backwaters lie in the city. The soil type in the middle part of the city is a dark brown loamy laterite soil high in phosphates. Laterisation is a result of the heavy rainfall and humid conditions. In western coastal regions of
735-409: A railway terminal at Nemom railway station to reduce congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central. Raja Ravi Varma Raja Ravi Varma ( Malayalam: [ɾaːdʒaː ɾɐʋi ʋɐrm(ː)ɐ] ) (29 April 1848 – 2 October 1906 ) was an Indian painter and artist. His works are one of the best examples of the fusion of European academic art with a purely Indian sensibility and iconography. Especially, he
840-688: A significant intellectual and artistic centre during this period. 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). The first mental hospital in
945-438: Is 34 °C (93 °F) and the mean minimum temperature is 21 °C (70 °F). The humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the monsoon season. Thiruvananthapuram is the first city along the path of the south-west monsoons and gets its first showers in early June. The city receives heavy rainfall of around 1,835 mm (72.2 in) per year. The city also gets rain from the receding north-east monsoons which hit
1050-697: Is India's first Infotainment industrial park. Being India's largest city in the deep south, it is strategically prominent and hosts the Southern Air Command headquarters of the Indian Air Force , the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station and the upcoming Vizhinjam International Seaport . Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist centre, known for the Padmanabhaswamy Temple , the beaches of Kovalam and Varkala ,
1155-495: Is a Public-private partnership project to improve and maintain the existing road network in the city to cater to the needs of rapid urbanisation. TRCIP has won the International Road Federation's Global Road Achievement Awards in 2015. TCRIP has also been selected by United Nations as a replicable Public Private Partnership model. It was one of the 12 Public-private partnership project case studies from across
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#17330926421041260-416: Is a transhipment port under construction. Vizhinjam port's location is close to the international shipping routes and, it is just 10–12 nautical miles from the busy Persian Gulf - Malacca shipping lane. The port also has a natural depth of 18 to 20 metres which can accommodate huge container ships . The berths at Vizhinjam port are designed to cater to vessels of up to 24,000 TEU . Thiruvananthapuram
1365-483: Is a major IT and ITES hub in India. The city contributes about 40-45% of Kerala's total software exports. Thiruvananthapuram houses major multinational Technology companies like Oracle Corporation , Nissan , Allianz Technology , Envestnet , Tata Consultancy Services , Infosys , UST Global , Ernst & Young , Flytxt, Navigant , Tata Elxsi , McKinsey & Company , RR Donnelly and Quest Global. Technopark
1470-428: Is a major tourist hub in India. Kovalam and Varkala are popular beach towns near the city. Other important beaches include Poovar , Shankumugham Beach , Azhimala Beach, Vizhinjam Beach and Veli Beach. Other places of interest include Agasthyamala rain forests, Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary , Kallar , Braemore, Ponmudi hills, Poovar , Anchuthengu backwaters, Varkala Cliffs and Kappil - Edava lakes. The city
1575-454: Is a significant economic sector. The presence of natural attractions like beaches, backwaters, hills, and plantations and attractions like heritage, history, Ayurveda , medical tourism and knowledge centres attract many tourists. The city experienced a surge of investment in the real estate, infrastructure and retail sectors in 2016–17. Port-related activity is low mainly due to the underdevelopment of ports. Vizhinjam International Seaport
1680-535: Is also found in Padmanabhaswamy temple, which makes it distinct and unique from the architectural style of temples in northern and central parts of Kerala . The official language of Kerala , based at Kollam , was also identified as Tamil , by the natives of Kerala in those times. and the Chola dynasty , The place names, the dialects of Malayalam spoken, and the customs that exist in Kerala today still reveal
1785-525: Is also known for its unique style of architecture involving Kerala Architecture with British and Dravidian influences. Napier museum , Thiruvanathapuram Zoo , Padmanabha Swamy temple , Kuthira Malika palace , Kilimanoor palace and The Thiruvananthapuram Golf Club heritage building are examples of this. The main museums include Kerala Science and Technology Museum (with its attached Priyadarsini Planetarium ), Napier Museum , Kerala Soil Museum and Koyikkal Palace Museum . Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
1890-745: Is an officer appointed by the government , who serves as the administrative head of the TMC and implements the council's decisions based on the resolutions adopted by the council. The functions of the Municipal Corporation are managed by seven departments—engineering, health, general administration, council, accounts and revenue. For the decentralised role of TMC, eleven Zonal Offices are created. The zonal offices are in Fort, Kadakampally, Nemom , Ulloor , Attipra, Thiruvallom, Kazhakkuttom , Sreekaryam , Kudappanakunnu , Vattiyoorkavu and Vizhinjam . The functions of
1995-413: Is awarded every year to people who show excellence in the field of art and culture. Raja Ravi Varma is sometimes regarded as the first modern Indian artist due to his ability to reconcile Western aesthetics with Indian iconography. The Indian art historian and critic Geeta Kapur wrote, Ravi Varma is the indisputable father figure of modern Indian art. Naive and ambitious at the same time, he opens up
2100-584: Is built on seven hills by the seashore and is at 8°30′N 76°54′E / 8.5°N 76.9°E / 8.5; 76.9 on the west coast, near the southern tip of mainland India. The city is on the west coast of India and is bounded by the Laccadive Sea to its west and the Western Ghats to its east. The average elevation of the city is 16 ft (4.9 m) above sea level. The Geological Survey of India has identified Thiruvananthapuram as
2205-901: Is controversial. Fellow Baroda School artist and art historian Ratan Parimoo saw Ravi Varma in a less favorable light, derogatorily referring to him as kitsch and claiming Varma's work was less spiritually authentic than folk art and tribal art. He argued that Ravi Varma was responsible for the "vulgarity" of popular art, comparing Varma's work to the lurid colors and sexuality of popular images in calendar art and films. Despite his controversial legacy, Ravi Varma continues to be an important figure for modern and contemporary Indian artists. For example, modern artist Nalini Malani recreated Ravi Varma's Galaxy of Musicians in her video installation Unity in Diversity to interrogate Ravi Varma's idealistic nationalism. Similarly, contemporary artist Pushpamala N. recreated several Ravi Varma paintings with herself as
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#17330926421042310-631: Is developed to ease congestion on the central station and it acts as a satellite station to Thiruvananthapuram Central. Thiruvananthapuram Central is the busiest railway station in Kerala. Other railway stations in the city are Thiruvananthapuram Pettah , Nemom railway station , Veli railway station and Kazhakoottam railway station . Being the southernmost municipal corporation in India, many long train services of Indian Railways originate from Thiruvananthapuram like Trivandrum Rajdhani Express, Thiruvananthapuram - Silchar Superfast Express and Kochuveli - Amritsar Weekly Express . There are plans to develop
2415-572: Is essential for both military logistics and civil aviation in the southern part of the country. Thiruvananthapuram is the headquarters of the Southern Air Command (SAC) of the Indian Air Force. The city has a climate that lies on the border between a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen Aw ) and a tropical monsoon climate ( Am ). As a result, its only distinct seasons relate to rainfall rather than temperature. The mean maximum temperature
2520-628: Is further aided by state institutions such as the State Central Library , one of the oldest public libraries in India, which was established in 1829, and other major libraries including the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation Central library, and the Kerala University Library . Thiruvananthapuram has been a hub of classical music since the days of Maharaja of Travancore , Swathi Thirunal . Thiruvananthapuram
2625-679: Is known for many music festivals like the Navarathri Music Festival, one of the oldest festivals of its kind in South India, Swathi Sangeethotsavam , Soorya Music fest, Neelakanta Sivan Music Fest and many other music festivals are organised by various cultural groups. The 111-day-long Soorya Festival is the biggest art and cultural event in Kerala . The Soorya Festival features film festivals, theatre festivals, dance, music, painting and photography exhibitions. The Malayalam film Industry
2730-596: Is listed in UNESCO 's World Network of Biosphere Reserves . Thiruvananthapuram is known as the "Evergreen City of India" because of its green landscapes and the presence of many public parks. Thiruvananthapuram has historically been a cultural hub in Southern India due to the development of arts, architecture and liberal customs by the rulers of erstwhile Thiruvananthapuram. As a testimony to this, renowned artists like Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Raja Ravi Varma hail from
2835-554: Is now a region in the present-day Thiruvananthapuram, was the capital of the Ay dynasty. Vizhinjam was an important port city from as early as the second century BC. During the Ay dynasty's rule, Thiruvananthapuram witnessed many battles in which the Chola and Pandyan dynasties attempted to capture the port town. After the death of king Vikramaditya Varaguna in 925 AD, the glory of the Ays departed and almost all their territories became part of
2940-538: Is one of Asia's largest film festivals in terms of viewer participation. In addition to various film festivals, the presence of the Central Board of Film Certification 's regional office, many movie studios and production facilities like the Uma Studio, Chitranjali Studio , Merryland Studio , Kinfra Film and Video Park and Vismayas Max contribute to the growth of Thiruvananthapuram as a centre of cinema. Apart from
3045-578: Is particularly noted for his paintings depicting episodes from the story of Dushyanta and Shakuntala , and Nala and Damayanti , from the Mahabharata . Ravi Varma's representation of Hindu characters has become a part of the Indian imagination of the epics. He is often criticized for being too showy and sentimental in his style but his work remains very popular in India. Many of his fabulous paintings are housed at Laxmi Vilas Palace, Vadodara . Apparently on
3150-401: Is presented during this festival. Jayant Parikh was the first recipient. The following is a list of the prominent works of Ravi Varma. On the anniversary of what would be his 150th birthday, Google Arts and Culture released over 300 of his works online for everyone to view. More at Category:Raja Ravi Varma J. Sasikumar made Raja Ravi Varma , an Indian documentary television film on
3255-537: Is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala . It is the largest and most populous city in Kerala and it is also a major port city. Thiruvananthapuram is where Asia's first space university, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology located, and India's first IT park, Technopark Thiruvananthapuram is in Thiruvananthapuram. The city also includes India’s first deep-water trans-shipment port,
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3360-576: Is the division in charge of undertaking research in developing innovative technologies for processing of oil seeds, spices and natural products. The core competence of the division is in process and product development and on the transformation of such processes into fully engineered technology packages for commercial exploitation. The division has set up a number of commercial plants in many states and extended technical expertise in making policy decisions in relevant areas by governmental and non governmental agencies. Technology Business Incubation Centre (TBIC) in
3465-418: Is the fastest-growing district in Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram was listed as one of the top ten cities in India on Vibrancy and Consumption Index by a study conducted by global financial services firm Morgan Stanley . State- and central-government employees make up a large percentage of the city's workforce. Thiruvananthapuram is a major aerospace research centre in India. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ,
3570-478: Is the largest information-technology park in India in terms of built-up area. It is the largest employment base campus in Kerala with 52,000 IT/ITES professionals and about 400 companies. Other IT, media and industrial campuses include Kinfra Film and Video Park , Kinfra Apparel Park, B-HUB and Chithranjali Film Complex . Other major IT, biotechnology and industrial campuses include Technocity , Bio 360 Life sciences park and Digital Science Park . Tourism
3675-467: The Ay dynasty during ancient and medieval ages, which was a Tamil kingdom based in the southernmost part of the Indian subcontinent. Ay kingdom had experienced attacks and conquests by Cholas and Pandyas in various periods. Later it became a part of Venad in late Middle Ages, which was eventually expanded as the powerful kingdom of Travancore in 18th century CE. The Tamil -Dravidian kind of architecture
3780-692: The Border Security Force (BSF) are also present. Thiruvananthapuram also houses a large army cantonment in Pangode which houses some regiments of the Indian Army . In the city there is a Consulate of the United Arab Emirates , a Consulate of the Maldives , and Honorary Consulates of Sri Lanka , Russia and Germany . The Kerala Water Authority supplies the city with water that is sourced from
3885-666: The Chera dynasty . During the tenth century, the Cholas attacked and sacked Vizhinjam and surrounding regions. The port in Vizhinjam and the historic education center of Kanthalloor Sala were also destroyed by Cholas during this period. A branch of the Ay family, which had controlled the Padmanabhaswamy Temple , merged with the Kingdom of Venad in the 12th century. Present-day Thiruvananthapuram city, district, and Kanyakumari district , were parts of
3990-509: The Ernakulam district in Kerala. Ravi Varma had two siblings, a sister named Mangala Bayi and a brother named Raja Varma (born 1860). The last-named was also a painter and worked closely with Ravi Varma all his life. In 1866, at the age of 18, Varma was married to 12-year-old Bhageerthi Bayi (known formally as Pooruruttati Nal Bhageerathi Bayi Thampuratty) of the royal house of Mavelikkara , another major fief of Travancore kingdom. Notably,
4095-528: The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology , National Centre for Earth Science Studies and a campus of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research . The city is home to media institutions like Toonz Animation India and Tata Elxsi Ltd , and also to Chitranjali Film Studio , one of the first film studios in Malayalam Cinema , and Kinfra Film and Video Park at Kazhakoottom, which
4200-588: The Karamana River ; most of it is drawn from the Aruvikkara and Peppara reservoirs, and it is treated and purified at the Aruvikkara pumping stations. The Wellington Water Works, commissioned in 1933, is one of the oldest city water supply schemes in India. The sewage water is treated at Muttathara sewage-treatment plant, which handles 32 million litres per day. The city area is divided into seven blocks for
4305-610: The Kerala Legislative Assembly and the state secretariat, which is housed in the Kerala Government Secretariat complex . Thiruvananthapuram has two parliamentary constituencies— Attingal and Thiruvananthapuram —and elects five Members of the Legislative Assembly ( MLAs ) to the state legislature. The Thiruvananthapuram City Police is the main law-enforcement agency in the city. It is headed by
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4410-531: The Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from 1 July 1949 until 31 October 1956. When the state of Kerala was formed on 1 November 1956, Thiruvananthapuram became its capital. With the establishment of 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
4515-619: The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) in the outskirts of the city in 1963. Several establishments of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) were later established in Thiruvananthapuram. A significant milestone in the city's recent history was the establishment of Technopark —India's first IT park—in 1995. Technopark has developed into the largest IT park in the geographical area, employing around 62,000 people in 450 companies. Thiruvananthapuram
4620-563: The Vizhinjam International Seaport Thiruvananthapuram , as well as the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple , known as the richest temple in the world. Thiruvananthapuram is where India's space program began, with the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and the headquarters of Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre located here. Thiruvananthapuram is also known for its cultural heritage, being associated with
4725-424: The poverty line in the city was 11,667. Thiruvananthapuram has witnessed massive immigration of workers from northern India, mainly Punjab , Haryana , and Madhya Pradesh , and Eastern India, mainly West Bengal and Bihar , and from neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka , the Maldives , Nepal and Bangladesh . The Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram or TMC oversees and manages the civic infrastructure of
4830-489: The 1906 death of Ravi Varma. The Ravi Varma press was the largest and most innovative press in India at that time. The press was managed by Varma's brother, Raja Varma, but under their management, it was a commercial failure. By 1899 the press was deeply in debt and in 1901, the press was sold to his printing technician from Germany, Fritz Schleicher. Schleicher continued to print Ravi Varma's prints but later employed other artists to create new designs. Schleicher also broadened
4935-491: The 2011 national census, the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram, which occupies an area of 214 km (83 sq mi), had a population of 957,730. The city's population density was 4,454/km (11,540/sq mi). The Urban Agglomeration had a population of 1,687,406 in 2011. The sex ratio is 1,040 females for every 1,000 males, which is higher than the national average. Thiruvananthapuram's literacy rate of 93.72% exceeds
5040-615: The Annual Survey of India's City-Systems (ASICS) conducted by the Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy. The city was also selected as the best governed city in India in a survey conducted by Janaagraha Centre for citizenship and democracy in 2017. The city takes its name from the Malayalam word thiru-anantha-puram ( തിരുവനന്തപുരം [t̪iɾuʋɐnɐn̪d̪ɐpuɾɐm] ), meaning "The City of Lord Ananta", referring to
5145-462: The Royal House of Travancore once again faced a succession crisis. Bhageerthi's two elder sisters, who had been adopted in order to carry forward the lineage, had failed to produce the desired heirs. They had six children between them, but only two of those survived, and both were boys (who also, incidentally, later died childless). According to the matrilineal Marumakkathayam system, the succession to
5250-452: The TMC include water supply, drainage and sewerage, sanitation, solid-waste management, and building regulation. The Thiruvananthapuram Development Authority is responsible for the statutory planning and development of the greater Thiruvananthapuram region. As the seat of the Government of Kerala , Thiruvananthapuram is home to not only the offices of the local governing agencies but also
5355-701: The advice of the then Dewan (Prime Minister) of Travancore , T. Madhava Rao , Ravi Varma started a lithographic printing press in Ghatkopar , Mumbai in 1894 and later shifted it to Malavli near Lonavala , Maharashtra in 1899. The oleographs produced by the press were mostly of Hindu gods and goddesses in scenes adapted mainly from the Mahabharata , the Ramayana and the Puranas . These oleographs were very popular and continued to be printed in thousands for many years, even after
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#17330926421045460-491: The all-India average of 74%. It is a historical city where Malayalees form the vast majority of Thiruvananthapuram's population. There are also minorities like the Tamils and North Indians residing here. According to the 2011 census, 68.5% of the population is Hindu , 16.7% Christians and 13.7% Muslims . The remainder of the community includes Jains , Jews , Sikhs , Buddhists and other religions which account for 0.06% of
5565-460: The ancient political and cultural history of the city was almost entirely independent from that of the rest of Kerala. The Chera dynasty governed the area of Malabar Coast between Alappuzha in the south to Kasaragod in the north. This included Palakkad Gap , Coimbatore , Salem , and Kolli Hills . The region around Coimbatore was ruled by the Cheras during Sangam period between c. first and
5670-443: The anglicised name of the town), when the government decided to reinstate the city's original name Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram is a relatively modern region with trading traditions dating back to 1000 BCE. It is believed that the ships of King Solomon landed in a port called Ophir (now Poovar ) in Thiruvananthapuram in 1036 BCE. The city was the trading post of spices , sandalwood and ivory . However,
5775-619: The area of spices and natural products contribute towards development of innovative technologies. Major research includes quality improvement of palm oil , spice oil/ oleoresins, swing technology for processing of fresh and dry spices, Refrigeration Adsorption Dehumidified Drying (RADD) of heat sensitive materials, Ginger oil extraction, and nutraceutical studies. Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram ( / ˌ t ɪ r uː v ə ˌ n ʌ n t ə ˈ p ʊər ə m / TIRR -oo-və- NUN -təp- OOR -əm ; Malayalam: [t̪iɾuʋɐnɐn̪d̪ɐpuɾɐm] ), formerly known as Trivandrum ,
5880-529: The artist in 1997. It was produced by the Government of India 's Films Division . Makaramanju (English: The Mist of Capricorn ) is a 2011 Indian Malayalam -language romantic drama film by Lenin Rajendran starring Santosh Sivan as Varma, the film focuses on Varma's painting "Urvashi Pururavas". The 2014 Indian Hindi-language film, Rang Rasiya (English title: Colours of Passion ) explores Varma's inspiration behind his paintings with Randeep Hooda in
5985-513: The backwaters of Poovar and Anchuthengu and its Western Ghats tracts of Ponmudi and the Agastya Mala . In 2012, Thiruvananthapuram was named the best Kerala city to live in, by a field survey conducted by The Times of India . In 2013, the city was ranked the fifteenth best city to live in India, in a survey conducted by India Today . Thiruvananthapuram was ranked the best Indian city for two consecutive years, 2015 and 2016, according to
6090-451: The city by October. The dry season sets in by December. The lowest temperature recorded in the city core was 17.8 °C (64.0 °F) on 6 January 1974 and the highest temperature was 38.2 °C (100.8 °F) on 21 February 2019. At the airport, the lowest temperature recorded was 16.4 °C (61.5 °F) on 15 January 1975 and the highest temperature was 36.3 °C (97.3 °F) on 5 May 1998. According to provisional results of
6195-481: The city's 100 wards. Each ward elects a councillor to the Corporation of Thiruvananthapuram. TMC has the power to act as the local government of the city. TMC is headed by the Mayor, who is elected from among the councillors. The Mayor is responsible for the overall supervision and control of the administrative functions of the TMC. The corporation discharges its services through standing committees. The corporation secretary
6300-429: The city, sandy loam soil is found, and on hilly eastern parts of the district, rich dark brown loam of granite origin is found. The Thiruvananthapuram Corporation is spread over 214.86 km (82.96 sq mi). The wider Thiruvananthapuram metropolitan area comprises Thiruvananthapuram corporation, three municipalities and 27 panchayats, as of 2011. Being the largest city in India's southern tip region, it
6405-484: The city. Prominent social reformers such as Sri Narayana Guru , Chattampi Swamikal , Ayyankali , Vakkom Moulavi and C. V. Raman Pillai also are from Thiruvananthapuram. Two of the three Malayalam triumvirate poets , Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer and Kumaran Asan are from Thiruvananthapuram. Annual literature festivals like the Kovalam Literary Festival, are held in the city. Literary development
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#17330926421046510-792: The city. Other major highways in the city are State Highway 2 and State Highway 45 . The Mahatma Gandhi Road is the main arterial road in the city. Another important road is the Kowdiar Road, which is also known as the Royal Road, as it leads to the Kowdiar Palace. Thiruvananthapuram is a divisional headquarters in the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways . Long-distance trains originate from Thiruvananthapuram Central and Kochuveli railway terminals . Kochuveli railway terminal
6615-591: The city. The main bus stations in the city are the Central Bus Station in Thampanoor , where most of the long-distance buses ply from, and the city bus station in East Fort , where most city buses ply from. Three-wheeled, yellow and black auto-rickshaws and taxis, are other popular forms of public transport. Thiruvananthapuram Light Metro is a fully elevated metro rail – rapid transit system planned to ease
6720-592: The congestion in the city. Thiruvananthapuram has a well-developed road transport infrastructure. The roads in the city are maintained by the Thiruvananthapuram Roads Development Company Limited (TRDCL) and Kerala PWD . TRDCL manages the 42 km city roads which come under the Thiruvananthapuram City Roads Improvement Project (TRCIP), which is the first urban road project in India. TRCIP
6825-507: The death of Raja Raja Varma, and also from diabetes, which contributed to his death on 2 October 1906. Varma was patronised by Ayilyam Thirunal , the next Maharaja of Travancore and began formal training thereafter. He learned the basics of painting in Madurai . Later, he was trained in water painting by Rama Swami Naidu and rather reluctantly in oil painting by British portraitist Theodore Jenson. The British administrator, Edgar Thurston
6930-463: The debate for his later compatriots in the specific matter of defining individual genius through professional acumen, of testing modes of cultural adaptation with idiosyncratic effect, of attempting pictorial narration with its historic scope. Similarly, Baroda School artist Gulam Mohammed Sheikh also wrote about Ravi Varma as a modern artist. In his essay "Ravi Varma in Baroda", Sheikh asserted that Varma
7035-573: The deity of the Sri Padmanabhaswamy Temple located in the city. Thiruvananthapuram is also known in literature, and popular reference as Ananthapuri , derived from the Sanskrit word Syanandurapuram , meaning "The City of Bliss" in Carnatic kirtanas composed by Swathi Thirunal , erstwhile Maharaja of Travancore . The city was officially referred to as Trivandrum until 1991 (Trivandrum being
7140-607: The direct control of the British Empire at any time, the city featured prominently in India's freedom struggle . The Indian National Congress had a very active presence in Thiruvananthapuram. A meeting of the Indian National Congress presided by Dr Pattabhi Sitaramaiah was held here in 1938. The Thiruvananthapuram Municipality came into existence in 1920 as the first municipality in the Travancore region. The municipality
7245-414: The end of British rule in 1947, Travancore chose to join the Indian union. The first popularly elected ministry, headed by Pattom Thanu Pillai , was installed in office on 24 March 1948. In 1949, Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Thiru-Kochi , the state formed by the integration of Travancore with its northern neighbour, the Kochi . The king of Travancore , Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma , became
7350-475: The entire present (existing) royal family of Travancore is descended from Raja Ravi Varma. Well known among his royal descendants are the writers Aswathi Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi and Shreekumar Varma , the artist Rukmini Varma and the classical musician Aswathi Thirunal Rama Varma . Around Ravi Varma's 57th birthday he announced his decision to accept Sanyasa, and retire from all worldly life when he turned 60. In his final years he suffered from grief for
7455-426: The execution of the sewage system. Electricity is supplied by the Kerala State Electricity Board . Fire services are handled by the Kerala Fire And Rescue Services . Thiruvananthapuram's economy comprises Information Technology , education, plantations, aerospace, commerce and tourism . Thiruvananthapuram district contributes 10.31%, of the state's GDP. With an economic growth rate of 13.83%, Thiruvananthapuram
7560-541: The famous Padmanabhaswamy Temple , the city's architecture is championed by the Napier Museum and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo , one of the oldest zoos in India. Other architectural landmarks include Kuthira Malika Palace , Kowdiar Palace , Attukal temple , Beemapally Mosque , Connemara Market , and the Mateer Memorial Church . Thiruvananthapuram was the main centre of Laurie Baker 's architecture. Along with
7665-627: The fourth centuries CE and it served as the eastern entrance to the Palakkad Gap , the principal trade route between the Malabar Coast and Tamil Nadu . However the southern region of present-day Kerala state (The coastal belt between Thiruvananthapuram and Alappuzha ) was under Ay dynasty , who was more related to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai . The early rulers of the city were the Ays . Vizhinjam , which
7770-609: The headquarters of Kerala Prisons and Correctional Services . The Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force is headquartered in the city. There are two state armed police battalions and a unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) based in Thiruvananthapuram. The CRPF has a Group Headquarters (GHQ) located at Pallipuram . In addition to this, three units of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and Sector Headquarters (SHQ) of
7875-464: The house of Mavellikara was a branch of the Royal House of Travancore. Bhageerthi was the youngest of three sisters, and both of her elder sisters had been adopted into the royal family of Travancore in 1857 in order to carry on the lineage. They were known as the Senior and Junior Rani of Attingal, and in their progeny was vested the succession to the throne of Travancore. Therefore, Ravi Varma's connection to
7980-409: The king Marthanda Varma expanded the territory, founded the princely state of Travancore and made Thiruvananthapuram its capital. Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755. Following India's independence in 1947, Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Travancore–Cochin state and remained so until
8085-476: The main reason being that they were the nearest matrilineal ( cognatic ) kin to the incumbent Rani of Attingal. In August 1900, Mahaprabha's eldest daughter Lakshmi Bayi (aged 5 years) and Uma's eldest daughter Parvati Bayi (aged 4 years) were adopted into the Royal family of Travancore. It was Bharani Thirunal Lakshmi Bayi , their surviving grand-aunt, who formally adopted them. She died within one year of doing this, and
8190-452: The major festivals of Onam , Vishu , Deepavali , and Navaratri , Christian and Islamic festivals like Christmas , Eid ul-Fitr , Bakrid and Milad-e-sheriff , the diverse ethnic populace of the city celebrates several local festivals like Attukal Pongala , Beemapally Uroos , Vettukaad Church Festival , Padmanabhaswamy Temple Aaraattu and Lakshadeepam festival. During the Onam festival,
8295-594: The most significant and leading centre of ISRO , and several space-related, state-owned ISRO centres such as Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station , Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre , and ISRO Inertial Systems Unit are based in Thiruvananthapuram. The BrahMos Aerospace Trivandrum Limited is one of the leading missile integration and defence production units in India. Other enterprises include Travancore Titanium Products , Kerala Automobiles Limited , MILMA , English Indian Clays , Keltron , Trivandrum Rubber Works and HLL Lifecare Limited . Thiruvananthapuram
8400-460: The musical contributions of Swathi Thirunal Rama varma and the artistic legacy of painter Raja Ravi Varma .Notable beaches in Thiruvananthapuram include Kovalam , Varkala , Shankumugham Beach ,and Poovar .The encompassing urban agglomeration population is around 1.68 million. Located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland, Thiruvananthapuram is a major information technology hub in Kerala and contributes 55% of
8505-618: The new Indian state of Kerala was formed in 1956. Thiruvananthapuram is a notable academic and research hub and home to the University of Kerala , APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University , the regional headquarters of Indira Gandhi National Open University , and many other schools and colleges. Thiruvananthapuram is also home to research centers such as the National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology , Indian Space Research Organisation 's Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ,
8610-558: The people is Keralite cuisine , which is generally characterised by an abundance of coconut and spices . Other South Indian cuisines, as well as Chinese and North Indian cuisines, are popular. Thiruvananthapuram has many restaurants offering Arabic , Italian , Thai and Mexican cuisines. The majority of bus services are conducted by government operators. There are also private operators. The city buses operated by Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) are an important and reliable means of public transport available in
8715-478: The population; 0.85% did not state a belief in the census. Malayalam , the official state language, is the dominant language in Thiruvananthapuram City: English is also used, mainly by the white-collar workforce. Tamil has the most speakers after Malayalam . The city also has a few Tulu , Kannada, Konkani , Dhivehi , Telugu and Hindi speakers. As per the 2001 census, the population below
8820-452: The princely state of Thiruvithamkoor and Thiruvananthapuram was made the capital in 1795 after shifting the capital from Padmanabhapuram in Kanyakumari district. Thiruvananthapuram became a prominent city in Kerala under Marthanda Varma . As a result of the annexation of neighbouring chiefdoms, the artists and scholars from these places migrated to Thiruvananthapuram, turning it into
8925-587: The product of press to include commercial and advertisement labels. Under the management of Schleicher and his successors, the press continued successfully until a devastating fire destroyed the whole factory in 1972. Many of Ravi Varma's original lithographic prints were also lost in the fire. In 1904, Viceroy Lord Curzon , on behalf of the British King Emperor, bestowed upon Varma the Kaisar-i-Hind Gold Medal . A college dedicated to fine arts
9030-453: The royal family became very close due to his marriage with Bhageerthi. His children (because they belonged to their mother's family) would be royal by birth. The marriage, which was arranged by the parents in the proper Indian manner, was harmonious and successful. The couple had five children, two sons, and three daughters. Their elder son, Kerala Varma (b.1876) was of an excessively spiritual temperament. He never married and eventually renounced
9135-458: The state government conducts several cultural events for a week in the city. The Attukal Pongala festival attracts millions of women devotees from across India and abroad. It is the largest gathering of women in the world. Germany's Goethe Zentrum, France's Alliance Française and Russia's Gorky Bhavan centres host a wide range of events and programmes throughout the year. The general cuisine of
9240-434: The state was started during the same period. Sanskrit College , Ayurveda College, Law College and a second-grade college for women were started by Moolam Thirunal (1885–1924). The early 20th century was an age of tremendous political and social changes in the city. The Sree Moolam Popular Assembly , established in 1904, was the first democratically elected legislative council in any Indian state. Despite not being under
9345-410: The state's software exports as of 2016. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", the city is characterised by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills. The present regions that constitute Thiruvananthapuram were ruled by the Ays who were related to feudatories of the Chera dynasty . In the 12th century, it was conquered by the Kingdom of Venad . In the 18th century,
9450-576: The subject to deconstruct Ravi Varma's idealized depictions of goddesses and Indian women. Many organizations do programs in his memory and give awards in his name. A two days festival of The Maharaja Ranjitsinh Gaekwad Festival of Arts is annually organized, in his memory at the Durbar Hall in Laxmi Vilas Palace , Vadodara , Gujarat . The Raja Ravi Varma Award for Excellence in the Field of Visual Arts
9555-559: The throne could only progress through females, and therefore it was necessary to make an adoption. Tradition dictated that two girls belonging to branches of the Royal Family be adopted together. They would be designated the Senior and Junior Rani of Attingal, and the succession to the throne of Travancore would be vested in their progeny, in accordance with the unusual and unique Marumakkathayam system of succession. Two of Varma's granddaughters were marked by destiny to receive this honour,
9660-501: The two girls were then installed as the Senior and Junior Ranis of Attingal respectively. They were married while yet in their early teens to two gentlemen from suitable aristocratic families. It was the Junior Rani, Sethu Parvathi Bayi , who gave birth to the much-awaited heir in 1912, exactly a day after her sixteenth birthday. Incidentally, her husband was a grand-nephew of Raja Ravi Varma and belonged to Kilimanoor . The newborn child
9765-721: The world which fulfil the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN Agenda 2030. Thiruvananthapuram is served by National Highway 66 of India's National Highways system . The city is connected to the North-South Corridor of the National Highway system at Aralvaimozhi , which is 80 km south of the city. The State Highway 1 , which commonly known as the Main Central Road is an arterial highway in
9870-536: The world, leaving home for good in 1912. The younger son, Rama Varma (born 1879), inherited his father's artistic talent and studied at the JJ School of Arts , Mumbai . He was married to Gowri Kunjamma, sister of Dewan PGN Unnithan , and became the father of seven children. The three daughters of Ravi Varma and Bhageerthi Bayi were Mahaprabha Amma (who features in two of Varma's most famous paintings), Uma Amma (named after Varma's mother) and Cheria Kochamma. In 1900 CE,
9975-408: Was a key figure in the establishment of Indian modern art, claiming that "the story of contemporary Indian art was never the same after Ravi Varma had entered it. He left his imprint on almost every aspect of it." Like Kapur, Sheikh praised Ravi Varma's integration of Indian and Western aesthetics and techniques, comparing him favorably to Indian modernist Nandalal Bose . However, Ravi Varma's legacy
10080-455: Was also constituted in his honour at Mavelikara , Kerala . Raja Ravi Varma High at Kilimanoor was named after him and there are many cultural organizations throughout India bearing his name. In 2013, the crater Varma on Mercury was named in his honor. Considering his vast contribution to Indian art , the Government of Kerala has instituted an award called Raja Ravi Varma Puraskaram , which
10185-468: Was born M. R. Ry. Ravi Varma, Koil Thampuran of Kilimanoor at Kilimanoor palace in the erstwhile princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala ) into an aristocratic family that for over 200 years produced consorts for the princesses of the matrilineal Travancore royal family. The title Raja was conferred as a personal title by the Viceroy and Governor-General of India Lord Curzon . Ravi Varma
10290-429: Was converted into a corporation on 30 October 1940, during the period of Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma , who took over in 1931. The city witnessed multi-faceted progress during his period. The promulgation of the " Temple Entry Proclamation " (1936) was an act that underlined social emancipation. This era also saw the establishment of the University of Travancore in 1937, which later became Kerala University . With
10395-919: Was established in 1975 as a CSIR Complex, then named as the Regional Research Laboratory in 1978 and later renamed as NIIST in 2007. The major research divisions in NIIST are: 1. Agroprocessing and technology division (APTD) 2. Microbial processes and technology division (MPTD) 3. Chemical sciences and technology division (CSTD) 4. Materials science and technology division (MSTD) 5. Environmental technology division Materials Science and Technology division has divided into Functional Materials and Minerals and Metallic Materials sections. Functional Materials has activities related to nano-ceramics, energy materials, polymeric materials, electronic materials and magnetic materials. Minerals and Metallic Materials has activities related to metals and minerals. This
10500-435: Was notable for making affordable lithographs of his paintings available to the public, which greatly enhanced his reach and influence as a painter and public figure. His lithographs increased the involvement of common people with fine arts and defined artistic tastes among the common people. Furthermore, his religious depictions of Hindu deities and works from Indian epic poetry and Puranas have received profound acclaim. He
10605-468: Was part of the royal family of erstwhile Parappanad , Malappuram district . Raja Ravi Varma was closely related to the royal family of Travancore of present-day Kerala state in India. Later in his life, two of his granddaughters were adopted into the royal family, and their descendants comprise the present royal family of Travancore, including the latest three Maharajas ( Balarama Varma III , Marthanda Varma III and Rama Varma VII ). Raja Ravi Varma
10710-559: Was significant in promoting the careers of Varma and his brother. Varma received widespread acclaim after he won an award for an exhibition of his paintings at Vienna in 1873. Varma's paintings were also sent to the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893 and he was awarded three gold medals. He travelled throughout India in search of subjects. He often modelled Hindu Goddesses on Indian women, whom he considered beautiful. Ravi Varma
10815-546: Was started in Thiruvananthapuram. The first Malayalam feature film, Vigathakumaran directed by J. C. Daniel was released in Thiruvananthapuram. J. C. Daniel is considered the father of Malayalam film industry. He also established the first film studio in Kerala, the Travancore National Pictures at Thiruvananthapuram in 1926. The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK), which is held every year in December,
10920-519: Was the future Maharaja Chithira Thirunal , the last ruling Maharaja of Travancore . He was followed by a brother (the future Maharaja Marthanda Varma III ) and a sister Lakshmi Bayi , the mother of Maharaja Rama Varma VII who is presently on the throne (since 2013). Meanwhile, the Senior Rani ( Sethu Lakshmi Bayi , daughter of Mahaprabha Amma, and Regent from 1924 to 1931) also gave birth to two daughters later in life (in 1923 and 1926). In this way,
11025-478: Was the son of Ezhumavil Neelakanthan Bhattatiripad and Uma Ambabayi Thampurratti. His mother Uma Ambabayi Thampuratty belonged to the baronial family which ruled the Kilimanoor feudal estate within the kingdom of Travancore . She was a poet and writer of some talent, and her work Parvati Swayamvaram was published by Varma after her death. Ravi Varma's father was a scholar of Sanskrit and Ayurveda and hailed from
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