127-663: 8°29′17″N 76°58′39″E / 8.4880650°N 76.9775870°E / 8.4880650; 76.9775870 Satelmond Palace in Thiruvananthapuram , Kerala , India is one of the palaces that belonged to the Travancore Royal Family . It is situated in the Poojapura ward of Thiruvananthapuram city. Originally known as Vijaya Vilasam (roughly translated as "the Place of Victory"), it later became known as Satelmond Palace. It
254-590: 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
381-522: A 50-year war. The Eradis emerged victorious in their conquest of Polanad. After this, Menokkis were made as the ruler of Polanad and came to terms with the troops and people. After this, the town of Calicut was founded close to the palace at Tali. Then, the Eradis shifted their headquarters from Nediyirippu to Calicut. The Governor of Ernad built a fort at a place called Velapuram to safeguard his new interests. The fort most likely lent its name to Koyil Kotta
508-432: A Hindu king making compact with Muslim lords to refrain from eating pork (per Islamic dietary laws ), so long as they did not eat beef. Huan also described worship of Moses existing in addition to Islam and Hinduism, which Huan mistakenly identified as Buddhism . Additionally detailed was the existence of a complex system of measurements for trade, as well as a system of succession in which the king's sister's son inherited
635-535: 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
762-430: 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
889-803: A few epoch-making events. These include the city's establishment, the arrival of the Portuguese, the arrival of the Dutch, the Mysorean Invasion, the rise of British Power, the beginning of the Indian Independence Movement and finally freedom from British rule in 1947. According to the Chinese traveler Ma Huan , who describes visiting Calicut in the Yingya Shenglan , Calicut was a place with relative harmony between its Hindu and Muslim populations, with
1016-651: A mark of favour, a small tract of land on the sea-coast in addition to his hereditary possessions. This patch of wasteland is called Cullikkad in the Keralolpathi . To corroborate his assertion that Mana Vikrama was, in fact, a favourite of the last Perumal, Narayanan cites a stone inscription of the last ruler (1102) discovered at Kollam in South Kerala. It refers to Nalu taliyum ayiram arunurruvarum eranadu vazhkai Manavikiraman mutalayulla camantarum -'The four Councillors, The Thousand, The Six Hundred, along with Mana Vikrama,
1143-498: 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
1270-482: A pledge of neutrality from the British at Tellicherry in the event of a conflict with the Kerala powers. In February 1766, Hyder Ali marched into northern Kerala. Except for a few decisive battles, he faced meagre opposition and entered Calicut. The Zamorin sent the members of his family to Ponnani, blew up his palace and to avoid the humiliation of surrender, and committed self-immolation. A revenue officer named Madanna
1397-458: A railway terminal at Nemom railway station to reduce congestion at Thiruvananthapuram Central. History of Kozhikode The Kingdom of Kozhikode ( Malayalam : കോഴിക്കോട് [koːɻikːoːɖ] ), also known as Calicut , was the kingdom of the Zamorin of Calicut , in the present-day Indian state of Kerala . Present-day Kozhikode is the second largest city in Kerala, as well as
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#17328839730511524-688: 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
1651-438: 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
1778-697: 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 ,
1905-495: 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
2032-416: 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
2159-483: 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
2286-428: 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
2413-454: 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
2540-535: 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
2667-525: 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
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#17328839730512794-745: 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
2921-584: 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
3048-631: 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
3175-572: 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
3302-628: 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
3429-679: 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
3556-596: 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
3683-554: 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
3810-510: Is now clear that the Cheraman Perumals ruled in the 8th, 9th and 10th centuries and that the last Cheraman Perumal was Rama Varma Kulasekhara (1089–1102). Although there is no basis for the last Perumal's conversion to Islam and pilgrimage to Mecca, it is now accepted that following his mysterious disappearance the land was partitioned and that the governors of different Nadus (fiefdoms) gained independence, proclaiming it as their 'gift' from
3937-538: 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
Satelmond Palace - Misplaced Pages Continue
4064-578: 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 Trivandrum is in Thiruvananthapuram. The city also includes India’s first deep-water trans-shipment port,
4191-418: 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 ,
4318-478: 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
4445-661: The Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , was somewhere around Kozhikode . Its exact location is a matter of dispute. The suggested locations are Ponnani , Tanur , Beypore - Chaliyam - Kadalundi - Vallikkunnu , and Koyilandy . Tyndis was a major center of trade, next only to Muziris , between the Cheras and the Roman Empire . Pliny the Elder (1st century CE) states that the port of Tyndis
4572-467: 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
4699-692: 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
4826-666: 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
4953-528: 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
5080-588: 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
5207-610: 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
Satelmond Palace - Misplaced Pages Continue
5334-824: The Maratha threat. A rebellion broke out again. Hyder Ali engaged in diplomacy this time through Madanna and agreed to withdraw his forces for which a war indemnity was to be paid to him. But he made a second attempt in December 1773 and re-established his authority in Malabar. However, with the help of the British, the Nairs led by the famous Ravi Varma of Padinjare Kovilakam , wiped out the Mysorean garrison in Calicut by 1778. By 1783 Tipu Sultan established his authority over Northern Kerala. He planned to shift
5461-531: 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
5588-619: 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
5715-563: 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
5842-424: 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
5969-732: The 'Salt laws' were attacked by the police injuring more than 30 people. K.P.Krishna Pillai and R.V.Sharma defended the National flag from forcible seizure by the police on this occasion. During the Second Civil Disobedience Movement (1932), all four hundred delegates who attended the All Kerala Political Conference in September 1932 were arrested. The incident wherein Mrs L.S.Prabhu (of Thalassery ), who courted arrest during
6096-498: The 18th century the Dutch position weakened and they were forced to surrender to a British force that marched from Calicut to Cochin on 20 October 1795 (as part of the larger Napoleonic Wars between Holland and England in Europe). Travancore became the most dominant state in Kerala by defeating the powerful Zamorin of Kozhikode in the battle of Purakkad in 1755. Hyder Ali ascended the throne of Mysore in 1761. By 1764, he obtained
6223-491: 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
6350-615: 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
6477-515: The British never fulfilled. In 1664, Zamorin gave the English permission to build a factory in Calicut but did not extend any other favours as he was by now growing suspicious of all European traders. The English maintained neutrality in the conflict between Mysore and the Kerala powers in 1766 and was an important factor which facilitated early success to Hyder Ali. However, tensions between the English and Mysore arose soon. The English army under Major Abington helped Ravi Varma of Padinjare Kovilakam in
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#17328839730516604-425: The Governor of Eranad and other Feudatories'. However, the Eradis being land-locked lacked direct access to the coastline as the territory of Polanad ( Porakilanad ) lay between Eranad and Calicut. Having been given the royal sword and the injunction Cattum konnum adakki kolka (conquer by courting and conferring death) by the last Ceraman (according to Keralolpathi), the Ernad Utayavar (Governor) waged war against
6731-430: The Indian Ocean. In the same year, Afonso de Albuquerque was appointed the second Viceroy of the Portuguese possessions in the East. A new fleet under Marshall Coutinho arrived with specific instructions to destroy the power of Calicut. The Zamorin's palace was captured and destroyed and the city was set on fire. But the King's forces rallied fast to kill Marshall Coutinho and wounded Albuquerque. Albuquerque nevertheless
6858-434: The Polanad Kingdom ruled by the Porlatiri , which was a vassal state to the Kolathunadu based at North Malabar . The Eradis of Nediyirippu in Ernad (somewhere around present Kondotty) were land-locked and sought an outlet to the sea to initiate trade and commerce with distant lands. To accomplish this, the Eradis marched with their nairs towards Panniyankara and besieged the Porlatiri in his headquarters, resulting in
6985-402: The Porlatiri ( Porakilar Adhikari ) and attacked Panniyankara. M.G.S seems to indicate that the land sought by the Ernadis, lay in fact beyond and not within the kingdom of Polanad. With the conquest of Polanad, the status of the Utayavar (Governor) increased and he came to be known as Swami Nambiyathiri Thirumulpad and the Kingdom of Calicut also came to known as Nediyiruppu Swarupam after
7112-447: The Portuguese ample opportunities to harass the Zamorin and enter the heart of his kingdom in the event of war. The Chaliyam fort was 'like a pistol held at the Zamorin's throat'. The Zamorin attacked Chaliyam and recaptured the fort in 1571 coinciding with the defeat of the ruler of Vijayanagara , an ally of the Portuguese. The Portuguese were forced to abandon the fort, which was then completely demolished. The fall of Chaliyam fort marked
7239-400: The Portuguese flag ceased to fly in Kerala as the Dutch arrived at the scene and captured all their strongholds of Quilon, Cranganore, Purakkadm, Cochin and Cannanore. In 1602, the Zamorin sent messages to Aceh promising the Dutch a fort at Kozhikode if they would come and trade there. Two factors, Hans de Wolff and Lafer, were sent on an Asian ship from Aceh, but the two were captured by
7366-400: 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
7493-419: The Zamorin. Scores of men perished in these wars on all sides starting in 1503 and continuing till the early 1570s. In February 1509, the defeat of the joint fleet of the Sultan of Gujarat , the Mamlûk Burji Sultanate of Egypt , and the Zamorin of Calicut with support of the Republic of Venice and the Ottoman Empire in Battle of Diu marked the beginning of Portuguese dominance of the Spice trade and
7620-443: 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
7747-411: 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
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#17328839730517874-443: 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,
8001-459: 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
8128-410: The beginning of Portuguese conflicts in the Indian Ocean. When da Gama's call to expel all Muslims from Calicut was vehemently turned down, he bombarded the city and captured several rice vessels, cutting off the crew's hands, ears, and noses. With rising bonhomie between the Maharaja of Cochin and the Portuguese, there followed several wars in which the Portuguese propped up Cochin and Cannanore against
8255-405: The beginning of the end for the Portuguese in the great game of the East. The Portuguese approached the Zamorin again in 1578 for reconciliation. By 1588 they were settled in Calicut and in 1591 built a church on land donated by the Zamorin (who even laid the foundation stone). The Zamorin's growing friendship was nevertheless a result of his gradual estrangement with the Kunjali Marakkars. By 1663,
8382-465: The capital from Calicut to the south of the city on the banks of the river Chaliyar and even named it 'Farookhabad' now called Feroke . This ambitious plan soon failed. In November 1788, Calicut was attacked by the Nairs under Ravi Varma of the Padinjare Kovilakam. Tipu returned in 1789 to re-establish his authority. This, however, brought him in direct conflict with the British based in Madras , which resulted in four Anglo-Mysore Wars . Calicut and
8509-417: The chief of Tanur , and handed over to the Portuguese. A Dutch fleet under Admiral Steven van der Hagen arrived at Kozhikode in November 1604. It marked the beginning of the Dutch presence in Kerala and they concluded a treaty with Kozhikode on 11 November 1604, which was also the first treaty that the Dutch East India Company made with an Indian ruler. By this time the kingdom and the port of Kozhikode
8636-451: 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
8763-433: 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
8890-429: 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
9017-416: 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
9144-792: 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
9271-591: 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
9398-535: The conference, was ordered to surrender all her gold ornaments including the tali or mangalsutra received nationwide condemnation. Calicut was also a major centre for the rising Communist Party of Malabar (1939) and the Quit India Movement (1942). Kerala chapter of the Communist Party was formed in a secret meeting held at Kallai Road in the year 1937. After Indian Independence in 1947, Madras Presidency
9525-592: 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
9652-573: 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
9779-607: 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
9906-512: The discovery of a sea route from Europe to Malabar in 1498, the Portuguese began to expand their territories and ruled the seas between Ormus and the Malabar Coast and south to Ceylon . The navigator was received with traditional hospitality, but an interview with the Zamorin failed to produce any concrete results. Vasco da Gama's request for permission to leave a factor behind him in charge of
10033-461: 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
10160-421: The entrance, intricate etchings, statues of majestic lions, floors with elaborate patterns, circular wooden staircases, and slanting roofs with grooved terracotta tiles. 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 ,
10287-571: 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
10414-541: 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
10541-572: 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
10668-609: 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
10795-460: The headquarters of Kozhikode district . Kozhikode was dubbed the "City of Spices" for its role as the major trading point of eastern spices during the Middle Ages and probably as early as Classical antiquity . The port at Kozhikode held the superior economic and political position in medieval Kerala coast, while Kannur, Kollam , and Kochi , were commercially important secondary ports, where
10922-690: The headquarters of Malabar District , one of the two districts in the western coast of erstwhile Madras Presidency . During the British rule , Malabar's chief importance lay in producing pepper . Kozhikode municipality was formed on 1 November 1866 according to the Madras Act 10 of 1865 (Amendment of the Improvements in Towns act 1850) of the British Indian Empire , making it the first modern municipality in
11049-409: 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
11176-484: The last sovereign. There is some ambiguity regarding the exact course of events that led to the establishment of the zamorin 's rule over Calicut. According to Prof. A. Sreedhara Menon (who entirely rejects the story of Cheraman Perumal's disappearance, his conversion to Islam and the subsequent gifts to his feudatories), immediately following the 'fall' of the Rama Kulasekhara, Calicut and its suburbs formed part of
11303-452: 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,
11430-569: The merchandise he could not sell was declined by the King, who insisted that da Gama pay customs duty like any other trader, straining the relationship between the two. The next expedition was sent by the King of Portugal under the leadership of Pedro Álvares Cabral in 1500. His agent secured a settlement to erect a factory at Calicut. This, however, precipitated matters between the Arabs and the Portuguese. The Portuguese capture of Arab vessels and ensuing massacre
11557-594: 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
11684-460: 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
11811-618: 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 ,
11938-467: The original house of the Eradis at Nediyiruppu. The king's title gradually evolved into Samoothirippadu or Saamoothiri or Saamoori over the years. The Europeans called him Zamorin. The foundation of the city of Calicut was therefore laid during the initial years of the 12th century. The Sweetmeat Street ( Mittayi Theruvu ) was an important trading street under Zamorin's rule. In the 14th century, Kozhikode conquered larger parts of central Kerala after
12065-512: The others, the Portuguese yearned for political power and imperial domination. Vasco da Gama's fame is more often argued as due to historical reasons for which he was hardly responsible in that he was accompanied by a Portuguese-speaking Arab merchant provided by the Sultan of Melinda in East Africa. Vasco da Gama was sent by King Manuel I and landed in Calicut at Kappad in 17 May 1498. Following
12192-501: The outside world. According to scholars, Tyndis or Tondi (present-day Kadalundi or Ponnani ) to the south of Kozhikode was a flourishing seaport. During the 9th century, this region became a part of the Second Chera Empire. The Cheras (also known as Perumals) ruled the territory until 1102. The rise of Calicut as a major trading centre and a port city does not seem to have happened before the 13th century. The Zamorin of Calicut
12319-558: 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
12446-478: 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
12573-516: The precursor to Calicut. However, M.G.S. Narayanan in his book, Calicut: The City of Truth states that the Governor of Eranad, Mana Vikrama (who became the Zamorin of Calicut later) was, in fact, a favourite of the last Ceraman Perumal, Rama Kulasekara as the former was at the forefront of the wars with the Chola - Pandya forces to the South and led the army to victory. The King, therefore, granted him, as
12700-503: The present-day Malabar Coast . The value of Rome's annual trade with the region was estimated at around 50,000,000 sesterces . Pliny the Elder mentioned that Limyrike was prone by pirates. The Cosmas Indicopleustes mentioned that the Limyrike was a source of peppers. During the Sangam period (3rd – 4th century BC), the land where Kozhikode now stands
12827-452: 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
12954-456: The recapture of Calicut in 1782 from Mysore. The East India Company however did not stand by Lord Cornwallis' promise to the exiled rulers that they will be restored after the expulsion of Tipu. By 1792, the whole of Malabar including Calicut came under the British dominion. Ravi Varma now turned against the company but was soon captured in 1793. The rebellion continued even after the capture of Ravi Varma till 1797. Under British Raj , it acted as
13081-519: The seize of Tirunavaya region from Valluvanad , which were under the control of the king of Perumbadappu Swaroopam (Cochin). The ruler of Perumpadappu was forced to shift his capital (c. CE 1405) further south from Kodungallur to Kochi . In the 15th century, the status of Cochin was reduced to a vassal state of Kozhikode, thus leading to the emergence of Kozhikode as the most powerful kingdom in medieval Malabar Coast . The history of Kozhikode can roughly be divided into several periods marked by
13208-458: 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
13335-434: 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
13462-410: 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,
13589-572: The state. The city also witnessed several movements as part of the struggle for Indian independence from the British. A conference of the Congress was held at Calicut in 1904 with C. Vijayaraghavachariar in the chair. A branch of the All India Home Rule League founded by Ms. Annie Besant started functioning in the city. In 1916, Sri K.P.Kesava Menon staged a walk out of the Town Hall when he
13716-585: The surrounding districts were among the territories ceded to the British after the Third Anglo-Mysore War by the Treaties of Seringapatam with the British on 22 February and 18 March 1792. The newly acquired possessions on the Malabar Coast were organised into the Malabar District of Madras Presidency , and Calicut became the district capital. The arrival of British in Kerala can be traced back to
13843-536: The throne, due to a belief that legal family only constituted those born from a woman within said family; if no such heir existed, the throne would be passed to "some man of merit." This single event marked an epoch in the history of Kerala and India, not because Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India (the Chinese, the Arab and Turkish sultanates, and the African kingdoms already traded directly with India) but, unlike
13970-478: The title Eralppad / Eradi . While the first reference to the Kingdom of Calicut and Saamoothiri is made by Ibn Battuta in his accounts (1342–1347), there is no reference to Calicut by Marco Polo , who visited Kerala towards the end of the 13th Century. He does, however, mention the kingdom of Eli. This provides a clue to a plausible date for the rise of Calicut as a major kingdom on the Kerala coast. Nevertheless, Prof. Krishna Ayyar has assigned 1034 CE as
14097-623: The traders from various parts of the world would gather. It was once the capital of an independent kingdom by the same name and later of the erstwhile Malabar District . The port at Kozhikode acted as the gateway to medieval South Indian coast for the Persians , the Arabs , the Chinese , and finally the Europeans . The ancient port of Tyndis which was located on the northern side of Muziris , as mentioned in
14224-721: 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
14351-516: The year 1615, when a group under the leadership of Captain William Keeling arrived at Kozhikode, using three ships. It was in these ships that Sir Thomas Roe went to visit Jahangir , the fourth Mughal emperor , as British envoy . The British concluded a treaty of trade under which, among others, the English were to assist Calicut in expelling the Portuguese from Cochin and Cranganore, a term that
14478-566: The year of the foundation of the city. According to the Keralolpathi ( Genesis of Kerala ), the last of the Chera kings, Cheraman Perumal , partitioned the kingdom among his feudatories and secretly left for Mecca with some Arab traders where he embraced Islam and lived the rest of his life in obscurity in Arabia . The date of this partition is a significant turning point in the history of Kerala. It
14605-599: Was an uninhabited region of the Chera Empire. This land, part of the larger Tamilakam partly fell within the Kudanad (Western land; west of Kongunad) to the south and partly within Puzhinad (marshy tract) to the north. The dominion of the Cheras extended as far as present-day Vatakara , beyond which lay the kingdom of Eli ( Ezhi ). The ports of the Chera empire played an important role in fostering trade relations between Kerala and
14732-467: Was appointed as the Civil Governor of Malabar with headquarters at Calicut. A rebellion soon broke out and the Mysorean garrison was besieged by the Nairs. Hyder Ali rushed to crush the rebellion, devastating the countryside and employing draconian measures to suppress the Nairs including defrocking of their social status. Successfully achieving his objectives, he had to return to Mysore soon to deal with
14859-570: Was assisted mainly by four ministers namely Mangatachan the Chief Minister, Dharmoth Panicker, Army Chief and Teacher of Martial Arts, Kuthiravatathu Nair, Finance Minister and Kunjali Marakars, Chief of Naval Force. In 1503, the Portuguese had built a fort in Chaliyam with the consent of the Raja of the Kingdom of Tanur (Vettattnad) from where they re-established supremacy over Indian waters. It provided
14986-468: Was clever enough to patch up his quarrel and entered into a treaty with the Zamorin in 1513 to protect Portuguese interests in Kerala. Hostilities were renewed when the Portuguese attempted to assassinate the Zamorin sometime between 1515 and 1518. From the 1520s the Zamorin's naval fleet was administered by the Kunjali Marakkars who inflicted heavy damages to Portuguese property till 1589. King Zamorin
15113-429: 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
15240-590: Was denied permission by the Collector Mr Innes to address the meeting in Malayalam . The period saw a rise in political journalism as well. The Mathrubhumi in March 1923 and Al Amin in October 1924 were started by Sri K.P.Kesava Menon and Muhammad Abdur Rahiman respectively to foster the spirit of Nationalism. On 12 May 1930, Satyagrahi's assembled at Calicut beach under the leadership of Muhammad Abdur Rahiman to break
15367-538: Was located at the northwestern border of Keprobotos ( Chera dynasty ). The North Malabar region, which lies north of the port at Tyndis , was ruled by the kingdom of Ezhimala during Sangam period . According to the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea , a region known as Limyrike began at Naura and Tyndis . However the Ptolemy mentions only Tyndis as the Limyrike ' s starting point. The region probably ended at Kanyakumari ; it thus roughly corresponds to
15494-532: Was much reduced in importance. The treaty provided for a mutual alliance between the two to expel the Portuguese from Malabar. In return the Dutch East India Company was given facilities for trade at Kozhikode and Ponnani , including spacious storehouses. It provided for a mutual alliance between the Zamorin and the Dutch to expel the Portuguese from Indian soil. In return, they were given facilities for trade at Calicut, including spacious storehouses. In
15621-650: Was originally the ruler of Eranad , which was a minor principality located in the northern parts of present-day Malappuram district . His headquarters was Nediyiruppu in Kondotty . Later it was the Eradi (The ruler of Eranad ), who came to be known as Zamorin, and developed the port at Kozhikode . Eranad was ruled by a Samanthan Nair clan known as Eradis , similar to the Vellodis of neighbouring Valluvanad and Nedungadis of Nedunganad . The rulers of Eranad were known by
15748-458: Was renamed the Madras State . In 1956 when the Indian states were reorganised along linguistic lines, Malabar District was combined with the state of Travancore-Cochin to form the new state of Kerala on 1 November 1956. Malabar District was later split into the districts of Kannur , Kozhikode , and Palakkad on 1 January 1957. Kozhikode was upgraded as a Municipal Corporation in 1962, making it
15875-627: Was retaliated by the locals who burned down the factory and butchered half of the Portuguese on land. Cabral sailed for Cochin , where he was cordially received and allowed to load his ships. Vasco da Gama reached Calicut the second time with 15 ships and 800 men in February 1502. In January 1502, the First Battle of Cannanore between the Third Portuguese Armada and Kingdom of Cochin under João da Nova and Zamorin of Kozhikode 's navy marked
16002-495: 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,
16129-477: Was the official residence of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi during her regency. During the late 1970s, it was gifted by the royal family to the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology , which started its biomedical technology wing there. The queen's portrait still hangs in the hallway at the entrance of the main building. Satelmond Palace is two-storeyed, featuring massive pillars at
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