Erstwhile known as
Trivandrum, the formation of word Thiruvanthapuram is the combination of three words Thiru+Anantha+Puram, meaning the House of Lord Ananta. Ananta in mythological terms refers to serpant deity Sheshnaag on whom Lord Vishnu rests. Till 1991 the district was known as
Trivandrum after which government decided to recall it with its ancient and original name Thiruvananthapuram in all languages.
The district still carries its heritage and ancient tradition, folklore and literature. The district lies in the South region of the Kerala. The history dates back to the beginning of the 10th century when the region was under the control of Ays. The decline of Ays as the major political power open the way for the rulers of Venad to establish their dominance in the region.
In 1684 the East India Company took over a piece of land from Her Highness Umayamma Rani on the sea cost known as Anchuthengu (Anjengo) almost 32 kms away in the north of Thiruvanthapuram, with an objective of establishing a factory there. Prior to this that land had been under the control of Portuguese and then under the Dutch. The entrance of East India Company gradually paved the way of British dominance in the other parts of Trivanthamcore (Travancore).
The years from 1729-1758 are considered as the flourishing years in the history of Triuvanthapuram, under the rule of Marthanda Varma, who is also considered as the father of modern Travancore. During those years Thirvanthapuram was known for its intellectual and artistic activities. Similarly, during the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal (1829-1847 A.D) the cultural and economic activities flourished in the region.
The year 1834 brought up the spread of education and other social activities in the region. This started with the establishment of an English Medium School at Thiruvanthapuram. During the rule of Avilyam Thirnul (1860-1880) an arts college was established and various English, Malyalam and Tamil Schools were opened. Following the same tradition during the empire of Sir. Moolam Thirunal (1885-1924) the Sanskrit College, Ayurveda College, Law College and Second Grade College for women were established in Thiruvanthapuram. Apart, from these institutions several other educational institutions were opened in the several parts of the Thiruvanthapuram.
In the year 1904 Shri. Moolan Assembly came into existence by winning majority in the state assembly, the activities of Indian National Congress got expanded in the region and in the several parts of Kerala. In 1938 the political conference of Congress was held in the city under the chairmanship of Dr. Pattabi Sitaramaiah.
With the merger of Travancore in the Indian Union after Independence various political changes took place in the region.
Statistical Data
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Area (in Sq.km)
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2,192
|
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Population
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3,234,707
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Males
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1,571,424
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Females
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1,663,283
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Sex ratio : Females/1000
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1,058
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Density of Population
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1476
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Per Capita Income (in Rs)
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20,484
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Literacy rate
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89.36%; Male 92.68%; Female 86.26%
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Coastal line in km.
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78
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Water bodied area in ha.
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5,525
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Forest area in ha.
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49,861
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Assembly Constituencies
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1. Varkala
2. Attingal
3. Kilimanoor
4. Vamanapuram
5. Aryanad
6. Nedumangadu
7. Kazhakuttam
8. Thiruvananthapuram North
9. Thiruvananthapuram West
10. Thiruvananthapuram East
11. Nemam
12. Kovalam
13. Neyyattinkara
14. Parassala
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Geography: Thiruvananthapuram, is located on north latitudes 8017' and 8054' and east longitudes 76041' and 770 17'.
Unlike the other districts of Kerala, Thriuvanthapuram is also be divided into three geographical regions-highlands, midlands and lowlands. The highland region comprises mainly of mountains. Surrounded by the east and northeast by the mountain ranges of the Western Ghats, this area is ideal for major cash crop plantations like rubber, tea, cardamom and other spices. Timber trees like teak, rose wood, etc. are grown in this region. The midland region, lying between the Western Ghats and the lowlands, is made up of small and tiny hills and valleys. There is a huge potential for agriculture in this region. This region is rich in producing crops like paddy, tapioca, spices and cashew. The low land is comparatively narrow and comprises of rivers, deltas and seashore and is densely covered with coconut palms.
Tourism Destinations: Being the capital of the state, it is also a place of tourist’s delight. The worth visiting sites in and around the district are: Shree Padhmanabhaswamy temple, Kovalam, Vizhinjam, Ponmudi, Veli lagoon, The Kanakakunnu Palace, Kanyakumari, Varkala etc.
For more information about Tourist Destinations of Thiruvanthapuram, explore here
Connectivity: The district is well connected by all the means of transport:
Airways: Thiruvanthapuram is connected to almost all the countries in the Gulf, besides being well connected to the rest of India. South East Asia is connected through a daily air-link to Singapore.
Railways: Thiruvananthapuram is an important Railway Station. There are daily trains to Delhi, Bombay, Chennai, and Bangalore and local train services to all points in Kerala.
Roadways: Thampanoor is the main bus terminal in Thiruvananthapuram. The city is well linked by state and national highways to important cities of the country. KSRTC operates luxury super-fast buses to important destinations within the state and also to neighboring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Private buses and taxis are available for internal transport within the city. A well maintained network of state and national highways connect the city with almost all parts in the state and with the neighboring states.
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