?Thiruvananthapuram Kerala • India
View towards the Kerala Legislative Assembly in Trivandrum
Thiruvananthapuram
Coordinates: 8°29′15″N 76°57′07″E / 8.4874, 76.952
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	141.74 km² (55 sq mi) • 5 m (16 ft)
Climate • Precipitation	Am (Köppen) • 1,700 mm (66. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country The Kerala Legislative Assembly is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Indian Standard Time ( IST) is the time observed throughout India and Sri Lanka, with a Time offset of UTC+530. UTC+530 is the Timezone for Indian Standard Time Sri Lanka Time The geography of India is diverse with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts plains rainforests hills and plateaus The elevation of a Geographic location is its height above a fixed reference point often the mean sea level. To help compare different Orders of magnitude and geographical regions we list here areas between 100 km² and 1000 km² The climate of India defies easy generalisation comprising a wide range of weather conditions across a large geographic scale and varied topography In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric Tropical rainy climatic group The regions belonging to this group experience persistent high temperatures which normally do not go below 18°C even in the coolest month The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems It was developed by Wladimir Köppen, a German climatologist 9 in)
District(s)	Thiruvananthapuram
Population • Density	744,739 (2001) • 5,284 /km² (13,685 /sq mi)
Mayor	C. A district is an administrative division of an Indian state or territory. Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology Population density (in agriculture standing stock and Standing crop) is a measurement of Population per unit area or unit volume Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Jayan Babu
Codes • Pincode • Telephone • UN/LOCODE • Vehicle	• 695 xxx • +91 (0)471 • INTRV • KL-01, KL-15 (Nationalised sector/KSRTC),KL-16, KL-19, KL-20, KL-21, KL-22
Website: trivandrum.nic.in

Coordinates: 8°29′15″N 76°57′07″E / 8.4874, 76.952 Thiruvananthapuram [t̪iruʋən̪ɨn̪t̪əpurəm] (help·info) (Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvanantapuraṁ), also known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. A Postal Index Number or PIN or Pincode is the post office numbering or Post code system used by India Post the Indian Postal For the past decade or so telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India UN/LOCODE, the United Nations Code for Trade and Transport Locations, is a geographic coding scheme developed and maintained by United Nations Economic Commission KA-19-P-8488jpg|thumb|270px|Close up of a licence plate used in Mangalore, Karnataka. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. India, officially the Republic of India (भारत गणराज्य inc-Latn Bhārat Gaṇarājya; see also other Indian languages) is a country Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "Evergreen city of India", the city is characterized by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi ( Gujarati: મોહનદાસ કરમચંદ ગાંધી moɦən̪d̪äs kəɾəmʧən̪d̪ gän̪d̪ʱi (2 October 1869 – 30 January With almost 745,000 inhabitants per the 2001 census, it is the largest and most populous city in Kerala; the wider urban agglomeration having a population of about one million.

The city is the state capital and houses many central and state government offices, organizations and companies. Apart from being the political nerve centre of Kerala, it is also a major academic hub and is home to several educational institutions including the University of Kerala, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Technopark and IIST. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; The University of Kerala is an Affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state India. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( VSSC) is located on the Arabian Sea coastline of Trivandrum, the capital city of the Kerala state in India. Technopark is a Technology park in Thiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) Kerala, India dedicated to Electronics, Software The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology ( Hindi: भारतीय अन्तरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी

Contents 1 Origin of name 2 History 3 Geography and Climate 4 Economy 5 Government and politics 6 Infrastructure 7 Transport 8 Demographics 9 Culture 10 Education 11 Media 12 Sports 13 Strategic Importance 14 See also 15 Notes 16 References 17 External links

Origin of name

Thiruvananthapuram means "City of Lord Anantha" in Sanskrit and Malayalam. The name derives from the deity of the Hindu temple at the centre of the city. See also List of deities A deity is a Postulated Preternatural or Supernatural Being, who is always A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical A Hindu temple or Mandir ( Sanskrit: मंदिर is a house of worship for Hindus followers of Hinduism. Anantha is the serpent Shesha on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu reclines. In Hindu ( Vedic) tradition Shesha (Śeṣa in IAST transliteration Devanagari: शेष is the king of all nagas, one of the primal For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific The temple of Vishnu reclining on Anantha, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple remains the iconic landmark of the city. For other meanings see Vishnu (disambiguation. Vishnu ( IAST viṣṇu Devanagari विष्णु (honorific Padmanabhaswamy temple (aka Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple) ( Malayalam: ശ്രീ പദ്മനാഭ സ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം is a famous The city was officially referred to as Trivandrum in English until 1991, when the government decided to reinstate the city's original name Thiruvananthapuram in all languages. However, the city is still referred to as "Trivandrum" informally.

History

Main article: History of Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram is an ancient city with trading traditions dating back to 1000 BC. ^[1][2] It is believed that the ships of King Solomon landed in a port called Ophir (now Poovar) in Thiruvananthapuram in 1036 BC. King Solomon ( Ge'ez: ስለሞን Arabic: ar سليمان, Sulayman, all from the Triliteral root S-L-M, "peace" Poovar is a small coastal village in the Trivandrum district of Kerala state South India. ^[3] The city was the trading post of spices, sandalwood and ivory. A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive for the film industry in India see Cinema of Karnataka Sandalwood is the name for several fragrant Woods and their Essential Ivory is formed from Dentine and constitutes the bulk of the Teeth and Tusks of animals such as the Elephant, Hippopotamus, ^[4] However, the ancient political and cultural history of the city was almost entirely independent from that of the rest of Kerala. The early rulers of the city were the Ays. The Ay kingdom was the earliest ruling dynasty of the southern parts of present-day Kerala in India. With their fall in the 10th century, the city was taken over by the rulers of Venad. For general context see History of Travancore. Venad (véNAd (േവണാട് was one of the eighteen kingdoms of the ancient Cheran ^[5]

The rise of modern Thiruvananthapuram began with accession of Marthanda Varma in 1729 as the founding ruler of the princely state of Travancore (Thiruvithamkoor in the local vernacular). Marthanda Varma (Anizham Thirunal Malayalam, (1706-1758 was the Maharajah of the Indian Princely state of Travancore from 1729 till Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or Thiruvananthapuram was made the capital of Travancore in 1745. The city developed into a major intellectual and artistic centre during this period. The golden age in the city's history was during the mid 19th century under the reign of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal and Maharaja Ayilyam Thirunal. Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16 1813 - December 25 1846 was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore, in India. Maharaja Raja Ramaraja Patmanabha Dasa Vanchipala Sri Sir Ayilyam Thirunal Bala Rama Varma II, GCSI, CIE, Kaiser-i-Hind 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 Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library (ORI & MSS under University of Kerala, is one of the leading centres of Indological Studies in India The first Lunatic Asylum in the state was also 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). Moolam Thirunal was the ruling Maharajah of the Indian state of Travancore between 1885 and 1924 succeeding his uncle Maharajah Visakham Thirunal

The early 19th century was an age of tremendous political and social changes in the city. The Sree Moolam Assembly, established in 1904 was the first democratically elected legislative council in any Indian state. Despite not being under direct control of the British Empire at any time, the city however featured prominently in India's freedom struggle. The British Empire was the largest empire in history and for over a century was the foremost global power. The term " Indian independence movement " is diffuse incorporating various national and regional campaigns agitations and efforts of both Nonviolent and Militant The Indian National Congress had a very active presence in the city. Indian National Congress-I (also known as the Congress Party and abbreviated INC) is a major Political party in India. A meeting of the Indian National Congress presided by Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah was held here in 1938. Dr Pattabhi Sitaramaiah was the President of Indian National Congress in 1938

The period of Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma, who took over in 1931, witnessed many-sided progress. Sree Chithira Thirunal (born as Balarama Varma November 7, 1912 &ndash July 19, 1991) was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely The promulgation of "Temple Entry Proclamation" (1936) was an act that underlined social emancipation. The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Shri Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and his Dewan Sir C This era also saw the establishment of the University of Travancore in 1937, which later became the Kerala University. The University of Kerala is an Affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state India.

With the end of the British rule in 1947, Travancore chose to join the Indian union. The first popular ministry headed by Pattom Thanu Pillai was installed in office on 24 March 1948. Pattom A Thanu Pillai (b Thiruvananthapuram on July 15, 1885 - d Events 1401 - Mongol emperor Timur sacks Damascus. 1603 - James VI of Scotland Year 1948 ( MCMXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the 1948 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1949, Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Thiru-Kochi, the state formed by the integration of Travancore with its northern neighbour Kochi. Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India. It was created on July 1 1949 by the merger of two former Princely The king of Travancore, Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma became the Rajpramukh of the Travancore-Cochin Union from July 1, 1949 until October 31, 1956. Travancore or Thiruvithaamkoor ( Malayalam: തിരുവിതാങ്കൂര്‍ "Thiru" (respectful prefix which suggests either royal or Sree Chithira Thirunal (born as Balarama Varma November 7, 1912 &ndash July 19, 1991) was the last ruling Maharaja of the Princely Rajpramukh was an administrative title in India which existed from India's independence in 1947 until 1956. Travancore-Cochin or Thiru-Kochi is a former state of India. It was created on July 1 1949 by the merger of two former Princely "July 1st" redirects here For the Ayumi Hamasaki song see H (song. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 445 BC – Ezra reads the Book of the Law to the Israelites in Jerusalem (see Nehemiah 91 NLTse Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. When the state of Kerala was formed on November 1, 1956, Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of the new state. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.

With the establishment of Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS) in 1962, Thiruvananthapuram became the cradle of India's ambitious space programme. Thumba is a fishing village near Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala, India. The first Indian space rocket was developed and launched from the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) located in the outskirts of the city in 1963. The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( VSSC) is located on the Arabian Sea coastline of Trivandrum, the capital city of the Kerala state in India. Several establishments of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) were later established in Thiruvananthapuram. ^[6]

A major milestone in the city's recent history was the establishment of Technopark—India's first IT park—in 1995. Technopark is a Technology park in Thiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) Kerala, India dedicated to Electronics, Software ^[7] Technopark has developed into the largest IT Park in India and third largest in Asia and is home to IT giants like Infosys and TCS, employing around 12,500 people in close to 110 companies. Infosys Technologies Limited () is a multinational Information technology services company headquartered in Bengaluru, India. ^[8] This placed Thiruvananthapuram on the IT map of India and it is today one of the most promising in the country in terms of competitiveness and capability. ^[9]

Geography and Climate

Thiruvananthapuram is built on hills by the sea shore and is located at 8.5° N 76.9° E on the west coast, near the southern tip of mainland India. Ponmudi (The Golden Peak is a hillstation in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in South India. The city and the suburbs covers an area of about 250 square kilometers, sandwiched between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats ( Kannada ಸಹ್ಯಾದ್ರಿ Marathi / Konkani - सह्याद्री Sahyadri Malayalam സഹ്യപര്‍വ്വതം The Arabian Sea ( Arabic: بحر العرب transliterated: Baḥr al-'Arab Sanskrit: सिन्धु सागर transliterated: The average elevation is 16 ft from the sea level.

The area can be divided into two geographical regions, the midlands and the lowlands. The midland region comprises low hills and valleys adjoining the Ghats. The lowland is a narrow stretch comprising shorelines, rivers and deltas, dotted with coconut palms. Vellayani lake, biggest fresh water lake in the district is in the suburbs of the city. The major rivers that flow through the city are the Karamana river, and the Killi river. Karamana is a suburb of Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, India.

There are highlands, which form the eastern suburbs of the city. The highest point in the district is the Agasthyarkoodam which rises 1890 m above sea level. Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. Agastya Mala (also known as Agastyarkoodam or Agasthyakoodam) is a peak within Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of South The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International Ponmudi and Mukkunimala are hill-resorts near the city. Ponmudi (The Golden Peak is a hillstation in the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala in South India.

Climate
The city has a tropical climate and therefore does not experience distinct seasons. The mean maximum temperature 34 °C and the mean minimum temperature is 21 °C. The humidity is high and rises to about 90% during the monsoon season. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months ^[10] Thiruvananthapuram is the first city along the path of the south-west monsoons and gets its first showers in early June. A monsoon is a seasonal prevailing wind which lasts for several months The city gets heavy rainfall of around 1700 mm per year. The city also gets rain from the receding north-east monsoons which hit the city by October. The dry season sets in by December. December, January and February are the coldest months while March, April and May are the hottest. The winter temperature comes down to about 18 °C and summer temperatures can sometimes go as high as 35 °C. ^[11]

Climate chart for Thiruvananthapuram
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
26   29 23	21   29 23	33   31 24	125   31 25	202   29 24	306   28 24	175   28 24	152   28 24	179   29 24	223   29 24	206   29 24	65   29 23
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm source: Weather Underground
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1   84 73     0. 8   84 73     1. 3   88 75     4. 9   88 77     8   84 75     12   82 75     6. 9   82 75     6   82 75     7   84 75     8. 8   84 75     8. 1   84 75     2. 6   84 73 temperatures in °F • precipitation totals in inches

Economy

Main article: Economy of Thiruvananthapuram

The economy of Thiruvananthapuram city was earlier based on the tertiary sector with about 60% of the workforce being employed as government servants. The economy of the city is mainly focused on Tourism & Leisure, Information Technology, Plantation-Rubber Cofee & Tea and Education Technopark is a Technology park in Thiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) Kerala, India dedicated to Electronics, Software Large scale industrial establishments are low compared to other south Indian state capitals like Chennai and Bangalore. Bangalore ( officially Bengaluru ( Kannada: ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. At present the economy is growing with the contributions from more professionals in the fields of IT, and Medical/Bio-Technology. The city contributes 80% of software exports from the state. The opening of many private Television channels in the state, made Thiruvananthapuram the home of several studios and related industries. India's first and only animation park is situated here.

Since the establishment of Technopark in 1995, Thiruvananthapuram has steadily grown into a competitive IT centre. Technopark is a Technology park in Thiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) Kerala, India dedicated to Electronics, Software The city was rated as the best 2nd tier metro with IT/ITES infrastructure, and second in terms of availability of human talent. ^[9][12] Technopark houses global majors like NeST (Network Systems & Technologies), Infosys, TCS, McKinsey & Co., Ernst & Young, Allianz Cornhill, Tata Elxsi, Toonz, US Technologies, etc. Infosys Technologies Limited () is a multinational Information technology services company headquartered in Bengaluru, India. McKinsey & Company is a global Management consulting firm that focuses on solving issues of concern to senior management Ernst & Young is one of the largest Professional services firms in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC, SE (formerly AG,,) is a large Financial services provider headquartered in Munich, Germany. Tata Elxsi Limited ( NSE: TATAELXSI is a technology company of the Tata Group in India. UST Global (previously known as US Technology Resources LLC is a provider of end-to-end IT services and business process outsourcing solutions for Global 2000 companies The park has around 110 companies employing over 12,500 professionals. ^[13] With the expansion plans to be completed in 2007–08, this figure is to rise to about 30,000. With the completion of the 600,000 ft² Thejaswini, Technopark has become the largest IT Park in India. The works in progress include 400,000 ft² TCS Peepul Park and TCS Development Centre. Peepul Park is partly operational. Work on the 460,000 ft² Leela IT building, IBS Campus and Tata Elxsi D&D Centre has commenced while that on the US Tech Campus and Infosys campus is due to commence shortly. ^[14]

Tourism has also contributed heavily to the economy of Thiruvananthapuram. Foreign tourists generally use Thiruvananthapuram as a hub to explore the highly promoted tourism industry of the state of Kerala. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; ^{[15] [16]} Thiruvananthapuram is ranked first in the number of foreign tourists visiting Kerala. ^[17] It is also a major destination for chartered flights to India for Medical tourism, as there are more than fifty recognised Ayurveda centres in and around the city. Medical tourism (also called medical travel, health tourism or global healthcare is a term initially coined by travel agencies and the Mass media This is primarily due to Ayurveda's immense popularity in the West. The term Western world, the West or the Occident ( Latin: occidens -sunset -west as distinct from the Orient) can have multiple meanings Medical tourism is further promoted by the recuperation facilities available at the beach resorts and hill stations nearby.

There are around 20 government owned and 60 privately owned medium and large scale industrial units in Thiruvanathapuram. The major employers are the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), Milma, Keltron, Travancore Titanium and Hindustan Latex, all government owned. "Milma" is the popular name given to Kerala Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (KCMMF Keltron, Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation Limited is a public sector electronics company located in Kerala, a state in India. Hindustan Latex Limited (HLL is a large manufacturing company in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. There are also about 30,000 small scale industrial units employing around 115,000 people. Traditional industries include handloom and coir. ^[18]

Commercial activity is quite low mainly due to the under-development of ports. Vizhinjam ( IPA:) is a small coastal Town in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala state South India. However, this is expected to change with the construction of the proposed mega Deep Water Container Transshipment Port at Vizhinjam. Vizhinjam ( IPA:) is a small coastal Town in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala state South India. ^[19] Situated close to the city, Vizhinjam is very close to international shipping routes and the East-West shipping axis and hardly require maintenance dredging. Dredging is an Excavation activity or operation usually carried out at least partly underwater in shallow seas or Fresh water areas with the purpose of ^[20] Other major organizations of economic interest are the Chithranjali Film Complex, Kinfra Apparel Park, Kinfra Film and Video Park, Kerala High-tech Industries (KELTECH), Kerala Automobiles and the English Indian Clays Ltd.

See also: Thiruvananthapuram Tourist spots

Government and politics

The city is administered by the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation headed by the Mayor. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum district ( Kerala, India) holds a number of tourist spots The city council is democratically elected and comprises 84 members representing the different city wards. Several agencies work under or in partnership with the Corporation including the Trivandrum Development Authority (TRIDA) and Trivandrum Road Development Corporation.

Most of the city comes under the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha constituency. The Lok Sabha (also titled the House of the People, by the Constitution) is the directly elected Lower house of the Parliament of India Some northern wards of the city come under the Chirayinkeezhu constituency. The city contributes to six legislative assembly seats namely Kazhakoottam, Thiruvananthapuram North, Thiruvananthapuram West, Thiruvananthapuram East, Nemom and Kovalam. Nemom is a suburb of the city of Trivandrum ( Thiruvananthapuram) capital of Kerala state India.

The city police is headed by a Police Commissioner, an officer of Deputy Inspector General rank in the Indian Police Service. Police Commissioner (or Commissioner of Police) is the title of the chief officer of many law enforcement agencies. Indian police redirects here For other uses see Indian police (disambiguation. The city is divided three police sub-divisions headed by Assistant Commissioners. There are also two traffic sub-divisions. A women's cell and a narcotics control cell also operate in the city. The other units of Thiruvananthapuram city police include Crime Detachment, City Special Branch, Dog Squad, Mounted Police, District Crime Records Bureau, Foreigners Registration Office (FRO), Tourist Police and District Armed Reserve. ^[21] 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 Head Quarters (GHQ) located at Pallipuram. There is also a large army cantonment in Pangode where some regiments of the Indian Army are based. The Indian Army (Bharatiya Thalsena भारतीय थाल्सेना is one of the armed forces of India and has the responsibility for land-based

Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala and hence the state legislative assembly and Secretariat are located here. The Kerala Legislative Assembly is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. The city is also the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram district. Thiruvananthapuram District is the southernmost district of the Indian state of Kerala. The only foreign mission in the city is the Consulate of Maldives. The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching ^[22]

Infrastructure

The city is fully electrified by Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB). The district is divided in to three circles: Transmission circle, Thiruvananthapuram city and Kattakkada. Domestic consumers account for 43% of the total power consumption, or 90 million units per month. Thiruvananthapuram district has one 220 kV, nine 110 kV and six 66 kV electrical substations. The volt (symbol V) is the SI derived unit of electric Potential difference or Electromotive force. An electrical substation is a subsidiary station of an Electricity generation, transmission and distribution system where Voltage A 400 kV substation has just been commissioned by the Power Grid Corporation and will ensure high-quality power supply to the city. ^[23]

The water supply schemes cover 100% within the city limits. It is 84% of the urban and 69% of the rural population, when the district is considered. Peppara and Aruvikkara dams are the main sources of water for distribution in the capital city. Aruvikara is a tourist village and pilgrim centre which is located on the banks of the Karamana River 15 km from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the state The new project plan for improving the water supply with Japan aid covers Thiruvananthapuram city and six suburban panchayats having urban characteristics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. ^[23]

The sewerage system in the city was implemented at the time of the Travancore Kingdom, and modernised in 1938. This scheme for the disposal of sullage and sewage is an underground system. The whole system is controlled by Kerala Water Authority now. The city area is divided in to seven blocks for the execution of the sewerage system, two commissioned in the 1990s and two after 2000. The sewerage is pumped to a stilling chamber at the Sewerage Treatment Plant (STP) located at Valiyathura, and is disposed through sewage farming. Diary Development Department maintains this sewage farm and fodder cultivation is done here. There is no revenue generation from this scheme, and the sewerage system in the city is a service provided to the residents. ^[24]

Transport

Within the city, city buses, taxis and autorickshaws provide means of transportation. Trivandrum Central is the biggest railway station in the state of Kerala in India and one of the important rail hubs in South India An auto rickshaw or tuk tuk ( auto autorick or rickshaw in popular parlance is a Motor vehicle that is one of the chief Scooters, motorcycles and regular bicycles are the favored means of personal transportation.

The intra-city public transport is dominated by the state-owned KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation). Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is the state run bus company in the Indian State of Kerala. There are also private bus services, but are limited in number. The city services of KSRTC operate from six depots namely, the City depot, Vikas Bhavan, Peroorkada, Pappanamcode, Kaniyapuram and Vellanad. These services were revamped in 2005 with the introduction of modern buses and electronic ticketing mechanisms. The central city bus terminal is located at East Fort(Kizhakkekotta), near the Padmanabha Swamy temple. The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city the capital city of Kerala - a South Indian state The Central and Inter State bus station is located 1 km away at Thampanoor. Buses from it go to all major towns and villages in the State as well as big cities in India such as Bangalore and Chennai.

The Central railway station is also located at Thampanoor in the heart of the city, 8 km from the airport. Trivandrum Central is the biggest railway station in the state of Kerala in India and one of the important rail hubs in South India It is a very important terminus which handles over 50 trains daily. The city is well connected by rail to almost all major cities in India. Thiruvananthapuram is the first major city from south along the second longest train route in the world, Kanyakumari to Jammu. History of Jammu Many historians and locals believe that Jammu was founded by Raja Jamboolochan in 14th century BC. A second satellite station was opened in 2005 at Kochuveli, near the International Airport.

Thiruvananthapuram's International Airport, with direct flights from the Middle East, Singapore, Maldives and Sri Lanka is the gateway to the tourism-rich state of Kerala. Trivandrum International Airport is the first international Airport of Kerala, India. Trivandrum International Airport is the first international Airport of Kerala, India. The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East. Singapore The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; Indian Airlines, Jet Airways, Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines and Paramount Airways are the domestic airlines operating from here. Indian Airlines or Indian ( Hindi: इंडियन एयरलाइंस or इंडियन was an airline based in Delhi India and focused primarily Jet Airways is an Airline based in Mumbai, India. It is the country's second-largest international airline after Air India and the largest Kingfisher Airlines is an Airline based in Bangalore, India. It operates 218 flights a day and has a network of 38 destinations with regional and Paramount Airways is an Airline based in Madurai, India. It operates scheduled services mainly targeting business travellers Air India, Air-India Express, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Kuwait Airways, SilkAir, Etihad, Srilankan Airlines, Mihin Lanka, Qatar Airways, Air Arabia and Emirates Airline operate international flights. Air India Limited ( एअर इंडिया) is the national Airline of India with a worldwide network of passenger and cargo services Air-India Express ( एअर इंडिया एक्स्प्रेस) is a low-cost airline subsidiary of Air India based in Mumbai Gulf Air (طيران الخليج is the Flag carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. Oman Air SAOC (الطيران العماني is the national Airline of Oman Kuwait Airways (الخطوط الجوية الكويتية is the national Airline of Kuwait, based in Kuwait City and wholly owned by SilkAir (Singapore Private Limited is an Airline based in Singapore. Established in 2003, Etihad Airways ( Arabic: الإتحاد, ʼal-ʻitiħād) is the Flag carrier Airline of Abu Dhabi SriLankan Airlines Limited (previously known as Air Lanka) is the national airline of Sri Lanka. Mihin Lanka (Private Limited was a low-cost airline based in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Qatar Airways Company QCSC (القطرية is the Flag carrier airline of Qatar, based in Doha. Air Arabia is a low-cost airline based in Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates. Emirates Airline (shortened form Emirates) ( Arabic: طيران الإمارات Tayarān al-Imārāt) is a subsidiary of The Emirates Group There are also two military airports one near the civilian airport and the other at the Southern Air Command of the Indian Air Force at Akkulam. The Indian Air Force (Devanāgarī भारतीय वायु सेना IAST Bhartiya Vāyu Senā is the air arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the Akkulam is a tourist village in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala state South India. Apart from regular scheduled flights, many chartered flights from Europe like First Choice Airways from London Gatwick and Monarch, operating with big jets, land here during the peak tourist season (around December); with Kerala fast becoming a prime tourist destination in India. First Choice Airways is a Charter airline of European tour operator TUI Travel PLC, based in Crawley, England. Gatwick Airport is London 's second largest Airport and the second busiest airport in the United Kingdom after Heathrow. Monarch Airlines is a British charter and scheduled Airline based in Luton, England. Thiruvanthapuram airport's importance is also due to the fact that it is the southernmost airport in India and also the closest (and thus cheapest option) for neighbouring countries like Sri Lanka and Maldives. Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching

The construction of the mega Deep Water Container Trans-shipment Port at Vizhinjam is expected to begin in 2007. Vizhinjam ( IPA:) is a small coastal Town in Thiruvananthapuram District of Kerala state South India. It is to be built in three phases, and expected to be a key competitor in the ports business (especially for container transshipments), with the international shipping lanes between Europe and the Far East very close to the port, and also with major ports like Colombo, Kochi and Tuticorin in close proximity. Colombo ( Sinhala:, ˈkoləmbə Tamil: கொழும்பு is the largest city and commercial capital of Sri Lanka. Thoothukudi (தூத்துக்குடி ^[25]

The exponential growth of the services and IT based sectors coupled with its prominence as the state capital and tourist centre has caused considerable strain on the transport infrastructure of the city. To tackle this crisis, several multi-million dollar construction projects are now underway including the construction of several new underpasses and flyovers, scheduled to be completed by early 2007. A tunnel is an underground passageway The definition of what constitutes a tunnel is not universally agreed upon In the first phase, 42 km of six-lane and four-lane dual carriage ways are being built.

Demographics

The city has a population of 744,739 according to the 2001 census^[26] ( nearly 1. The East Fort is located at the heart of the CBD of Thiruvananthapuram city the capital city of Kerala - a South Indian state 1 million on Nov 2006). Within the city, the density of population is about 5,284 people per square kilometer. The district has a literacy rate of 89. 36%. ^[27] With the sex ratio being 1,037 females to every 1,000 males, there are more women in Thiruvananthapuram than men. The wider urban agglomeration registered a population of about one million in 2001. ^[28]

Hindus comprise of 65% of the population, Christians are about 18% and Muslims about 15%. A Hindu ( Devanagari: हिन्दू is an adherent of the philosophies and scriptures of Hinduism, a set of religious, Philosophical A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth A Muslim (مسلم pronounced Muslim, not Muzlim) is an adherent of the Religion The major language spoken is Malayalam. Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used English and Hindi are also widely understood. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is There is also a prominent minority of Tamil speakers and a few Tulu and Konkani speakers. Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. Konkani ( Devanāgarī: कोंकणी Roman: Konknni Kannada: ಕೊಂಕಣಿ Malayalam: കൊങ്കണി IAST

Unemployment is a serious issue in Thiruvananthapuram, as it is in whole of Kerala. Unemployment occurs when a person is available to work and currently seeking work but the person is without work. The increase in the unemployment rate was from 8. 8% in 1998 to 34. 3% in 2003, thus registering a 25. 5% absolute and a 289. 7% relative increase in five years. ^[29] Thiruvananthapuram taluk ranked third in Kerala with 36. A tehsil ( Urdu: تحصیل) (or tahsil, tahasil, taluka, taluk, taluq, mandal) is an Administrative division 3% of its population unemployed. The in-migration of unemployed from other districts also boost this high unemployment rate. ^[29] Thiruvananthapuram has a high suicide rate in the state, which went up from 17. 2 per lakh in 1995 to 38. A lakh (also written lac, and lackh in an Indian english language news source India PR Wire 8 Oct '08 is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to 5 per lakh in 2002. ^[30] In 2004, the rate came down slightly to 36. 6 per lakh. ^[31]

This apparent paradox—high human development and low economic development—is visible in the entire state of Kerala, and is often dubbed as the Kerala phenomenon or the Kerala model of development. The Kerala model refers to a set of Economic practices developed in India's state of Kerala. ^[32][33]

Culture

Main article: Culture of Thiruvananthapuram

The people of Thiruvananthapuram are now sometimes referred to as "Trivandrumites" , by some tourism sites and blogging community, though the word is not in common use. The city of Thiruvananthapuram has been the centre of cultural activities of Kerala ( India) from the time it was made capital of Travancore in 1745 Kovalam is a Beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala, a state in South India. A blog (a contraction of the term " Web log " is a Web site, usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary descriptions of Thiruvananthapuram has a rich cultural background, with the rulers of erstwhile Travancore taking an active interest in development of arts and culture. Thiruvananthapuram has produced several great artists, the most famous ones being Maharaja Swathi Thirunal^[34], Irayimman Thampi and Raja Ravi Varma. Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16 1813 - December 25 1846 was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore, in India. Ravi Varman Thampi better known as Irayimman Thampi ( Malayalam: ഇരയിമ്മന്‍ തമ്പി) (1783-1862 was a famous Carnatic Raja Ravi Varma ( April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906) was an Indian painter who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes

Maharaja Swathi Thirunal was a great composer and played a vital role in the development of Carnatic music^[35]. Sri Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (April 16 1813 - December 25 1846 was the Maharaja of the state of Travancore, in India. Carnatic music (also spelled Karnatak music or Karnatik music, and originally called Karṇāṭaka sangīta or Karṇāṭaka sangītam in India A music college in his name exists today in the city. Raja Ravi Varma was an illustrious painter with global recognition. Raja Ravi Varma ( April 29, 1848 - October 2, 1906) was an Indian painter who achieved recognition for his depiction of scenes His contributions to Indian art are substantial. The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history religions and philosophies which place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts Most of his famous paintings are preserved at the Sree Chithra Art Gallery in the city. The Padmanabha Swamy Temple and the fort surrounding it, the Napier Museum and Zoo, the VJT hall, Palayam Mosque and Church are among the prominent heritage buildings in the city. The Napier Museum is an art and natural history Museum situated in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, India. The Veli lake and Shankumugham beach are home to various sculptures of noted sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman. Shankumugham Beach is a beach in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, south India. Kanayi Kunhiraman (കാനായി കുഞ്ഞിരാമന്‍ is a famous sculptor from Kanhangad, Kasargode district of Kerala state

Thiruvananthapuram easily disguises itself as a laid back quiet city to the casual observer. State Central Library of Kerala is also known as Trivandrum Public Library. However, beneath it, there is a hum of cultural activity. The city comes to life during the festival season of Onam in August/September, and during the tourist season later in the year. Onam is the state festival of Kerala. It is celebrated in honour of Mahabali, the mythical Asura king of ancient Kerala The state government conducts the tourism week celebrations every year during Onam with cultural events taking place at various centres in the city. The other major events include the annual flower show, the Attukal Pongala, the Aaraat of Padmanabha Swamy Temple, the Beemapally Uroos, Vettucaud Perunaal etc. Attukal is a Hindu pilgrimage centre in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Padmanabhaswamy temple (aka Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple) ( Malayalam: ശ്രീ പദ്മനാഭ സ്വാമി ക്ഷേത്രം is a famous Vettucaud is located on the north-west coast of Thiruvananthapuram. ^[36] The CVN Kalari at East Fort, is world renowned centre for training in Kerala's own martial art the Kalaripayattu. Kalarippayattu or kalaripayattu ( Malayalam കളരിപയറ്റ് kaɭəɾipːajətːɨ̆ is a Martial art with origins in Kerala The Margi centre offers training in many of Kerala's traditional arts including Kathakali. Kathakali (കഥകളി kat̪ʰəkaɭi is a form of highly stylised classical Indian Dance - Drama that is noted for its attractive make-up of characters

The general cuisine of the people is Keralite cuisine, which is generally characterised by an abundance of coconut and spices. The cuisine of Kerala (കേരളീയ പാചകശൈലി is linked in all its richness to the history, geography, demography The Coconut Palm ( Cocos nucifera) is a member of the Family Arecaceae (palm family A spice is a dried Seed, Fruit, Root, Bark or vegetative substance used in Nutritionally insignificant quantities as a Food additive Other South Indian cuisines, as well as Chinese and North Indian cuisines are popular. South Indian culture refers to the culture of the South Indian states of Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala. Chinese cuisine ( Traditional Chinese: 中國菜 Simplified Chinese: 中国菜 originated from the various regions of China and has become widespread in Fast food culture is also very prominent in the city. Fast food is the term given to food that can be prepared and served very quickly

Thiruvananthapuram has numerous libraries, the prominent ones being the State Central Library (Trivandrum Public library, Est. State Central Library of Kerala is also known as Trivandrum Public Library. A public library (also called circulating library) is a Library which is accessible by the Public and is generally funded from public sources (such 1829),^[37] the University Library, Thiruvananthapuram Children's Library, Manuscripts Library and the Centre for Development Studies Library. The British Council and Library (Est. The British Council is a Public Body of the United Kingdom Government which specialises in educational and development opportunities 1964)^[38] was located very near to the Government Secretariat adjacent to the YMCA Hostel. The Young Men's Christian Association (" YMCA " or " the Y " was founded on June 6, 1844 in London England by a young man

Education

Thiruvananthapuram is a major academic hub. The University of Kerala is an Affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state India. The University of Kerala is located here. The University of Kerala is an Affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state India. The city also has several professional education colleges including fifteen engineering colleges, three medical colleges, three Ayurveda colleges, two Homeopathy colleges, six other medical related colleges, and some law colleges. ^[39] Trivandrum Medical College, the premier health institute of the state is also one of the finest in the country. Trivandrum Medical College is located in Thiruvananthapuram city, the capital of Kerala state India. It is being upgraded to the status of an All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). All India Institute of Medical Sciences ( AIIMS) (created 1956 is a Medical college and hospital in India, and is an autonomous institution The College of Engineering, Trivandrum is one of the prominent engineering institutions in the country. The College of Engineering Trivandrum, commonly known as CET, is situated in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of Kerala. The Asian School of Business and IIITM-K are two of the management study institutions in the city, both situated inside Technopark. Management (covering theory practice and scope of management and Manager' (covering the people who manage might help clarify and systematise Technopark is a Technology park in Thiruvananthapuram ( Trivandrum) Kerala, India dedicated to Electronics, Software The Indian Institute of Space Technology, the unique and first of its kind in India, is situated in here.

The schools in the city are classified as Aided, Unaided and Government schools. ^[40] The government schools are run directly by the state government and follow the syllabus prescribed by the state government. The aided schools also follow the state syllabus. In addition to this there are also four Kendriya Vidyalayas run directly by the Central government which follow the CBSE syllabus and private schools run by educational trusts or boards which follow CBSE and/or ICSE syllabus and/or state syllabus. Kendriya Vidyalaya, (Hindi केन्द्रीय विद्यालय ( Hindi for Central School) is a system of Central government schools for children The first International school in Kerala, The Trivandrum International School, was started in Thiruvananthapuram on August 2003. Trivandrum International School is the first International School in the state Kerala (in India) ^[41] The literacy rate in Thiruvananthapuram, according to the 2001 census, is 89. 36 percent; 92. 68 percent among males and 86. 26 percent among females. ^[27]

Science and Technology
Thiruvananthapuram is a Research and Development hub in the fields of space science, information technology, bio-technology, medicine and so on. Space science is an all-encompassing term that describes all of the various science fields that are concerned with the study of the Universe, generally also meaning "excluding Information technology ( IT) as defined by the Information Technology Association of America (ITAA is "the study design development implementation support Biotechnology is Technology based on Biology, especially when used in Agriculture, Food science, and Medicine. Medicine is the art and science of healing It encompasses a range of Health care practices evolved to maintain and restore Human Health by the It is home to a cluster of research centres, which include the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research , Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre(LPSC), Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station(TERLS), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Bio Technology, Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute, ER&DC – CDAC, CSIR – Regional Research Laboratory (RRL), Free Software Foundation (FSF), Regional Cancer Centre(RCC), Sree Chitra Thirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS), Central Tuber Crops Research Institute (CTCRI), Priyadarsini Planetarium, Centre for Development Studies, The Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library, Kerala Highway Research Institute, Kerala Fisheries Research Institute, etc. The Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research ( IISER) are a group of premier institutes being created by the Government of India to promote education and research The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre ( VSSC) is located on the Arabian Sea coastline of Trivandrum, the capital city of the Kerala state in India. The Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre ( LPSC) located at Valiyamala near Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram District Kerala, India Thumba is a fishing village near Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala, India. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology ( Hindi: भारतीय अन्तरिक्ष विज्ञान एवं प्रौद्योगिकी Tropical Botanical Garden and Research Institute ( TBGRI is an autonomous Institute established by the Government of Kerala on 17th November 1979 at Trivandrum, the capital The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ( CSIR) is the premier industrial Research and development (R&D organization in India. National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology - NIST (formerly Regional Research Laboratory Trivandrum) is a constituent laboratory of CSIR The Free Software Foundation ( FSF) is a Non-profit corporation founded by Richard Stallman on 4 October 1985 to support the Free software movement The Regional Cancer Centre (RCC was established in 1981 by the Government of Kerala and Government of India at Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum the capital The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum India is an Institute Centre for Earth Science Studies, India was instituted by the Government of Kerala in 1978 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The Oriental Research Institute & Manuscripts Library (ORI & MSS under University of Kerala, is one of the leading centres of Indological Studies in India

See also: Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram and Schools in Thiruvananthapuram

Media

Main article: Media in Thiruvananthapuram

Daily newspapers are available in English and Malayalam. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum is the capital city of Kerala, India. Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, India has a variety of schools affiliated to State education board Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE and Indian School Thiruvananthapuram has long been a center of media in India. Kerala Chandrika the first newspaper of the State was published from Thiruvananthapuram in the year 1789 A newspaper is a written Publication containing News, information and Advertising, usually printed on low-cost paper called Newsprint. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used The English newspapers with editions from Thiruvananthapuram are The New Indian Express and The Hindu. The New Indian Express is a newspaper with its head office based in Chennai India The Hindu is a single-edition English-language Indian newspaper The major Malayalam newspapers are Mathrubhumi, Malayala Manorama, Kerala Kaumudi, Deshabhimani, and Madhyamam. Mathrubhumi is a prominent Malayalam language newspapers in Kerala state of India. Malayala Manorama (മലയാള മനോരമ is a popular Malayalam daily newspaper in Kerala, India. Kerala Kaumudi is a popular Malayalam newspaper founded in 1911 by C Desabhimani is a Malayalam Newspaper and the organ of the Kerala State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist. Madhyamam is a Malayalam daily newspaper established in 1987.

Most Malayalam TV channels are based in Thiruvananthapuram. The government owned Doordarshan began broadcasting from here in 1981. Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन literally Tele-Vision) is the public television broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati, a public Asianet was the first private Malayalam channel and began operations in 1991. Asianet is one of the leading Television channel companies in Kerala, India. The other channels now based in Thiruvananthapuram are Surya TV, Amrita TV, Kairali TV, Kiran TV (Youth channel of Surya TV) Asianet Plus (Youth channel of Asianet) and People (News and current affairs channel of Kairali TV). Surya TV is a Malayalam television channel in India.Established in 1998 October 7th the channel is the largest entertainment channel in Malayalam Amrita TV, launched in 2005 as a 24-hour Malayalam general entertainment & news satellite channel with a global footprint has been honoured with 26 State Awards for Excellence in Kairali TV is a Malayalam television channel based in Trivandrum, Kerala. Kiran TV is the second Malayalam channel from Sun Network, which is based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The local cable services are provided by Asianet Satellite Communications Limited, Trivandrum Cable Network Pvt Ltd and Siti Cable and they provide a bouquet of local channels in addition to all the Indian channels. List of Indian Satellite Television Channels Hindi Entertainment General DD NATIONAL ZEE TV STAR DTH services are available through Doordarshan Direct Plus Tata Sky and Dish TV. Doordarshan (दूरदर्शन literally Tele-Vision) is the public television broadcaster of India and a division of Prasar Bharati, a public Tata Sky is a DTH satellite television provider in India,using MPEG-2 digital compression technology transmitting using INSAT 4A at 83 Not to be confused with the American service Dish Network. Dish TV is India’s first direct to home entertainment service

All India Radio has an AM (1161 MHz) and an FM (Ananthapuri FM; 101. All India Radio (abbreviated as AIR) officially known as Akashvani ( Devanagari: आकाशवाणी ākāshavānī ( Urdu: اکاشوانی 9 MHz) station for the city. FM radio channels broadcast from Thiruvananthapuram are Ananthapuri FM(AIR) 101. 9 MHz, Big FM 92. 7 MHz, Club FM 94. 3 MHz , Radio Mirchi 98. 3 MHz, S FM 93. 5 MHz and Radio DC(Low power CRS) 90. 4 MHz.

There are over 18 cinema halls which screen films in Malayalam, Tamil, English and Hindi. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum city possess a rich film culture Not to be confused with the Malay language. Malayalam (മലയാളം malayāḷaṁ) is a Dravidian language used Tamil (ta தமிழ்; t̪əmɨɻ is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Hindi ( Devanāgarī: hi [[wiktहिन्दी हिन्दी]] or hi [[wiktहिंदी हिंदी]] IAST:, IPA:) is There are also two film studios in the city, Chithranjali and Merryland. The Kinfra Film and Video Park is located near Technopark and is one of the most advanced film and animation production facilities in India. Leading firms like Prasad Labs have their facilities here. The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK) is held in November/December every year and is acknowledged as one of the leading such events in India. The International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK is a Film festival held annually in Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum the capital city of Kerala, India

The basic telephone services are provided by BSNL, Reliance and Tata Indicom. The cellular networks operating in the city are BSNL CellOne, Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone (all GSM) and also Reliance and Tata Indicom (both CDMA). CellOne is a mobile phone service provided by the Indian public enerprise BSNL. Bharti Airtel, formerly known as Bharti Tele-Ventures Limited (BTVL is India 's largest cellular service provider with more than 75 million subscribers as of August Idea Cellular is a wireless Telephony company operating in various states in India. Vodafone is a Mobile network operator headquartered in Berkshire, England, UK. GSM ( Global System for Mobile communications: originally from Groupe Spécial Mobile) is the most popular standard for Mobile phones in the Code division multiple access ( CDMA) is a Channel access method utilized by various radio communication technologies The number of mobile phone connections has increased exponentially since the late 90s. Major broadband internet services are provided by BSNL DataOne, Asianet Dataline and Siti Cable. Private providers like Relaince, VSNL, Airtel and Satyam also have their presence in the city. The major dial-up internet providers are BSNL NetOne, Kerala Online and KelNet among others. Thiruvananthapuram also holds the distinction of having been the first 100% Digital SSA(Secondary Switching Area) in India.

Sports

The most popular sports are Football and Cricket. Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries ^[42] Basketball, Badminton and Volleyball are also popular, mostly in schools. Basketball is a team Sport in which two teams of five active players each try to score points against one another by propelling a ball through a 10 feet (3 m Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players (singles or two opposing pairs (doubles who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court Volleyball is an Olympic team sport in which two teams of 6 active players (5 normal players and one 'libero' are separated by a net that is usually four feet The Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) is Head Quartered in Thiruvananthapuram. The HQ complex of KCA, have advance facilities including two practice turfs with nets, bowling machines, gymnasium with multi-gym and equipment for aerobic training, lecture hall and library, an astro-turf indoor coaching facility, fully furnished accommodation for coaches and players, a physiotherapy clinic, functional office facilities and guest rooms. KCA has decided to establish an international cricket stadium in the city suburbs. ^[43] The Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium is a prominent football stadium and has hosted both national and international level matches. The University Stadium has hosted two international cricket matches. University Stadium is located in the city of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala and is used for multiple sports - predominantly Football and Cricket This stadium is under University of Kerala and is equipped with synthetic tracks for athletics games. The University of Kerala is an Affiliating university located in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala state India. The city also holds the Central stadium which has facilities for athletics, football, basketball, volleyball and cricket practice nets for upcoming cricketers. The Jimmy George Sports Complex, the GV Raja Sports School and Lakshmi Bhai National College for Physical Education (LNCPE) are the other major sports establishments in the city. Jimmy George (born March 8, 1955 in Peravoor, died November 30, 1987) was a professional Volleyball player from The city also has a Golf Club, one of the oldest in India, and a Tennis Club (Trivandrum Tennis Club/TTC) both located at Kawdiar. The city fields two football clubs SBT-Thiruvananthapuram and Titanium, in the second division of the National Football League. State Bank of Travancore (SBT is a part-SBI owned bank in India. The city also holds a fully equipped modern swimming pool located near the Jimmy George Sports Complex at Vellayambalam. Jimmy George (born March 8, 1955 in Peravoor, died November 30, 1987) was a professional Volleyball player from Many state level and national level swimming competitions are held in this facility. It also holds coaching camps for people interested in learning swimming.

Strategic Importance

Apart from being the capital of India’s most literate^[44] and socially developed state,^[45][46] Thiruvananthapuram is a strategically important city in Southern India. Kerala ( Malayalam: {{Kerala in Malayalam}}; South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union Being the largest city in India’s deep south, it is important for both military logistics and civil aviation in the southern part of the country. It is the headquarters of the Southern Air Command(SAC) of the Indian Air Force. See also Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (Devanāgarī भारतीय वायु सेना IAST Bhartiya Vāyu Senā is the air arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the ^[47] The city is very close to the international shipping route and East-West shipping axis. ^[20] Also, it falls under the international air route. ^[48] Due to the strategic importance of the city, the Indian Air Force authorities have planned to make an aerospace command in SAC. ^[49] The plan for setting up a new "Tri-Service Command", which will integrate all the three forces under a single command, is also in the pipeline. ^[50]

Being the Indian city with the closest air link to the small island-country of Maldives and also Sri Lanka,^[51] the city’s medical and health infrastructure caters to patients from both countries, especially Maldives. The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching ^[52] Exports of perishables and medicines from Trivandrum International Airport run to full capacity on everyday flights to Maldives and Sri Lanka because of this nearness. Trivandrum International Airport is the first international Airport of Kerala, India. The Maldives ( or, or Maldive Islands) officially the Republic of Maldives, is an Island nation consisting of a group of atolls stretching Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka ( Sinhalese:, இலங்கை known as Ceylon before 1972 is an Island Thiruvananthapuram also provides a key link in movement of goods and passengers to and from southern Tamilnadu into Kerala, the state border being just 30 km away. Tamil Nadu ( Tamil:, Country of the Tamils, t̪ɐmɨɻ n̪aːɽɯ is one of the 28 states of India. The city is also important for people from around the world seeking help through Ayurveda medicine and therapy. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other Ayurveda resorts are coming up at a rapid pace along the International Beach of Kovalam and Varkala coast. Ayurveda ( Devanāgarī: आयुर्वॆद the 'science of life' is a system of Traditional medicine native to India, and practiced in other Kovalam is a Beach town on the Arabian Sea in Kerala, a state in South India. WikipediaWikiProject Indian cities for details --> Varkala ( Malayalam: വര്‍ക്കല is a coastal town and Municipality in Thiruvananthapuram

See also

Notes

An International Standard Serial Number ( ISSN) is a unique eight-digit number used to identify a print or electronic Periodical publication.

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