Thiruvananthapuram has been the capital of present-day Kerala and the former kingdom of Travancore since 1956. The city has been a seat of political power for several centuries. It is also the most populous city in Kerala and is located on the west coast of India, literally a stone’s throw from the southernmost tip of the country
Thiruvananthapuram, built on seven coastal hills with the Arabian Sea on one side and the Western Ghats on the other, is an important centre of IT and also a centre for higher education and scientific research and advancement – with the University of Kerala, the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and the National Centre for Earth Science Studies all based here. India’s first IT technopark and the first infotainment industrial park have also been built here. The Indian Air Force’s Southern Air Command, the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station and the future Vizhinjam International Seaport are also located here.
Apart from these, Thiruvananthapuram is a major tourist destination known for its palaces, temples and museums as well as its beaches, hills and wildlife sanctuaries.