Thiruvananthapuram also known as Trivandrum is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. 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.

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. Anantha is the serpent Shesha on whom Padmanabhan or Vishnu reclines. The temple of Vishnu reclining on Anantha, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy temple remains the iconic landmark of the city.

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 Kerala University, and to many science and technology institutions, the most prominent being the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) and Technopark.

Average temperature in Trivandrum in Celsius.

Summer
Max. 36.2°C, Min. 20.6°C
Winter
Max. 35°C, Min. 18°C

Location: Southwestern tip of India
District Area: 2,192 sq km
Population: 900,000 - Feb 2003
Altitude: 0 ft. Sea Level
Rainfall: 170 cms (May to November)
Season:
February - May: 24-34°C
June - September 22-28°C
October - January 22-32°C
Religion: Hindus, Christians, Muslims
Languages: Malayalam, Tamil and English
Clothing: It is advisable to wear natural fibers or synthetic fiber clothing
Time: +5.30 GMT
STD Code: 0471
ISD Code: +91