The capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram, which is very popular for India's rich cultural heritage and modern progress. Thiruvananthapuram is located in the southern west part of the country. The place is much popular for its vibrant metropolis and serves as the largest city in Kerala.
The city is rich in culture and has a fascinating history. From the historic temple to the beautiful beaches, the city has its own char which makes it quite unique. Thiruvananthapuram's historical roots, geographical importance, cultural riches, and economic contributions to Kerala show us a major part of what Kerala actually is.
History and Significance
Talking about Thiruvananthapuram's history is quite popular in Kerala. This region was once popular with Anantan Kadu, which has a mythological background.
According to legend, it was the site where a divine child, believed to be an incarnation of Vishnu, was found. This led to the construction of the Padmanabhaswamy temple, which now became a well-known landmark.
The city's political history was largely independent from the rest of Kerala. While the Chera dynasty ruled much of the Malabar Coast, Thiruvananthapuram was part of the Ay dynasty, which had closer ties to the Pandya dynasty of Madurai. The city experienced various changes in governance over the centuries.
What is the Geographical Location of Thiruvananthapuram?
Thiruvananthapuram is located adjacent to the Indian West coast and is on the southernmost part of the mainland of India.
The geographical size of the city is 250 km2 and the altitude mean of the city is 16 ft above sea level. On the west, it lies bordering the Arabian Sea while on the east it is the Western Ghats range.
The city has more than seven hills with the highest point at the observatory which is at a height of 60 meters. With regard to geographical features, Thiruvananthapuram has little variation from normal sea level to 2 miles but from 0 – 50 miles the altitude differences vary up to 6,083 feet.
The immediate area of the city comprises artificial surfaces, cropland, trees and shrubs, while water and related features comprise the wider region.
Economic Importance of the Capital City
If there is any city that is playing a very crucial role in the economy of Kerala it is Thiruvananthapuram. Today Technopark is the largest and first IT park of India, which is also very helpful in providing employment to the youths of the city.
It has about 470 firms on its roll and some of the global players are Infosys, Oracle and Tata Consultancy Services where over 70,000 professionals are working. The current development plans of the park touch on the creation of another 80,000- 100,000 individuals new jobs. Apart from IT the main sectors contributing to the economy of Thiruvananthapuram are tourism, education and agriculture.
Lately, the city has become popular in medical tourism; many Ayurveda centers can be found in the city. Agriculture is still a major industry and Rubber, Coconut & Tapioca are the most common products. Tertiary sector contributes most to the city’s economy; it contributes more than the state average.
Thiruvananthapuram transformed from a small principality into a dynamic capital of Kerala. The rich history, the totem location of the city and cultural diversities are some of the factors that have shaped the aspect of identification of the city in the region.
As an administrative city, information technology hub to an extent and traveler’s paradise, the city has a place in contributing to the economic growth of the state with other cities of Kerala.
Over the coming years, Thiruvananthapuram is going to experience further development by increasing its growth rate. A memorable combination of classic and progressive ideas of what the city’s further development should embrace, the city and its focus on education and IT industry outline its successful future.
If it progresses ahead, Thiruvananthapuram could retain its identity as the nonpareil district of Kerala; besides continuing to play a significant role in the script of the success of Kerala.
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