THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Kerala

Main Attraction: Museum at Thiruvananthapuram

The Museum at Thiruvananthapuram was originally started in the year 1853. In 1855, a Society was organized by His Highness, the Maharaja of Travancore as Patron for the satisfactory functioning of the Museum. It was established with the objective of offering instructions and encouragement in arts and crafts by exhibiting specimens of interest in natural history and products of art and industry. The Museum, in its present precincts was started functioning in 1880. The building was designed by Chisholm, Architect to the Government of Madras and was named after Lord Napier, a Governor of Madras. The architectural beauty of the building is enormous. Three big halls connected by long corridors of four towers, gables, ornamental ceilings, coloured panes and artistically painted walls constitute the main scheme of the building. It houses a rare collection of archaeological and historical artifacts. A beautiful Botanical Garden and Zoological Park were also located in the premises of Museum, attracting hundreds of tourists every day

Brief History

The name, Thiruvananthapuram, means the abode of the sacred snake god Ananthan, on whom Vishnu, the god of Preservation, is believed to be reclining. The old name, Trivandrum, is an anglicised form of the word - Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala State and the District head quarters came into existence as a result of linguistic Reorganisation of States on the 1st November, 1956.

Thiruvananthapuram City and several other places in the District loom large in ancient traditions, folklores and literature. South Kerala, particularly the Thiruvananthapuram District, had in the early past a political and cultural history, which was in one way independent of the rest of the State.

The history of the District is intertwined with the history of the princely State of Travancore. Trivandrum remained as the Capital of this princely State for over two centuries There is little knowledge about the pre-history of the District. Though no paleolithic (old stone age) man lived in this region, some pre-historical antiquities of the neolithic (new stone age) culture and megalithic monuments have been discovered in the District. The archaeological remains of the pre-historic period which comprises of natural or artificial caves were discovered when the Varkala Tunnel was bored. There are a number of archaeological antiquities particularly inscriptions in the District. Almost all the inscriptions and sculptures are found in the various temples located in the District. As in the case of other Coastal Districts, the District had also commercial contacts with many parts of the world. The famous book of ‘Periplus of Erythrean Sea’ mention about Varkala Hills.

Upto the beginning of the 10th Century A.D., the Ays were the leading political power in the area. The disappearance of the Ays as a major political power in the 10th Century A.D., synchronized with the emergence of the rulers of Venad. In 1684, during the regency of Umayamma Rani, the English East India Company obtained a sandy pit of land at Anjengo (Anchuthengu) on the sea coast about 31 kms. North of Thiruvananthapuram with a view to erect a factory and to fortify it. The place had earlier been frequented by the Portugese and later by the Dutch. It was from here that the English gradually extended their domain to the other parts of Travancore.

The modern history begins with Marthanda Varma who is generally known as the ‘Maker of Modern Travancore’ (1729-1758 A.D). Thiruvananthapuram was known as a great centre of intellectual and artistic activities in those days. The accession of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal (1829-1847 A.D) ushered in an epoch of cultural progress and economic prosperity. The beginning of English education was made in 1834 by opening an English School at Thiruvananthapuram. In 1836, an observatory and a charity hospital were established at Thiruvananthapuram. During the reign of Ayilyam Thirunal (1860-1880 A.D), a fully equipped Arts College was started at Thiruvananthapuram besides several English, Malayalam and Tamil schools for boys and girls all over the State. A large Civil Hospital and a Lunatic Asylum were also established. In 1873, the present University College of Thiruvananthapuram was opened. During the period of Sree Moolam Thirunal (1885-1924 A.D) a Sanskrit College, an Ayurveda College, a Law College and a Second Grade College for Women were opened at Thiruvananthapuram. A department for the preservation and publication of oriental manuscripts was also established. One of the significant measures associated with his reign was the inauguration of the Legislative Council in 1888. In 1904, the Sree Moolam Assembly came into being.

The activities of the Indian National Congress echoed in Thiruvananthapuram and other parts of Kerala during the reign of Sree Moolam Thirunal. In 1938, a political conference of the Congress was held in the city under the presidency of Dr. Pattabhi Sitaramaiah.

The period, since the Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama Varma took the reign of administration in 1931, witnessed multifaceted progress. The promulgation of the Temple Entry Proclamation (1936) was worth mentioning. In 1937, a separate University for Travancore was started. This was later re-designated as University of Kerala, following the formation of Kerala State in 1956.

With the accession of Travancore to the Indian Union after independence, the policy of the State Government underwent radical changes. The first popular Ministry headed by Sree Pattom Thanu Pillai was installed in office on March 24, 1948. Consequent on the recommendation of the State Reorganization Commission, the four Southern Taluks of Thovala, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam and Villavancode were merged with Tamil Nadu. The Kerala State came into being on the 1st November, 1956.