city, capital of Kerala state, southwestern India. Thiruvananthapuram is situated on a coastal plain with isolated hills. The community became prominent under Raja Martanda Varma, who made it the capital of his kingdom of Travancore in 1745. The city's former name, Trivandrum, was given by the British and is a contraction of Thiruvananthapuram, its ancient name that was adopted again in the early 21st century. It is the site of the University of Kerala (1937) and its affiliated colleges and technical schools. It also has a museum, zoological gardens, an observatory, and an art gallery. A large fort contains several palaces and a Vaishnava temple, which is a noted pilgrimage centre. Thiruvananthapuram's industries include mineral processing, sugar milling, textiles, and handicrafts. Rice and coconut cultivation and coastal fishing are economically important. It is a rail terminus and road hub and has an airport and a harbour. Pop. (2001) city, 744,983; urban agglom., 889,635.