Thiruvananthapuram
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Overview
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala. India's first sounding rocket was launched from Thumba, near the city, in November 1963, with rocket parts famously carried by bicycle.
It was the capital of the Travancore state, and the Sree Padmanabhaswamy temple is at its centre.
The Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thumba is here; Thumba was chosen for India's first rocket launch in 1963 because it lies near the magnetic equator.
Vizhinjam deep-water port is on the city's southern coast.
It is the southernmost state capital of India.
Kovalam beach is nearby.
The city has a large IT park, Technopark.
It is a centre of Malayalam culture.
Geography and key facts
- Capital of Kerala
- Thumba launch, 1963
- Travancore capital
- VSSC; Thumba (1963)
- Vizhinjam port
Why it matters for UPSC
Asked on the space programme.
Note for UPSC
Capital of Kerala. International airport.
Useful for orientation questions and for locating other features relative to the capital.
Asked in PYQs
No question in our Prelims bank names Thiruvananthapuram yet.
Key facts
- Type
- State / UT capital · International airport
- State / UT
- Kerala
- Coordinates
- 8.488°N, 76.953°E
8.480°N, 76.920°E
2 markers on the map
From the Map Explorer data; positions are for orientation.
In the lessons
More state and ut capitals nearby
Other places in Kerala
All state and ut capitals · Revision list · Most asked in PYQs