Thiruvananthapuram (Malayalam:, tiruvaantapura, IPA:[tirunntpurm]( listen)), formerly 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. With nearly 1,000,000 (one million) inhabitants as per the 2011 census, it is the largest and most populous city in Kerala; the wider urban agglomeration has a population of more than 1 million. It is an IT hub of the state with over 80% of the state's software exports. The city houses several central and state government offices and organizations. 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 University of...
