The name of City of Thiruvananthapuram, earlier known as Trivandrum, is literally split into"Tiru","Anantha""puram" meaning "The town of Lord ANANTHA". This is really true since the temple is at the heart of the town

The Kings of Travancore (called "Thirunals") have not only promoted art and literature but have themselves been accomplished artists. The most famous of them are Swathi Tirunal who is a well known composer in both Karnatak and Hindustani forms of music, and Raja Ravi Varma the internationally acclaimed painter, well known for inventing paints using natural materials.

Slow paced and laid back city as it may seem to an outsider, it is the political hub of kerala and politically very active and volatile, and also houses many of the Government organizations and quasi government companies, though not a commercial city as other cities in Kerala like Cochin or Kozikode, due to the absence of natural harbours, aside from Vizigham harbour.