Introduction :

Thiruvananthapuram is the state capital with an International Air port which makes it the gateway point to Kerala. Named after anantha,the thousand-headed serpent of Hindu Mythology,this is an ancient city with trading links that brought it into close contact with rest of the world.the Sevenhills over which the city is spread and the great variety of lovely old colonial and traditional Kerala building give Thiruvananthapuram a special ambience.

Physiography :

Bounded on the east and north east by the mountain ranges of Western Ghats, in the south by the fertile rice bowl district of Kanyakumary presently in the State of Tamiln Nadu and on the west by the Arabian Sea,Trivandrum District has three major rivers,Neyyar,Karamana and Vamanapuram.

The Western Ghats which range along the Eastern and north Eastern boarders constitute the highland and it is covered by thick forest in its upper ranges while in the lower ranges forest are interspersed with plantations.The lowland bordering the sea is densely covered with cocunt palms. The soil in this region is sandy. Paddy is sufficiently grown here.In the midland region are vallys,isolated hills and the plains leading to the forestclad lands this region is rich in aggricultural products like paddy,tapioca,spices and cashew.

The chief backwaters of the district are the Veli and the Kadinamkulam,the Anchuthengu and the Edava Nadayara canals.At Varkala where there is a cliff formation,two tunnels of 282meters and 721 meters where constructed in 1877 and 1880 respectively. besides these systems of backwaters and canals there is a fresh lake at Vellayani.