History of Thiruvananthapuram

[Tri Man]

Thiruvananthapuram the capital city of Kerala State, has a continuous cultural heritage of more than thousand years. It was an important town during the period of the kingdom of Venad (between the 12th century and 18th century) and later it became the capital of Travancore state from 1800 AD. The genesis of the town was around Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple which had been referred to in an inscription of the 11th century AD. Even
before that the Aryasala temple, also known as Kanthallur Sala Mahadevar temple, had been referred to in an inscription of the 9th century AD. The region in between these temples and the surrounding area of these temples gradually developed as a town from 12th century AD. The rulers of Venad patronized all these temples and allowed the growth of markets like
Pazhayangadi (Old market) and Chalai Bazaar. They constructed palaces and offices inside the mud fort, which they built around the Padmanabha Swamy temple. At the same time there were also settlements in coastal areas and interior regions. After the shifting of the capital of Venad or Travancore around 1800 the town began to grow in all directions making
the temple and the fort (which had been converted as a granite – cum – burnt brick – cum –mud fort) almost in the middle. The first step to the development of the town was the construction of the Public Office Buildings or Hajur Kachery, which later became popular as Secretariat after the Independence. Gradually the then rulers planned and constructed other
buildings to boost up public administration, education and health. Though the first public building constructed by the then government with the direction of the British engineers was in Western style all the subsequent buildings were built in a blended style of Eastern and Western style of architecture – as a result of the advice given by the then Madras Governor Lord Napier who attended the inaugural function of the Public Office Buildings in 1865. Thus
we inherit a number of beautiful buildings some of which were given a peculiar brick red colour like the Napier Museum and its two entrance gates, University College, Fine Arts College, Govt Arts College, Old S.M.V School Building (Present District Court Buildings at Vanchiyoor), and the traditional style buildings like General Hospital, Ayurveda College Hospital, Malayalam Department of University College etc.
Along with the construction of office buildings residential areas were also developed in the surrounding area of the above public buildings. Simultaneously Temples, Churches and Mosques also have been constructed in the suburban areas of the temple town of Thiruvananthapuram, which gradually developed as a cosmopolitan township.

Thiruvananthapuram has been the capital of the princely state of Travancore and continues to be the capital of Kerala.
From time immemorial, Thiruvananthapuram has been a centre of learning. It is said that ‘Kanthalloor Sala’ which could be equated to the Nalanda and Takshasila existed in the city.17th-century royal orders pertaining to the temple refer to the temple as `Jwala Mahadevar'. However, there are historical documents that put the origin of the temple deeper into antiquity. According to Mathilakam records (official records of the Padmanabhaswamy temple), Kanthalloor dates back to the 7th century AD. Chola inscriptions from the time of Rajaraja Chola (985-1016 AD) also refer to Kanthalloor. An inscription belonging to Rajendra Chola, discovered on the rear wall of the sanctum sanctorum, says that the temple came into existence before 1045 AD.
Once there happened a bloody, cataclysmic battle at the Kanthalloor Sala, fought with the Chola king on one side and the Chera and Pandya kings on the other, in which all three perished.

Source : Various Resources and Reports on History of Ananthapuri

[kirantvm]

Know more about history of Travancore

http://www.sutmc.com/

SUTMC, Sree Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Chithralayam has been set up at Ranga Vilasam Palace to provide the public with an authentic perspective on the glorious past of Travancore.

Conceived by His Highness Sree Uthradom Tirunal Marthanda Varma Maharaja, the museum’s collection includes (besides valuable articles possessed by the Royalty) rare photographs taken by His Highness, himself a connoisseur of photography, and other ace photographers like William D’Cruz, N P Hariharan, S. Rajan and B Jayachandran (Malayala Manorama). These are set in traditional royal ambience

360 degree tour of the muesuem

http://www.sutmc.com/sites/default/f...rtualtour.html

http://www.sutmc.com/sites/default/f...rtualtour.html

http://www.sutmc.com/sites/default/f...rtualtour.html

Sample chitrhams...

http://sutmc.com/sri-chitra-chamber

Worth to see guys dont miss it...

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Courtesy: Mathrubhumi

[Viveks]

[Tri Man]

The photos could not copied because of large number.....

just go through the links to see and feel the Trivandrum of the past,....



http://chitrareliquary.wordpress.com...ry/travancore/

http://chitrareliquary.wordpress.com...e-native-life/

http://chitrareliquary.wordpress.com...uncategorized/

Source : http://chitrareliquary.wordpress.com/

[ajithv]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[ajithv]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


© Satish Pandiyattil @Flickr

[Tri Man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHEpu...layer_embedded

[Arun Mohan]

Trivandrum History

[Tri Man]

Kingdom of Travancore (pronounced /ˈtrævəŋkɔər/; Malayalam: തിരുവിതാംകൂര്*, tiruvitāṁkūr ? [t̪iɾuʋit̪aːɱkuːr]) was a princely state in the Indian subcontinent, with its capital at Trivandrum (now Thiruvananthapuram) ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. It comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, the Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of Tamil Nadu. Its ruler was accorded a 19-gun salute by the British Empire. Maharaja Marthanda Varma is usually credited as the founder of "modern Travancore". The state's flag was red with a silver, dextrally-coiled, sacred conch shell (Turbinella pyrum). After India's independence in 1947, Travancore and the princely state of Cochin merged on 1 July 1949 to form the Indian state of Travancore-Cochin. Later Travancore-Cochin joined with the Malabar district of the Madras State (modern day Tamil Nadu), on 1 November 1956, to form the Indian state of Kerala. The last Maharajah was Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma and the last Dewan was PGN Unnithan.



Travancore was located in present day southern Kerala. The rulers of this state were named Sree Padmanabhadasan - servant of the Deity, Padmanabha Swamy, an aspect of Lord Vishnu. The former Kingdom's geography is defined by three natural terrains - a coastal area to the west, a midland in the centre and mountain peaks as high as 9,000 feet on the east.



Marthanda Varma was a powerful ruler who expanded the Kingdom from Kanyakumari in the South to Idappally in the North. He signed a treaty with the British East India company and with their help destroyed the power of the eight feudal land lords (Ettuveetil Pillamar) and the Ettara Yogam who supported the Thampi sons of the previous King Rajah Rama Varma, Travancore Royal Family followed the Nair "Marumakkathayam" system, so inheritance went to the sister's children, instead of the children of the king. In successive battles, he defeated and absorbed the Kingdoms right up to Cochin including Attingal, Kollam, Kayamkulam, Kottarakara, Kottayam, Changanassery, Meenachil, Poonjar and Ambalapuzha. He succeeded in defeating the Dutch East India Company during the Travancore–Dutch war (1739-1753 A.D.), the most decisive engagement of which was the Battle of Colachel (10 August 1741) in which the Dutch Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy was captured. On January 3, 1750 A.D., (Makaram 5, 725 M.E.), he dedicated his Kingdom to his tutelary deity Sri. Padmanabha (Lord Vishnu) of Trivandrum (the Trippadidaanam) and from then on the rulers of Travancore ruled the Kingdom as the servants of Sri Padmanabha (Padmnabhadasan). In 1753 A.D., the Dutch signed a peace treaty with the Maharajah. With the battle of Ambalapuzha (3 January 1754) in which he defeated the union of the deposed Kings and the Raja of Cochin, Marthanda Varma crushed all opposition to his rule. In 1757 A.D., a treaty was concluded between Travancore and Cochin, ensuring peace and stability on the Northern border. He organised the tax system and constructed many irrigation works. Admiral Eustachius De Lannoy, who was captured as a Prisoner of war in the famous Battle of Colachel was appointed as the Senior Admiral (Valiya kappithan)and he modernised the Travancore army by introducing firearms and artillery. Ayyappan Marthanda Pillai served as the "Sarvadi Karykar" (Head of the Army Nair pattalam). Marthanda Varma introduced titles such as Chempaka Raman and honours such as Ettarayum Koppum to honour the Lords and his relatives who had remained faithful to him during his problems with the Ettuveetil Pillamar. His able minister during his entire military career was Ramayyan Dalawa.

Source : http://http://www.twcenter.net/forum...d.php?t=401881

Kingdom of Travancore is featured in Empire Total War Game along with other major princely states of Mysore,Hyderabad and Rajputs.

[ajithv]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Deepika

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Beyond all borders



The people outside the palace gates felt disowned: They were once Malayalis, but when the Kanyakumari district shifted states, they came to be called Tamilians.

Perhaps on the days they wanted to belong to Kerala, they’d step inside the Padmanabhapuram Palace and the six-and-a-half acres it stands on. For the palace complex still belonged to Kerala, holding within it the tales of the centuries of kings who once lived there, prominent among them Marthanda Varma.

It was in 1550 AD that the first of the palace buildings was built, says my guide Rajeshwari as she takes me on a tour of the palace. Extensions were made on all sides over the years until the rooms numbered 127.

Like most ancestral homes in Kerala, the palace opens with a poomukham (reception area). The importance of the number nine in architecture is seen at the poomukham itself, with the roof bearing 90 flower designs. The councillors’ chamber upstairs bears nine lotus flowers on its ceiling; another room has 63.

The most popular ruler to take up residence in the palace was Marthanda Varma, and legends say that he fought several attempts on his life to ascend the throne. A hall full of paintings attests to the king’s story: From his early days of hiding from the Ettuveetil Pillamar (an opposing group of nobles) to his becoming the king and killing them all.

It was his nephew, the next ruler — Dharma Raja Karthika Thirunal Varma — who last ruled from the Padmanabhapuram Palace. He shifted the capital of Thiruvithamkoor, then a princely state, from Padmanabha-puram to Thiruvananthapuram.

Numerous they might have been, but every room in the palace had a purpose. The councillors’ chamber was where the king and his ministers would discuss important decisions. Two large halls, called oottupura, were built for annadaanam — the serving of lunch to 2,000 poor Brahmins every day.

The upparika malika that housed the king’s room had the treasury on its lower level, and the meditation and puja rooms on the floor above. “The idea was that money always comes last, and God first,” Rajeshwari says.

Today visitors from near and far enter, and leave, the palace. The centuries have changed the old borders and brought new ones. What was once 186 acres of Travancore rule has been reduced to 6.5 acres of tourism.

Source: Deccan Chronicle

[RajeshVR]

Travancore Kingdom and its Maharajas

Travancore was a small kingdom on the Southern side of present Kerala State. The names of some of the kings (Rajas) who ruled this kingdom are remembered not only because they were kings, but also because they were masters in specific fields. Marthanda Varma, Dharma Raja, Swathy Thirunal and Sri Chithira Thirunal are some among them. Following is the full list of the rulers with the the periods they were in power.

1.Anizham Thirunal Marthanda varma (1729 – 1758)
2.Karthika Thirunal Rama varma (Dharma Raja) (1758 – 1798)
3.Avittam Thirunal Balarama varma (1798 – 1810)
4.Rani Gouri Lakshmi Bhai (1810 – 1814)
5.Rani Gouri Parvathi Bhai (Regent) (1814 – 1829)
6.Swathi Thirunal Rama varma (1829 – 1846)
7.Uthram Thirunal Marthanda varma (1846 – 1860)
8.Ayiliam Thirunal Rama varma (1860 – 1880)
9.Vishakham Thirunal Rama varma (1880 – 1885)
10.Sreemoolam Thirunal Rama varma (1885 – 1924)
11.Rani Sethulakshmi Bhai (Regent) (1924 – 1931)
12.Sree Chithira Thirunal Bala Rama varma (1931 – 1949)

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi

[25Dude25]

Source: Mathrubhumi