The city of Thiruvananthapuram has been the centre of cultural activities of Kerala (India) from the time it was made capital of Travancore in 1745. The capital city is a major intellectual and artistic center. The Thiruvananthapuram Museum and Thiruvananthapuram Zoo were started during the reign of Swathi Thirunal (1813–1847) and are one of the oldest of their kind in India.[1] The city's libraries include the Trivandrum Public library, which was started in 1829.[2] The Swathi Thirunal College of Music and 'College of fine arts' are the leading institutions related to music and arts.
- ^ "Trivandrum Public Library". Swathi Thirunal related institutions. C-DIT. Retrieved 30 September 2006.