Thiruvananthapuram is the southern-most district of the state of
Kerala. It is bordered by
Kollam District in the north,
Tirunelveli District and
Kanyakumari District of the state of
Tamil Nadu in the east and south and
the Arabian Sea in the west. The district covers an area of 2,192 sq km. Thiruvananthapuram has internationally renowned beaches, historic monuments, cultural institutions, palaces, art galleries, backwater stretches and a rich cultural heritage. The district once formed a part of Travancore, which had its capital at Padmanabhapuram, now in Tamil Nadu. The district has a rich variety of plants ranging from rare orchids, medicinal plants, and spices to hedge plants, tuber crops, plants yielding edible fruits and fiber yielding plants.