Thiruvananthapuram district is located in the southernmost part of the Indian state of Kerala. In the 16th century, the region came under the rule of the Travancore Kingdom, which lasted until the Indian independence in 1947. 

During the British colonial period, Thiruvananthapuram was a princely state under the protection of the British government. It was ruled by the Maharaja of Travancore, who was a vassal of the British government. The British established a residency in Thiruvananthapuram to manage their affairs in the region. 

The city of Thiruvananthapuram served as the capital of Travancore and later the state of Kerala. The city played an important role in the Indian independence movement, with prominent leaders like C. Kesavan and C. V. Raman Pillai hailing from the region. Thiruvananthapuram was also an important center for education, with the establishment of institutions like the University of Travancore (now the University of Kerala) and the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER).The region also saw the establishment of important institutions like the Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, which has made significant contributions to the field of medical research.