Thiruvananthapuram or Trivandrum is the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala. It was a major spice trading point like other parts of Kerala and its trading tradition is as old as 10th century BC. The city derived its name from the deity at the Sree Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple. According to legend, the word Thiru-Anantha means the town of Anantha - the five headed serpent king. The region came in to prominence under the rule of Marthanda Varma in mid 18th century, who was the founding ruler of the princely state Travancore and the present city was the capital of the state. Though the area was not ever in direct control of British, but the region had undergone a process of reconstruction with the establishment of schools, colleges and hospitals in 19th century. After the independence of India in 1947 and the formation of Kerala state in 1956, the city became its capital.