Thiruvananthapuram (Malayalam: തിരുവനന്തപുരം Tiruvaṉantapuram, IPA: [t̪iruʋənən̪t̪əpurəm]), formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Kerala. It is on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland. Referred to by Mahatma Gandhi as the "evergreen city of India", it is characterised by its undulating terrain of low coastal hills and busy commercial alleys. With a population of 957,730 inhabitants Thiruvananthapuram contributes nearly 80% of the state's software exports and is a major IT hub.