This city offers 'best quality of life' in India according to Sridhar Vembu. It is not Bengaluru or Mumbai

The city is not like larger metros such as Bengaluru and Mumbai, which have faced criticism over traffic congestion, air quality, housing costs.

Zoho founder and chief executive officer Sridhar Vembu has described Kerala’s capital, Thiruvananthapuram, as offering the best quality of life in India, while drawing a contrast with the challenges faced by residents in several of the country’s largest metropolitan cities.

Speaking at a public gathering, Vembu said he consistently enjoyed visiting the city and remarked on how discussions around quality of life in other major urban centres were increasingly marked by dissatisfaction.

“I always love to come to Trivandrum. It’s probably the best quality of life in all of India. I actually don’t like to say it out too loud because I don’t want to jinx it. You know, what is the tweet coming out of Bangalore or Mumbai or even Chennai, every single entrepreneur complaining about quality of life, all of that,” he said.

Vembu also referred to Kerala as a region that has managed to retain certain advantages that have diminished elsewhere. “Kerala has got a nice secret. And so, it’s all over Kerala, I may not say all over. So, that’s something that’s worth preserving,” he added.

Sridhar Vembu, Founder Zoho, about Trivandrum. pic.twitter.com/d1pzuwSoOv

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— Great Kerala (@GreatKerala1) January 19, 2026

Thiruvananthapuram, also known as Trivandrum, is known for its relatively low congestion compared to other Indian capitals, high literacy levels, and strong public health indicators. The city combines administrative importance as the seat of the Kerala government with a growing technology sector anchored by Technopark, one of India’s largest IT parks. It also benefits from a stable civic infrastructure, coastal geography, and a reputation for social development that places it high on national human development indices.

Unlike larger metros such as Bengaluru and Mumbai, which have faced criticism over traffic congestion, air quality, housing costs and pressure on civic amenities, Thiruvananthapuram has generally avoided rapid, unplanned urban expansion. Analysts have often pointed to this balance as a key factor behind the city’s livability.

During his remarks, Vembu also disclosed that Zoho has invested in a company based in Thiruvananthapuram that is working on the design of next-generation semiconductor chips. He acknowledged that semiconductor development is a long-term endeavour and said outcomes would take time to materialise. However, he expressed confidence in the local talent pool and the broader ecosystem supporting such initiatives.