Martanda Varma (Travancore) refers to one of the most notable rulers of the historic Indian kingdom of Travancore, located in the southern part of present‑day Kerala. Born Anizham Thirunal Marthanda Varma in 1706, he rose to power in 1729 as the Maharaja of Travancore and ruled until his death in 1758. His reign is widely regarded as the foundation of modern Travancore because he transformed a relatively weak feudal principality, known as Venad, into a powerful, centralized, and militarily strong kingdom.