Kerala Basic Facts

Rain or shine, Kerala is India's greenest state. Wedged between the Arabian sea and the Western Ghat mountains at the South Western tip of the Indian peninsula, Kerala has several firsts to its credit. Other than being India's only 100 % literate state, Kerala also happens to be the most peaceful and pollution free. It also has India's highest life expectancy, lowest infant mortality rate and highest physical quality of life index.

With its diverse terrains which include seafronts, lakes, rivers, plains and mountains, Kerala supports a wide variety of life forms. The state's beaches, interconnected backwaters, wildlife sanctuaries, hill resorts and above all, the friendly people make it India's prime tourist destination. Other interests include ethnic art, architecture, culture and traditional medicine.

It can be truly said that Kerala is India's most advanced society and of course, Kovalam is Kerala's world renowned beach resort.

Kerala derives its name from the word 'Kera' which in traditional Malayalam, means coconut. The state situated on the southern tip of the Indian peninsula is hemmed in by the Arabian Sea, on the West, and the imposing Blue Mountains and Cardamom Hills on the East. Between the hills and the sea is a fertile land of swaying coconut palms and lush greenery inhabited by the most hospitable people. The state is crisscrossed by a number of rivers , their tributaries and backwaters. It is rightly said that this is a blessed land and is hence called "God's Own Country". Cochin, Kochi as it is known to the populace, is the gateway to this wondrous land. It is easily accessed by road, rail and air from the various metros across India and also from any location in Kerala.

Tucked away on the south-western coast of the Indian peninsula is a strip of land which has long been the inspiration for a variety of poetic phrases. Tropical paradise, a piece of stolen haven, home of the coconut palm, the land of endless beaches - all such descriptions crystallise into the Southern Indian State of Kerala. KERALA - a name derived from 'kera', the local word for the beautiful and useful coconut palm which forms a constant refrain throughout the state - sings a melody that is very distinct from the rest of India. The iridescent waters of the Arabian Sea lap the 585 km coastline, while the Western Ghats fortify Kerala by land on the east.

Legend has it that the land of Kerala was a gift of Parasuram, one of the ten 'avatars' (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu, who had slain a generation of Kshatriyas. In repentance, he threw his axe into the sea and, in response to this gesture, the sea receded and created a land mass - Kerala. The rich heritage of this land reflects the influences of the many foreign traders - like the Chinese, the Babylonians and the Egyptians - dating as far back as the 3rd century B.C. Later, it was the Portuguese (15th century A.D.), the Dutch, French and English (17th century A.D.) who were lured here by Kerala's wealth of ivory, teak and spices.

The apostle Thomas is believed to have landed in Kerala in 52 A.D. and introduced Christianity here. This religion has become widespread in recent times, but today it manifests itself in different rites after the Portuguese, Dutch and British invasions. Even so, it enjoys a peaceful co-existence with Hinduism and Islam. The legacy of monuments left behind by foreign religions have, together with the Hindu temples of India, created a mosaic of religious culture in Kerala.

Nalukettu: The Nalukettu is a traditional Kerala house with a quadrangle in the centre. Originally the abode of the wealthy Brahmin and Nair families, this style of architecture has today become a status symbol among the well to do in Kerala.