Kerala
GODS OWN COUNTRY
Sandwiched between the Lakshwadeep Sea and the Western Ghats, Kerala is a
bustling little green-and-silver, coconuts-and-water state on the west coast of
India. It is bounded by Karnataka to the north, Tamil Nadu to the east, and the
Arabian Sea to the west. Thiruvananthapuram is its capital.

Every district in Kerala has it's own unique culture and characteristics.
Thiruvananthapuram is known for it's beach- Kovalam, the Sri Padmanabhaswamy
Temple and various museums and palaces; Alappuzha for it's backwaters,
Thrissur, the cultural capital, Kottayam for it's ancient churches, Kozhikode
for it's old world charm and the entrancing Ponmudi or Golden valley.

Capital:Though a bit of a tongue-twister, Thiruvananthapuram - the present
official name, is closer to it's mythological origins. The word ' Thiru
ananthapuram' means the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred
thousand-headed serpent Anantha, who forms the couch on which reclines Lord
Vishnu, the preserver in the Hindu trinity.

Built on seven hills, it was the capital of the Venad chieftains. The city has
grown as a tourist and commercial centre, with the International airport
becoming the main gateway into Kerala. Being the state capital, it also throbs
with political activity.

History: Original inhabitants were animists, followed by the Dravidians. After
Alexander's triumphant sweep over Asia Minor, the ports of Kerala became a link
between the Middle East, the Mediterranean and China.



In 1498, Vasco da Gama made his historic landing on the Malabar Coast. In 1723,
the East India Company signed a strategic treaty with King Marthanda Varma. For
a few decades, Hyder Ali and his son -Tipu sultan proved to be a thorn in the
flesh of the British, sweeping down several times into Kerala. In 1947, it was
the turn of the British to pack their bags.


The People: Kerala also has considerable ethnic diversity. The Malayali
majority belong to the Dravidian group (local race) of early Indian peoples.

There is a small population of descendants of Indo-European migrants from the
north. Certain hill tribes exhibit affinities with the Negrito peoples of
Southeast Asia. Most Keralites are Hindus, but there are also large Christian
and Islamic, and lesser Jain and Jewish, minorities.

The official language is Malayalam. A long contact with the outside world has
led to an intriguing blend of cultures and given Keralites a cosmopolitan
outlook

Culture: One aspect of the state's rich cultural heritage is manifest in its
varieties of religious architecture: ancient Hindu temples with copper-clad
roofs, later Islamic mosques with "Malabar gables," and colonial Portuguese
Baroque churches.

Splendid paintings, especially murals, exhibit distinct local traditions and
styles. The land is a flourishing center of the Kathakali dance form. The state
has also a rich theatre tradition: the only surviving Sanskrit drama,
Koottiyattam, is still performed by the Chakkiars of Kerala. Some principles of
the Natya-Shastra are evident in their presentations.



Occupation: Agriculture is the state's main economic activity. Plantations of
cardamom, cashew nut, coconuts, coffee, ginger, pepper, rubber, and tea account
for 40 percent of the total land.

Commercial poultry farming is well developed. Cottage industries--for example,
the processing of coconut fibre and cashews or weaving--employ about
three-fifths of Kerala's industrial workers. Most of those employed by larger
industrial enterprises are engaged in food and textile processing.

CLIMATE :The climate is equable and varies little from season to season. The
temperature normally ranges between 27: and 32: C in the plains but drops to
about 21: C in the highlands.

Winter - 32 to 20 : C. Kerala is strongly buffeted by both the southwest and
northeast monsoons. Rainfall in many parts of the state exceeds 118 inches.
Best season: October to March.

POPULATION :33 million
Festivals: 10-day annual festival in January at Sreekandeswaram Temple,
Thiruvananthapuram. In February, is the week-long Nishagandhi Dance festival;
Pooram festival in Thrissur around April-May; Flavor Food Festival, at the
Kanakakunnu Palace grounds, Thiruvananthapuram in May.

Onam Week celebrations, the annual harvest festival of Kerala begins in August
and lasts for 10 days. Another important festival is the annual Pongala
Utsavam, to which only women are allowed at the Attukal Bhagavathy Temple,
Thiruvananthapuram. Therayattam festival is held to propitiate the gods and
demons recognized by the pantheon of the Malayalis.

Tourist Offices :
Tourist Reception Centre In front of KTDC Chaithram hotel, Thiruvananthapuram,
near Rly stn.

Tourist Facilitation Centre Museum Rd, Thiruvananthapuram, opp. Museum and zoo.