Kerala or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of southwest India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act, and it combined various Malayalam speaking regions. The state has an area of 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi) and is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the south and southeast and the Arabian Sea towardsthe west.

Kerala lies on the outline, to the acute south west of the Indian land, flanked by the Arabian Sea on the west and therefore the mountains of the Western Ghats on the east. This land of Parasurama stretches north-south on a outline of 580 kms with a variable breadth of thirty five to one hundred twenty kms. Cascading exquisitely down the hills to the coasts lined by abundant coconut groves, the topography and physical characteristics modification clearly from east to west. the character of the tract and its physical options, divides AN east west cross section of the state into 3 distinct regions- hills and valleys, midland and plains and therefore the coastal region. placed between north latitudes 8018′ and 12048′ and east longitudes 74052′ and 72022′, this land of eternal beauty encompasses one.18 per cent of the country. Kerala is the most popular state in South India. Kerala was founded by merging the numerous Malayam speaking regions in south India on1 November 1956. Spreading across an area of 38,863 km sq Kerala shares its borders with Karnataka in the north, Tamil Nadu in the south and the Lakshadweep in the west. Thiruvananthapuram serves as the capital of the state. Also known as Gods Own Country Kerala is the favorite tourist spot of many Indian and foreign travelers.

Origin of Kerala has been connected to a legend qualitative analysis back to Satya Yug. in line with this legend, Kerala rose up from ocean|the ocean} once Lord Parasurama threw his axe into it and therefore the sea receded to point out this slender strip of land from beneath. Lord Parasurama, believed to be the sixth avatar of Lord Mahavishnu, threw his axe from Gokarnam southward across the ocean in rage and in remorse for his actions of killing Kshatriyas. The land of Kerala emerged from the waters of the Arabian Sea with the blessing of Varuna-the God of Oceans and Bhumidevi- the god of Earth. The moniker “God’s own Country” therefore bestows itself on Kerala.

Sailors once swore that a blind man could steer a ship to the Malabar coast, guided by nothing more that offshore winds heavy with the scent of Kerala’s fragrant spices. This is a coastal idyll that once lured endless flotillas for its black gold and now draws travelers to indulge in some of the subcontinent’s most restful, laid-back pleasures. India’s most verdant state—rated by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s 50 must-see destinations and also one of “ten earthly paradises”—is a seamless landscape of palm-lined beaches rising to meet steamy jungles and plantation-covered hills, watered by no less than 44 tropical rivers. Once thronged by merchants clambering to trade for spices, today the coast is often bustling with visitors who come here primarily to unwind and indulge. This is, after all, where succumbing to a therapeutic.

Ayurvedic massage is as mandatory as idling away an afternoon aboard a slowly drifting kettuvallam, or sipping coconut water under a tropical sun before taking in a ritualized Kathakali dance. Eastward, the spice-scented Cardamom Hills and wild elephants of Periyar beckon, while a short flight west takes you to the little-known but sublime tropical reefs of the Lakshadweep islands. All of which make Kerala not just a must-see on your southern India itinerary, but a major destination in its own right. A thin strip on the southwest coastline, sandwiched between the Lakshadweep Sea and the forested Western Ghats that define its border with Tamil Nadu to the east, Kerala covers a mere 1.3% of the country’s total land area, yet its rich resources have long attracted visitors from across the oceans—it is in fact here that the first seafarers set foot on Indian soil. Legend has it that King Solomon’s ships traded off the Malabar coast between 972 and 932 B.C., followed by the Phoenicians, Romans, Chinese, Portuguese, and Arabs, all of whom came to stock up on Malabar’s monkeys, tigers, parrots, timber, and, of course, the abundance of spices that were literally worth their weight in gold. Seafarers not only brought trade but built synagogues and churches in the emerging port cities, while an entirely Muslim population set up shop on the islands of Lakshadweep. Despite its religious cosmopolitanism (many locals will tell you they subscribe to both Hinduism and Christianity), Kerala’s Hindu tradition is deeply engrained in daily life.

Most Kerala temples do not permit non-Hindus to enter, but the months of February to May bring magnificent temple processions through the streets—the most jaw-dropping being the April/May Thrissur Pooram—involving thousands of chanting devotees and squadrons of elephants adorned in flamboyant caparisons (ornamental coverings). Contemporary Kerala was created in 1956 from the former princely states of Travancore, Kochi, and Malabar. Largely ruled by benevolent maharajas who introduced social reforms emphasizing the provision of education and basic services, Kerala remains one of the most progressive, literate, and prosperous states in post-independence India—and at the same time retains an untouched charm. In 1957, it became the first place in the world to democratically elect a Communist government, and the first Indian state to introduce a family planning program.

Despite Kerala’s high population density, Keralites have the country’s highest life expectancy and lowest infant mortality rates. Kerala is also considered one of the most peaceful parts of India, a claim substantiated by its prosperity—the state remains a major source of India’s bananas, rubber, coconuts, cashews, and ginger, and now, tourism.The downside of all this prosperity? A highly educated and comfortable population has meant that many are unwilling to do menial jobs, and service standards are low given that tourism is for many the primary source of income. Others cash in on the tourism boom with no long-term thought for the future, and for the first time pollution is becoming a problem in paradise. Still others head for the Gulf to seek their fortunes, returning with sufficient cash to tear down the traditional carved wood dwellings that so greatly characterize the region and replace them.

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