Rightly described by prestigious travel magazines and travel bodies around the world as a "must-see" destination, Kerala is the jewel in the crown of Indian tourism. Endearingly called as "God`s own country" this enchanting strip of coastal paradise brings to life travel experiences that are nothing short of spiritualism. Long, pristine beaches are among the major attractions. Largely deserted, these beautiful sand-strips are ideal for surfers and sun-worshippers. Palm-fringed and inviting, these breath-taking beaches offer a different flavour of sun, sand and sea. Exploring life in the banks of these waterways while traveling in well-equipped houseboats is an experience of a lifetime. Lying on the Arabian sea, it is bordered by karnataka and Tamil Nadu and occupies a area of 15005 sq. mi.
The calm waters, green landscapes, are pure ecstasy. Kerala`s ancient culture and traditions are a treat to watch. Religious festivities of temples with caparishioned  elephants and long processions of temple art forms offer a peep into the ancient times. The performing arts of Kerala like Kath Kali, Mohiniattam and Theyyam have a great following in the West. Perhaps the best and unique charm that Kerala offers is Ayurveda the traditional medical science that heals not only the body but also the spirit. No other form of medicine traditional or modern surpasses the soothing power of Ayurveda. Specialized Ayurveda resorts in Kerala presents the traveler the opportunity to calm strained nerves and feel young again and ready to face life. Kerala is a land of unspeakable charm.
Kerala is a state on the Malabarcoast of Southwestern India. It is a land of myths and dreams. Its greenery enchants you and once you visit the place you will understand why Kerala is known as God`s Own Country. It is filled with plains, hills, streams and rivers and Kerala enjoys a very cool climate. Of course it is a paradise on earth. It is one of the favorite spots of tourists.
Origin
The ancient Keralite legend claim that Kerala originated when Parasurama, the avatar of Vishnu, threw his battle-axe into the sea. So, it is believed that Kerala originated from the waters. This legend is a Brahmin appropriation of an earlier Chera (Chera dynasty was one of the ancient dynasties that ruled Southern India fronm the ancient times) legend, where the Chera King, Velkezhu Kuttavan threw his spear into the sea to claim land from it. The earliest record of Kerala is contained in the Sanskrit epic, Aitareya Aranyaka.
Origin of name
The word Kerala is derived from the Sanskrit word keralam, which means ` the land added on`( with reference to its mythological origin). Another theory states the word Kerala or Keralam is derived from two words `kera` and `alam`. In which `kera` means coconut tree and `alam` means `land of` or `abode of`. Therefore the word Keralam means the land of coconuts. The natives of Kerala are called as Keralites. Another theory states that the word Keralam originated from the phrase `chera alam` which means land of Chera.
History of Kerala
The first evidence of habitation in Kerala was in the 10 century BC. The ancient inhabitants spoke Tamil, bringing forth the evidence that Kerala and Tamil Nadu once shared a common language, culture and ethnicity. Only in the 14th century Kerala became a distinct region. The first kingdom that ruled Kerala was the Chera Kingdom. In the Tamil Literature, the Chera rulers were referred to as Cheral, Kuttuvan, Azhiyan, Irumporai and Athan depending on the positions these rulers held in the past.
Geography of Kerala
The exquisite and gorgeous land of Kerala is situated at the Southwest tip of India. Kerala is bounded by Arabian Sea on the West, Karnataka on the North, and Tamil Nadu on the East. Kerala stretches 550 km along India`s southwest coast and is just 120 km at its broadest point. The state of Kerala can be divided into hills, valleys, plains and coasts. On the coastal belts are situated the worlds famous back waters. The climate of Kerala is tropical. Kerala enjoys the four climates as winter, summer, South West Monsoon and North East Monsoon.
Economy of Kerala
The Keralite economy is mainly dominated by agriculture. Kerala`s economy can be at best described as a democratic socialist welfare economy. Krerala lags behind other Indian States in terms of per capita income and economic productivity. The emphasis on equal distribution of resources has resulted in its slow economic progress compared to other States. However, Kerala`s Human Development Index and standard of living statistics are the best in India. In devolepment indices Kerala rivals many developed countries. This seeming paradox of low GDP and relatively high development figures is often dubbed as the "Kerala Phenomenon" or the "Kerala Model" of development by economists, political scientists, and sociologists. This phenomenon arises mainly from Kerala`s unusually strong service sector .There are relatively few major corporations and manufacturing plants in Kerala. Remittances from Keralites working abroadmake up over 20% of State Domestic Productivity.
Government and Politics
The Kerala state is unicameral (a single house of legislature) in nature. The Government of Kerala encompasses 3 functions: Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary.
The judiciary is free from the legislature and executive. It is made up of a hierarchy of lower courts, tribunals and the High Court, which is located at Trivandrum. The highest official belonging to the judiciary is the Chief Justice who administers the oath while  swearing in the Governor. Besides the Chief Justice, there are twenty-six permanent and two additional justices or pro tempore judges who hold offices in the High Court. The legislative assembly of the Kerala Government is composed of the people`s representatives, i.e. members who have been elected to the post of MLA. These members belong to the various political parties. The Political parties represent the political principles and interests of a section of the citizens. Among the MLA s, the chief of the majority party is invited by the Governor to form an executive council. The President vests the executive powers of the state in the Governor. Actually the head of the state is the Chief Minister i.e. the executive functions though carried out in the name of the Governor are in fact carried out by the Chief Minister and his Council of Ministers. The Governor appears to be only a titular head of the state. At present two major political parties dominate the Kerala politics. They are:
1. The Left Democratic Front (LDF - led by the CPI (M))
2. The United Democratic Front (UDF - led by the Indian National Congress)
The CPI (M) is currently ruling the state and the Chief Minister is Mr. V.S. Achuthanandan who belongs to the CPI(M).
Transport
The national highways of the state are NH 17, NH 47 and NH 49. Three National Highways link the state with other parts of the country. The public transport in the state consists of government buses, private buses, taxis and auto rickshaws. There are around 200 railway stations and 101 train services connecting the state to almost all major cities of India. Tourist taxis are available throughout Kerala. The facility of renting a car for intra or inter city drive is available. Auto rickshaws are available at selected stands in the major towns. Local Bus Services are operated by the Kerala Transport Corporation and private operators in regular frequencies connecting almost all the places in Kerala. The states total railway route has a length of 1,050 km and covers 13 railway routes. There are three airports, viz., Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode; of which the first two are international airports. There are 16 ports in Kerala of which three are intermediate ports and the other 12 are minor ports.
Divisions
The state of Kerala has 14 districts. They are: Thiruvanathapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha,Kottayam, Idukki,Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad,Malappuram ,Kozhikode ,Wayanad,Kannur and Kasaragod.
Demographics
There are 3.18 crores of people in Kerala. The people of Kerala are called Malayalis.The official language of the people is Malayalam and is spoken by majority of the people.the next most common language is Tamil, which is spoken by Tamil laborers. Thousands of people of Arab, Jewish, Portuguese, Dutch, British and other non- Dravidian ethnicities are settled in Kerala. Many of these migrants intermarried with native Malayalis. Kerala is the home of 321,000 tribal people- Adivasis. They reside in the eastern parts of Wayanad, Idukki and Palakkad.
Kerala is the home of 3.44% of India`s people.The population growth of Kerala is far lower than the national average. Whereas Kerala`s population doubled between 1951 and 1991 - adding 156 lakh (15.6 million) people to reach a total of 291 lakh (29.1 million) residents in 1991 - the population stood at less than 320 lakh (32 million) by 2001. the densely located parts of Kerala`s are the coastal regions. The major religions sects of Kerala are the Hindus, Muslims and Christians.
Culture of Kerala
The main dress worn by the people of Kerala are mainly traditional in nature. The traditional dress forms are the `Mundu and Neriathu`. Men usually wear a white piece of cloth with golden jerried boarder. Women usually wear sari with blouse.
 The major dances of Kerala are Kathakali, Thullal and Mohiniattam. The folk art forms include Theyyam, Thira, Mudiyettu, Kaduvakali, Velakali, Kakkarissinatakam, Chavittunadakam, Margamkali, Kolkali, Parichamuttukali, Bhadrakalipattu, Pulluvanpattu and Thiruvathirakali. Kalaripayattu is the comprehensive system of the marital arts of Kerala. Even kung fu is believed to have originated from this martial art of Kerala.
Festivals of Kerala:
Onam: is celebrated to commemorate the return of King Mahabali, who was pushed down by Vamana(an avatar of Lord Vishnu) into the underworld. King Mahabali was a just and wise king who treated all the people as equals and during his rule there was only peace and happiness.
Vishu Festival: Vishu is celebrated every year in` medam` (March-April). It is known as the Malayali New Year.
Thrissur Pooram Festival : The most fabulous festival of Kerala is Thrissur Pooram. The Maharaja of the erstwhile Kochi state introduced this festival. It is celebrated in Medom (April-May).
Payippad Jelotsavam Festival:This festival is celebrated for three days commencing from the Onam festival day. Snake boat processions take place on the first two days and competitive boat race take place on the third day.
Attukal Pongala Festival: This is the one and the only temple festival in the world where lakhs of women assemble together to make offerings by cooking a pudding for the goddess or `devi` in the Attukal temple. This offering is taken home after the chief priest of the temple blesses it. This festival will come to an end in the evening with a procession from the temple.
Makaravillakku at Sabarimala Festival: The Sabarimala temple in Pathanamthitta has been a major pilgrim centre in Kerala attracting lakhs of devotees from all over India. The presiding deity is Lord Ayyappa.
Theyyam Festival: Theyyam is one of the popular festivals of Kerala. Theyyam celebrates primarily the Mother Goddess. Animals, serpents and trees also figure in worship.
Kerala Boat Festival: the boat festivals are held during the Onam festival. It is the most important celebration across central Kerala.
Christmas Festival: Christmas is a festival that is celebrated with much zeal in the state to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ.
Easter: is also an important festival in the state, which is celebrated to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from among the dead.Other important festivals of Kerala are Eid, Muharram.
Education
The society of Kerala gives much importance to education. As a result, the schools in Kerala are the centers of the social microcosm. The Government of Kerala is looking forth to improve the quality of education in schools, colleges and universities.
The department of education administers school education from pre-primary level to the secondary level and also teacher training. Kerala is the first most literate state in India. The major Universities of Kerala are Kerala University, Mahatma Gandhi University and the Calicut University. These universities have eminent professors and research persons who can impart quality education.
Media
The newspapers of Kerala are Malayala Manorama, Kerala Express, Kerala Kaumudi, Malayalam Times, Mangalam Daily and Deepika, Matrhrubhumi.
The major radio stations of Kerala are at Thiruvananthapuram, Allapuzha, Kannur, Kochi, Kozhikode and Thrissur. Though the main regional language of Kerala is Malayalam, the radio stations broadcast in English, Hindi and other languages.
Sports
Cricket, football, baseball, hockey, tennis are the major games played in Kerala. Boat races are an important sport for Keralites.
More about Kerala
Temples of Kerala
Museums of Kerala
Folk Dances of Kerala
Costume of Kerala
Districts of Kerala
Cities of Kerala
People of Kerala
Flora and Fauna of Kerala
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