When one makes a visit to the heartland of the state of Kerala, one can easily come across numerous tribal communities who have settled down in large numbers in every hook and corner of the region. Since most of these tribes of Kerala state belong to the famous family group of Dravidians, they have got similar traits and body stature. In fact theses tribes of Kerala have got dark complexion and quite short in height. Also they are well built with flat nose. These tribes of Kerala, grow their hair long and also tie the hair locks.

Cultural exuberances of these tribes of Kerala are rightly being highlighted in diverse aspects. House building, rituals, norms bore resemblance to the tradition and ethnicity of the tribal culture. Maximum of these tribes of Kerala build their settlements in the dense forest grounds and also on the top of the mountains. The houses of these tribes of Kerala are closely built so that these tribes of Kerala can depend on each other and thus maintain cordial relations. Due to the rugged topography of the region, these tribes of Kerala remain undisturbed by any kind of invasion from the foreigners, especially the Aryans. This is one of the factors why these tribes of Kerala have maintained the originality intact. Influences of the modern day times hardly have brought about any changes in their life styles and in socio-economic scenario of the their tribal society.

As per the observations of the anthropologists of the Indian subcontinent, these tribes of Kerala have developed ardent faith on religion and spiritualism. They live in groups and depended mostly on nature for all their needs. Almost all the tribes of Kerala follow religion, which is centered round Animism etc. They appeased devils for sickness and calamities. Besides there is a plethora of local gods and goddesses, whom majority of these tribes of Kerala revere and show immense respect and veneration. Worship of Amman or Kali and Ayyan or Ayyappan was quite common. Moreover, there are few tribes of Kerala amongst whom ancestral worship is prevalent. Festivals and fairs are part and parcel of the culture and tradition of these tribes of Kerala. Especially during the festive seasons, the whole population of the tribes of Kerala get enthralled by the music , dance and get engross with the mood of frenzy and jubilation.

The list of the tribes of Kerala are as follows :
Eravallan: This tribal community speaks in a beautiful language of Irula, which belongs to the famous Dravidian language family.

Palleyan: There are various occupations that are practiced by this tribal community including Podu or shifting cultivation which this tribal people have adapt to over the years Paniyan: In the entire social perspective of this Paniyan tribe, marriage has been feted with loads of excitement mostly in the presence of the village priest , who is popularly known as chemmi.

Pulaya: Mainly due to the wealth of several art forms, namely, Chimmanakal, Margam, Kali, eminent anthropologists have held them in high esteem.

Kadar: This tribal community has a rich heritage of adapting the profession of food collection and all the anthropologists of Indian Territory have observed this.

Knaikkar: Majority of these tribal community people has a tradition of practicing unique rites and rituals at the time of celebrating wedding and also death.

Ulladan: In Kerala, these Ulladan tribes reside in every corner of districts namely, Idukki, Kottayam, Pattanamthitta and Quilon.

Malasar: That these tribal people are oriented towards religion is rightly being emphasized by its various gods and goddesses of local origin , namely, "Mallung, Kali and Mariamman".

Mannan: In order to show better administration and control, these Manna tribes have chosen two representatives, namely, Thalaivar and Kani

Urali: Just to evade the hassles of heavy taxation and also the possible plundering of the soldiers of Tipu Sultan , this Urali tribes had taken shelter in the core of the dense forests in Kerala.

Kammara: Hundreds of Kammara tribes can be located in districts of Kerala and also its culture and tradition being rightly exuberated by the style of their ornaments and apparels .

Kapu: In Karala , the whole community of Kapu can be segregated in to several gothrams , namely, Janakula, Mahipala, Paidipaala, Raghukula, Kasyapa, Dhanunjaya

Kondareddis : This tribe is one of the very old tribal communities who exist in Kerala

Kurumba: This tribe has developed the art of sorcery as well as several practices of Hinduism.

Malamalasar : The culture of Malamalasar tribes is so enriched that the name of the tribe is being referred in `Encyclopaedia of Indian Tribes (1989)`.

Marati : This tribe is one of the primitive tribes of Kerala with a population of about 22,196.