Keralam

Kerala

Information about Kerala:-

Kerala, the god's own country is situated on the southwestern tip of India. Thiruvananthapuram or commonly known as Trivandrum is the cosmopolitan and capital city of Kerala. Kerala is surrounded by the Arabian Sea in the west, the Western Ghats in the east and is networked by forty four rivers. It stretches along the coast of the Arabian Sea and is separated from the rest of the sub continent by the steep Western Ghats. The state lies between 80 degree 18' and 120 degree 48' north latitude and 740 degree 52' and 770 degree 22' east longitude. The breadth of the state varies from 32 kms in the extreme north and south to over 120 kms in the middle. Kerala is one of the most famous tourist destination in India. Kerala offers everything to the tourists which ranges from an equable climate, serene beaches, backwaters, hill stations, exotic wildlife sanctuaries, waterfalls, plantations, paddy fields, Ayurveda packages, art ,culture, music, dance, festivals, historical monuments, exotic cuisine and houseboat cruise. Today, Kerala is the India's most advanced state with the highest literacy rate. Kerala is also the most cleanest and peaceful state in India. For administrative purposes, the state of Kerala is divided into fourteen districts. Malayalam and English are the most common languages which are widely spoken in Kerala. Hinduism, Christianity and Islam religions are found in Kerala. The climate of Kerala is pleasant for most of the part of year. In summers, the temperature is about 24 to 30 degree Celsius and in winters it is about 22 to 32 degree Celsius.

History of Kerala:-

The history of Kerala is very distinct. According to the legend, the Lord Vishnu descended from the heavens in his incarnation of Parashuram. After slaying the evil kings 21 times over to repeal their force from earth, he did penance for waging the terrible war, and threw his axe into the sea. The area where the axe landed, from shaft to blade, Kerala rose from the sea.

The Phoenicians started the sea trade, and in 1000 BC Kerala was visited by King Solomon's ships that travelled to `Ophir', the modern Puvar, south of Trivandrum. Kerala was visited by the rulers from the other countries like Greece, Rome, Arabia, China. The Portuguese were forced out of the area. In 1795, the Dutch too had to move out, and the British traders had become the strongest power in India by that time. In all this period of prosperity and strife, the region's identity existed as the Malabar Coast and Cochin Travancore. It was only in 1956 that it gained recognition as an independent state, Kerala.

Geography of Kerala 

Kerala is bordered by the Arabian Sea in the west, Karnataka in the north and northeast, and Tamil Nadu and Western Ghats in the east. Geographically, Kerala is a part of the coastal belt and the Western Ghats runs along the Kerala. The rain bearing clouds of the south-west monsoon brings heavy rainfall to Kerala from May to September.

The location of Kerala gives it a unique climatic and geographic features. Kerala is networked by forty four rivers. Due to these unique geographical features, Kerala is one of the most famous tourist destination in India. The coastal belt of Kerala is lined with sandy and sunny beaches, palm lined shores and serene backwaters. The hill ranges of Kerala have hill stations, wildlife sanctuaries, tea estates and spice plantations



Cities in Kerala

Kerala's fourteen districts are distributed among Kerala's three historical regions of Malabar (northern Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), and Travancore (southern Kerala). Some of the cities in the Kerala's modern districts are Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad in Malabar, Thrissur, Ernakulam in Kochi and Kottayam, Idukki, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram in Travancore.



People of Kerala

The majority of the people in Kerala are Dravidians. The main religion in Kerala is Hinduism with considerable percentage of Muslims and Christians. Christianity has a long history in this state, as it is believed that the first missionary from Europe landed on the coast of Kerala in the first millennium. There is highest literacy rate in Kerala which has resulted in high health care and health awareness among the people. The women in the state enjoys high social status in the society. Higher education and equal opportunities have further strengthened the women's status in the society.

Festivals of Kerala 


Kerala is a land of festivals where various festivals are celebrated round the year. These festivals are an essential part of the state and observed with great enthusiasm and fun in which the people of all caste and religion participate. Today, these festivals are perhaps the only occasion when the classical, folk and ritual arts  of the Kerala come alive and as well as represents the true tradition and culture.

Some of the major festivals which are celebrated in Kerala during the year are Onam, Thrissur Pooram, Thiruvathira, Vishu, Navarathri, Makaravillakku and Easter.
  

Cuisine of Kerala  The cuisine of Kerala is very rich and the culinary skills of the various communities in Kerala have given very large varieties to it. While Hindus are specialist in delicious vegetarian food. The Muslims and Christians are specialist in the non-vegetarian food like Pathiri and Kozhi curry (chicken), biriyanom fish dishes like meen pollichathu, fish moee. Coconut and spices are added to every dish in Kerala. Sadya, the typical Kerala feast is served on a banana leaf. Toddy, which is tapped from coconut trees is a favourite drink among the rural men, local people and tourists. Tender coconut water, the world’s safest natural soft drink, is a refreshing and nutritious.