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| ABOUT KERALA |
Kerala is a state in the Indian Union located at the southern part of the Indian peninsula. It is bordered on the north by Karnataka, south and east by Tamil Nadu, and west by the Arabian sea. Thiruvananthapuram, the capital, Kochi and Kozhikode are the major Cities. The principal spoken language is Malayalam though other languages are also spoken. Kerala is one of the most densely populated states in India and ranks 12th among states in terms of population.
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Kerala is mentioned in the ancient epic Mahabharata (800 BC) at several instances as a tribe, as a region and as a kingdom. The first written mention of Kerala is seen in a 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great, where it is mentioned as Keralaputra. This region formed part of ancient Tamilakam and was ruled by the Cheras. They had extensive trade relations with the Greeks, Romans and Arabs. In the 1st century AD Jewish immigrants arrived, and it is believed that St. Thomas the Apostle visited Kerala in the same century. The Chera Kingdom and later the feudal Nair and Namboothiri Brahmin city-states became major powers in the region. Early contact with Europeans later gave way to struggles between colonial and native interests. The States Reorganisation Act of 1 November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood.
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Social and educational reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Cochin and Travancore were expanded upon by post-independence governments, making Kerala one of the most literate, healthiest, and gender-equitable regions in India. Kerala has one of the most advanced educational systems in India. Though the state's basic human development indices are roughly equivalent to those in the developed world, the state is substantially more environmentally sustainable than Europe and North America. A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.Nevertheless, Kerala's suicide, alcoholism, and unemployment rates rank among India's highest. |
| Varkala |
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Varkala is a seaside tourist resort and spa. A small town 55km north of Thiruvananthapuram, it is also a significant religious place for the Hindus. According to a legend, sage Narada was approached by a group of holy men who confessed to having sinned. Narada threw his valkkalam (the bark of tree which the mythical sages used to wear) into the air, and the place where it landed was consequently named Varkala. |
| Kanyakumari |
Kanyakumari is the southernmost point of peninsular India and the meeting point of three oceans-the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Besides its importance as a Hindu pilgrim center, it is famous for its beautiful views of sunrise and sunset over the waters. The multicolored sand is a unique feature of the beach here. The list of attractions in Kanyakumari is endless.
Ponmudi |
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A travel tour to Ponmudi, located in Kerala, South India, is a dependable source of information about the sylvan and cloudy beauty of a forested and thrilling hill station in Kerala, called Ponmudi, situated in Kerala, South India. |
Trivandrum |
Thiruvananthapuram which was formerly called Trivandrum is an ancient city with tradition dating back to 1000 BC. Thiruvananthapuram became the capital of Raja of Travancore in 1750.
The city gets its name from the word, Thiru-anantha-puram, meaning the city of Anantha or the abode of the sacred Serpent Anantha on which Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu trinity, reclines. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the state of Kerala. |
| Munnar |
| One of the most popular hill stations in India, Munnar is situated at the convergence of three mountain streams - Mudrapuzha, Nallathanni and Kundala. |
| Kochi |
Kochi is known as the Queen of the Arabian Sea and the Queen of the Adriatic. It is also referred to as the Gateway of South India. Kochi is the most vital city in Kerala. It is the second most important city (after Mumbai) on the western coast of India
Thekkady
The pride of Kerala and a testimony to nature's magnificence and human innovation, the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is situated on the banks of the Periyar Lake - an artificial lake, at Thekkady.
Kodaikanal
Kodaikanal lies appealingly in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu. The tremendous stillness of the hill resort is simply breathtaking. The summer retreat of Kodaikanal literally means ‘gift of the forest’. The hill resort offers some of the most breathtakingly beautiful spots.
Allepey
Alappuzha or Alleppey is one of the striking backwater sites of India’s southern state Kerala. Swabbed by the Arabian Sea, intertwined by a number of canals and bridges, this tiny marketplace is also famous for its Nehru Trophy boat race held every year.
Kovalam
This captivating strip of golden sands is fastened with the rich greenery of coconut palms. An earlier fishing village, Kovalam is just 16 kms away from Trivandrum, Kerala's capital city. Kovalam is an evergreen and pleasing climatic beach resort. It is a dreamy place for tourists all over the world.
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