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| About Kerala |
| Kerala is a province located some 300 miles south of Goa on the west coast of India. Despite being listed by National Geographic Traveler as one of the world’s ten ‘Paradises Found’, Kerala remains remarkably ‘un-found’ by mass tourism. |
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pretension. Just one visit and you will see for yourself why it has been labelled God’s own country.
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Famed as the Spice Coast, Kerala offers you the colors, spectacle, magic, grandeur and mystery of India, all in one state.
Exploding palms, trumpeting elephants, temple dances that thunder into the night, mysterious green backwaters criss crossing sensuously through the land, year-round festivals, serene churches and temples, exotic wildlife, lush green blankets of hills, enchanting waterfalls, historic monuments and boat races – the list of what Kerala has to offer is endless.
And as if all this isn’t tempting enough, Kerala is home to the relaxing and |
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unhurried therapeutic touch of Ayurveda, a 5000-year-old holistic science. Kerala is a land of myriad experiences with something for everyone. There is peace and relaxation for those seeking respite in the lap of nature, there is romance and sensuality for those seeking a romantic hideaway, a host of activities and fun for families and adventure sports for the brave hearted.
What makes Kerala really special is the fact that authenticity is at the heart of everything you will see. Despite growing international interest, Kerala continues to retain the cultural identity of the area. It has a soul of its own. In Kerala, less is more and there is no room for |
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| HIGHLIGHTS |
HOUSEBOATS
One of Kerala’s most unique experiences is an overnight cruise along the palm-fringed backwaters on a luxurious ‘kettuvallom’ (houseboat). Traditionally used as grain barges, the kettuvalloms have been spectacularly converted into cozy houseboats. When evening approaches, settle in to watch the splendid sunset and count the stars in the velvety sky as you listen to the pulsating palms and the murmur of the rippling water lapping against the hull.
BEACHES
In addition to the splendid backwaters, Kerala is blessed with some of the best beaches in the world. Check out those at Kovalam and Varkala in the south, Marari in the central region and the stunning drive-in beach at Muzhipilangadi in the north of Kerala. There are secluded private beaches tucked away in peaceful palm groves and others that are closer to the vibrant local life.
HILL RANGES AND TEA PLANTATIONS
Move further in from the coast and you will find yourself heading towards the Western Ghats. You can only be in awe of the amazing scenery changes as you pass through tropical jungle, dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries, sprawling estates, |
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picture perfect postcard hamlets and undulating valleys as you head up into the mountains.
Move from district to district and you will encounter different people, cultures and traditions, boat builders and duck shepherds, rubber planters and spice traders. The diversity and the sheer beauty of everything will leave you stunned.
CULTURE AND TRADITION
Over the centuries different religions found their way onto Kerala’s shores and were welcomed into the folds of its society. Different external influences brought different cultural practices. In no other place will one find religious tolerance such as the way it is practiced in Kerala. It’s not uncommon to find a church, a Hindu temple and a mosque in the same premises.
FESTIVALS AND ART FORMS
The performing arts of Kerala are again very rich, varied and colorful and employ a range of gestures to tell stories and communicate emotions. Kerala offers an enviable array of performing arts most of which find origins in folk tradition. Vibrant colors, pulsating classical music, traditional costumes and powerful performances mark any art form in Kerala |
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and will leave visitors with an unforgettable experience.
CUISINE
Kerala’s cuisine is both exclusive and diverse and over the centuries has evolved into one with an identity all of its own. From the northern reaches of Kasargod to the southern coastal parts, the cuisine is as varied as the places themselves. Be it the various vegetarian delicacies or the mouth watering seafood, the cuisine is something to really look forward to. Bon Apetit!
AYURVEDA
No book or brochure on Kerala can be complete without a mention of the 5000 year old natural medical science of Ayurveda which finds its origins in Kerala. This ancient science focuses on creating health as well as curing disease and takes into account the patient’s entire being: mind, body and spirit. Ayurveda has found global popularity and year after year thousands find comfort and healing in this ancient science which focuses on rejuvenating the body and the mind.
You will discover highlight after highlight in this scenic paradise - each distinctive and delightful, giving you the perfect ingredients for the holiday of a lifetime. |
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| FACT FILE |
WHAT’S IN THE NAME
Numerous theories exist about the origin of the word Kerala.( ke-ra-laa).The most popular is that it finds its origin in ‘kera’, meaning the coconut and ‘Ilam’, meaning land. Simply put, the land of coconuts. Some attribute the name to the Chera rulers who ruled the state in the early centuries. Arabs who visited Kerala in earlier centuries for spice trade christened it Malabar which is a name by which the north of Kerala is still known.
KER ALA THROUGH THE AGES
Few other places on earth will have as many external influences and foreign imprints as Kerala. Interestingly it was Kerala’s spice that attracted people from across the world to it. The Arabs were the first traders to land in Kerala followed by the Romans, Egyptians and Greeks. The Chinese also frequented Kerala’s ports in the 15th century. It was the Portuguese, Vasco Da Gama, who made his mark as the first European to step on the shores of Kerala. Having seen the scope of what was on offer, Da Gama returned three years later – this time using force, and an era of European expansion began.
The Dutch were the next to invade Kerala, crushing the Portuguese and establishing their supremacy until a time when the simultaneous rising of the British and the French made them unstable. Finally, with their simultaneous ascendancy in the rest of India, the British became the most powerful force in Kerala. The British allowed the kings of different provinces to rule under their supervision and shaped many aspects of the state. Such was the progression and development of Travancore (province of Kerala) even in that era, that it found mention in the British House of Commons in 1867 as a ‘model native state’.
The States Reorganisation Act of 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Since then, Kerala, under the rule of different progressive governments, has grown at an awe inspiring pace. Its focus on education, human development, reforms and insistence on retaining its original identity (while having embraced all the foreign influences that came its way) has seen Kerala become one of today’s model states.
Kerala is a giant museum of history. Everywhere you go in Kerala, you will see |
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| AVERAGE TEMPRATURES FOR KERALA |
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snippets of history from different periods in time: the Chinese fishing nets left by traders in the 15th century, Dutch cemeteries, Portuguese and Jewish settlements, ancient churches, mosques & forts.
EDUCATION & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Social reforms enacted in the late 19th century by different provinces in Kerala were expanded by post-independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World’s longest-lived, healthiest, most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. Kerala boasts the highest rate of literacy anywhere in India. Statewide literacy initiatives have seen education reach the remotest corners of the state. Keralites enjoy a remarkably healthy and good standard of life and economists the world over refer to the Kerala model of development.
GEOGRAPHY
Kerala’s 38,863 kms landmass (1.18% of India) is wedged between the Arabian Sea to the west and the Western Ghats, identified as one of the world’s twenty-five biodiversity hotspots, to the east. Lying between north latitudes 8°18’ and 12°48’ and east longitudes 74°52’ and 72°22’, Kerala is well within the humid equatorial tropics. Kerala’s coast runs for some 580 km (360 miles), while the state itself varies between 35 and 120 km (22–75 miles) in width. Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain), |
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the central midlands (rolling hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains).
CLIMATE AND WEATHER
Being a coastal state surrounded by the pristine waters of the Arabian Sea and because of its proximity to the equator, Kerala has a more or less consistent weather pattern in the summers and the monsoons alike, unlike the northern parts of India. The presence of the mountains of the Western Ghats on the eastern side of the state and across the path of the southwest monsoon creates an important climatic zone with copious rainfall on the windward side and a dry belt on the eastern side. This results in Kerala being perennially green with a very predictable and similar weather pattern throughout the year. The temperature hovers around 29–32 degrees (Celsius) throughout the year.
The months of September through to March are considered to be the most Favorable times to travel with the weather being sunny and pleasant. June and July are monsoon months in Kerala, the showers being heavy at first and then easing off gradually. If you are planning a tour around Kerala then June and July are probably not the best times. Interestingly though, this happens to the best time for travelers seeking the therapeutic Ayurveda treatment which is said to be most effective in these months.
It gets comparatively more humid during the months leading to and just after the monsoon namely April, May and August. |
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