Sandwiched between
the Western Ghats on the east, and the Arabian Sea on
the West, Kerala is one of the beautiful states in India.
A tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches,
this thin strip of coastal territory slopes down from
the mountain ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation
History
According to Historians
"the discovery of Microliths or small stone implements
near Kozhikode and Cochin point to presence of man in
Kerala as far back as 4000 BC"
Kerala is a land which
always encouraged trading and traders. In 1000 BC King
Solomon's ship visited "Ophix" (the modern
puvar south of Thiruvananthapuram) to trade in Ivory
Sandalwood and Peacocks. This fame of Kerala Spices
brought the Romans in 30 AD. Who were followed by the
Greeks, Arabs, Chinese. The spices trade brought Vascoda
Gamma to Kappad (near Kozhikode) in 1498. Which paved
the way for a new trading history. Followed by Gamma
Europeans opened the way for new trade in spices, Ivory,
Sandalwood and Peacocks.
Geographically Kerala
is one of the smallest states in India covering merely
1.3% of total area of the country. Karnataka in north
and Tamilnadu in East. Physically the state can be divided
in to three natural divisions, the sandy costal region
with coconut groves, paddy fields, back waters and sea.
The midland region made up of fertile reddish hills
and valleys that grow most of Kerala's agricultural
crops. Peaks extensive ridges and ravines of the Western
Ghats. Where sandalwood, tea, coffee, rubber and most
of Kerala's exotic spices are grown.
Kerala enjoys balmy
whether almost all through out the year. It is neither
too cold in the winter months nor too hot in summer.
The best time to visit is November to February, where
the air bracing and on some morning there is a light
mist.
The official language
of Kerala is Malayalam but English too is widely spoken.
Kerala is one of the most progressive state in terms
of social welfare and physical quality of life. The
matriarchal system here is a unique social heritage
as the women of Kerala enjoy a better status than there
counter parts else where in India.
The people of Kerala
enjoy a unique cosmopolitan outlook, which is reflected
in there tolerance towards other races and religions.
So it has been called Kerala as
"God's Own Country".
