Kerala India Travel Guide

Gods own country as it is popularly known, Kerala is heaven on earth. With emerald green land dipped in the water of Arabian Sea on one side and Western Ghats on the other, and numerous lagoons, rivers and backwaters, Kerala is rich in vegetation, natural beauty and culture. Kerala is situated in the South West corner of the Indian Peninsula. Though it has only 1.18 percent of the country’s total area, it harbors 3.43 percent of country’s total population. Kerala was formed in 1956 by tying up of the states of Travencore and Cochin with Malabar. There is not much known about the history of Kerala because so little has been documented about the place. As a result there is no unanimous consent among historians about the history of ancient Kerala. Much of what is described is a combination of myth and mystery. One such story goes like this: Parashurama, the warrior sage who is regarded as the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, at one time destroyed the Kshatriya kings and conquered their lands. After performing this feat, he was overcome with guilt and sat in penance at Gokarnam, which in those days was considered land’s end. As a result of his penance, he received blessings from Varuna and Bhumidevi, the God and Goddess of Earth respectively, who offered him land equal to the distance he could throw his axe. Parashurama proceeded to Kanya Kumari, formerly Cape Comorin, and threw his battle axe northwards across the waters. The waters subsided and what was left over was called the land of Parashurama that is today’s Kerala. Though this might sound like something straight out of the story books, but when the science behind the evolution of Kerala is reviewed, some interesting facts come to light. Geologists have pointed out that the elevation of Kerala from the sea was the result of some seismic activity, either sudden or gradual.

Kerala has a distinct flavor of its own, whether it’s about the culture, language, dressing or institutions. There is a strong impact of the Dravidian culture on the people of Kerala popularly known as the Malayalis because of their language. Ages ago the main rulers of the place were Cheras, Cholas and the Pandyas. History says there were frequent clashes between Cholas and Pandyas, but eventually the Cholas triumphed and ruled the whole of Kerala. It was during this period that Malayalam started flourishing. Malayalam was greatly influenced by the Sanskrit language, which was the prevailing language of the period. This was also the period when the study and practice of Ayurveda began in Kerala. It was also the time that Adi Shankaracharya, who was born in Kalady and was exponent of Advaita Philosophy, revived the Brahminic Hinduism in the whole of India during this period. Kerala is a conglomaration of many religion including Hinduism, Christianity and a new community called Eurasian formed as a result of the intermingling of the Dutch, Portuguese and the British with the natives. The British have also influenced the state a great deal. Since there advent in the late 18th century English language assumed importance, which brought great impact on the life and the culture of the natives. The British though they impacted the community especially through the Christian missionary, they were careful enough not to disturb the Hindu community and very well blended in their culture. As a result, Malayalam replaced Latin for Church services and candles were replaced for the traditional Kerala Nilavilakku. They equally celebrated all the Hindu festivities and therefore enriched the Kerala’s ethnic culture. The Muslims of Kerala are the descendents of the Arab traders who came to Kerala and married locally and finally settled down here. Kerala is a tourist’s paradise. One gets all one wants in a single platter – be it the sandy beaches of Kovalam, hill stations at Munnar, or the back waters of Kollam and Alleppey. Greenland plantations in the highranges, wildlife, blue lagoons at Veli, high mountain peaks, picturesque valleys, magnificent forts, and finely carved temples add to the beauty that is Kerala. It is so rare to find so much of diversity at one place. Hill stations and beaches are individually amazing, but to have both of these within two hours of each other is truly amazing. The climate of Kerala consists of summers, which last from March to May, the southwest monsoon, which last from May till the middle of October, and the northeast monsoon, which continue till February. Kerala has a rich history of culture and tradition and there are numerous festivals celebrated in this part of the country.

First among them is Onam, which is celebrated throughout the state irrespective of culture, cast, creed or religion. Onam falls between the months of August and September and is celebrated as the harvest festival. As per the legend, Onam was celebrated in the honor of the homecoming of Mahabali, the king who ruled Kerala in the age of plenty, and who was pushed down to the infernal regions by Lord Vishnu. Onam is celebrated as the national festival of Kerala, which coincides with the tourist-week celebrations of the State. This festival also provides an occasion for a family get together. Apart from Onam there is the famous Boat Race festival of Kerala held in the month of August to commemorate the visit of the former Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. This festival also has a religious significance to commemorate an episode involving the idol of Sri Krishna. Other festivals celebrated with equal vigor in the State are Mahashivratri, Navratri and Ashtami Rohini, Bakrid, Eid ul-Fitr and Christmas to name a few. Kerala cuisine is mouth watering. Popularly known as the land of spices the Kerala cuisine is known for its hot and spicy food. One traditional aspect is that almost every food cooked here has coconut in it and the spices add flavor to the local cuisine giving it a sharp pungency that is maximized with the use of tamarind. So while coconut gives it its richness, absorbing some of the tongue-teasing, pepper-hot flavours tamarind provides the tinge. Tender coconut water is a refreshing nutritious thirst quencher. The crunchy papadam, banana and jackfruit chips add to the glamour of the whole show. Shopping in Kerala mainly comprises of woodwork, carved statues, and most definitely aromatic oils and spices. Rose wood carvings of Kerala are famous worldwide and sell at a premium. Kerala is connected by air nationally and internationally and with the whole country by rail and road. For local transport auto-rickshaws are available which provide the most convenient mode of transportation. Three National Highways - NH 47, NH 17 and NH 49, which link the state with other parts of the country. There are around two-hundred railway stations and a hundred-and-one train services connecting the state to almost all major cities of India.

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