Kerala Tours

Kerala in original Keralam, is a state in the south-west region of India on the Malabar coast. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and north east, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Laccadive Sea to the west. Kerala is the twelfth largest state by population and is divided into 14 districts. Malayalam is the most widely spoken and official language of the state. The state capital is Thiruvananthapuram, other major cities include Kochi, Kozhikode, Kollam and Thrissur.

Kerala, India's most advanced society: With hundred percent literacy. World-class health care systems. India's lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. The highest physical quality of life in India. Peaceful and pristine, Kerala is India's cleanest state.

The region was a prominent spice exporter from 3000 BCE to 3rd century. The Chera Dynasty was the first powerful kingdom based in Kerala, though it frequently struggled against attacks from the neighboring Cholas and Pandyas. During the Chera period Kerala remained an international spice trading center. Later, in the 15th century, the lucrative spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, and eventually paved the way for the European colonization of the whole of India. After independence, Travancore and Cochin joined the Republic of India and Travancore-Cochin was given the status of a state. Later, the state was formed in 1956 by merging the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern taluks), and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara.

The state has the highest Human Development Index (HDI) (0.790) in the country according to the Human Development Report 2011. It also has the highest literacy rate (93.91%), Kerala has witnessed significant emigration of its people, especially to the Persian Gulf countries during the Kerala Gulf boom during the 1970s and early 1980s, and its economy depends significantly on remittances from a large Malayali expatriate community. Hinduism is practiced by more than half of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity. Malayalam is the major spoken language. Although it is considered the "cleanest state in India", the morbidity rate, at 118, is the highest in the country. The culture of the state traces its roots from 3rd century CE. It is a synthesis of Aryan and Dravidian cultures, developed over centuries under influences from other parts of India and abroad.

The state has 590 km of coastal belt, and around 1.1 million people of the state are dependent on the fishery industry which contributes 3% of the state's income. There are three existing and two proposed international airports. Waterways are also used as a means of transportation. The state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine different languages; mainly English and Malayalam. Kerala is an important tourist destination, with the backwaters, beaches, Ayurvedic tourism, and tropical greenery among its major attractions.

Area: 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi)
Latitudinal parallel: North latitudes 8 18' and 12 48'
Longitudinal meridian: East longitudes 74 52' and 77 22'
Average Temperature: 34oC (Max) - usually in May - Jun, 22oC (Min) - usually in Dec - Jan
Rainfall: 3107 mm
Monsoon: July to mid-September
Population: 3.44% (Census 2011)
Best time to visit: October to March
STD Code: 0472
Languages: Malayalam, English,
Religions: Hinduism, Christianity, Muslims

Places to visit

Kochi, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Alapuzha, Kovalam, Kollam, Kumarakom, Munnar, Idukki
Thekkady, Sabarimala, Wayanad, Kozhikodu (Calicut), Bekal Fort
Athiram Palli, Thirissur, Palakkad, Guruvayoor, Chottanikara
Veli Village, Gamom, Vythiri
Poovar Island, Varkala