#Kerala, a state on #India‘s southern tip. Also Called ‘God’s Own Country’ it’s known for its tropical #Malabar Coastline that is nearly 600km long. The state is wedged between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. Kerala is known for its palm-lined beaches, mouthwatering cuisine, and #backwaters, a network of canals/ not just the Western Ghats mountains that mostly from the eastern border of the state, make it ab ideal location for the production of rubber, tea, coffee, and spice.
The #ArabianSea makes the onset of Southwest #monsoon an annual event in the state and which affects the rest of the country The state is home to a huge variety of #wildlife like elephants, langur monkeys, and tigers. with national parks at #Eravikulam and #Periyar, #Wayanad. The state is known for its temples, churches, mosques, and synagogue at #Jew town which is a huge attraction. It is also famous for its charming houseboats, sprawling tea plantations, unique eco-tourism, magnificent architecture, and Ayurvedic treatments.
It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being #Thiruvananthapuram. #Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state. The Chera Dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala. The Ay kingdom in the deep south and the Ezhimala kingdom in the north formed the other kingdoms. At the time of the Indian independence movement in the early 20th century, there were two major princely states in Kerala #Travancore State and the Kingdom of #Cochin.
They united to form the state of Thiru-Kochi in 1949. The Malabar region, in the northern part of Kerala, was part of the #Madras province of British India, which later became a part of the Madras State post-independence. In 1956, the modern-day state of Kerala was formed by merging the Malabar district of Madras State (excluding Gudalur taluk of Nilgiris district, Lakshadweep Islands, Topslip, the Attappadi Forest east of Anakatti), the state of Thiru-Kochi (excluding four southern taluks of Kanyakumari district, Shenkottai, and Tenkasi taluks), and the taluk of Kasaragod (now Kasaragod District) in South Canara (Tulunad) which was a part of Madras State.
The earliest Sanskrit text to mention Kerala as Cherapadha in the late Vedic text Aitareya Aranyaka. Kerala is also mentioned in the Ramayana and the Mahabharata, the two Hindu epics. The maritime spice trade monopoly in the Indian Ocean and the Arabian Sea stayed with the Arabs during the High and Late Middle Ages. However, the dominance of Middle East traders was challenged in the European Age of Discovery. After Vasco Da Gama’s arrival in Kappad Kozhikode in 1498, the Portuguese began to dominate eastern shipping and the spice trade in particular.
They established a trading center at Tangasseri in Quilon in 1502 as per the invitation of the then Queen of Quilon to start spices trade from there. The Portuguese were ousted by the Dutch East India Company, By the end of the 18th century, the whole of Kerala fell under the control of the British, either administered directly or under suzerainty. Most of the biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Western Ghats. region of the state with over 25% of India’s 15,000 plant species. Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested.
Three of the world’s Ramsar Convention listed wetlands—Lake Sasthamkotta, Ashtamudi Lake, and the Vembanad-Kol #wetlands are in Kerala, The state is home to a variety of plants animals, and birds including bamboo, wild black pepper, wild cardamom, the calamus rattan palm,, Indian elephant, Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, Nilgiri tahr, common palm civet, and grizzled giant squirrels are also found in the forest.. Reptiles found here include the king cobra, viper, python, and mugger crocodile. Kerala’s birds include the Malabar trogon, the great hornbill, Kerala laughing thrush, darter, and southern hill myna.
In the lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as Kadu, Red Line Torpedo Barb, and choottachi; orange chromite—Etroplus maculatus is found. Kerala’s economy depends significantly on emigrants working in foreign countries, mainly in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf, and the remittances annually contribute more than a fifth of GSDP. Kerala produces 97% of the national output of black pepper and accounts for 85% of the natural rubber in the country. Coconut, tea, coffee, cashew, and spices—including cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg are the main agricultural products.80% of India’s export quality cashew kernels are prepared in Kollam.
Well connected by sea, rail, road, and air, it is the only state in India with 4 international airports. The state has numerous backwaters, which are used for commercial inland navigation. Kerala is known for its top-class healthcare system. An education hub it is known for its cultural diversity, dance, literature, #cinema, and, a fantastic range of #cuisine. As such Kerala’s beaches, backwaters, lakes, mountain ranges, waterfalls, ancient ports, palaces, religious institutions[ and wildlife sanctuaries are major attractions for both domestic and international #tourists.
#Ayurvedic #tourism has become very popular since the 1990s, and private agencies have played a notable role in tandem with the initiatives of the Tourism Department. Open to visitors throughout the year the state is a shoppers paradise, with a wide variety of products to be bought including Aranmula Kannadi (Mirror), Aromatic Oils and Essence, Banana Chips, Coconut and Coir Products, Handicrafts, Jewellery, Kasavu Mundu, and Kathakali Masks. There are numerous types of hotels, restaurants, and resorts that offer luxurious, mid-range, and budget accommodation to travelers. A visit to Kerala is a must for any visitor to India, once in his or her lifetime.
