Kerala is probably the greenest place you will ever see. The coconut palms, the red tilted houses, the innumerable lakes and beaches will remain long lasting impressions to any visitor. The colorful festivals like ONAM & VISHU, various types dances like Kathakali, Kaikottikali, Mohiniyattom and Koodiyattam, martial arts like Kalaripayattu and wildlife sanctuaries are the other attractions.

       Ayurveda the 3000 year old system of medicine (recognized by World Health Organization as a system of alternative medicine), is becoming very popular all over the world. Kerala is a very attractive tourist place in Asia .

       Location: Kerala is a narrow strip of land located on the south western edge of the Indian Subcontinent. It is sandwiched between the Western Ghats mountain range on the East and the Arabian Sea on the West.

» Area          : 38,863 sq km
» Capital      : Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
» Language : Malayalam, Hindi, English
» Climate     : Summer - February to May (Max. 33oC Min. 24oC)
                    Monsoon - June to September (Max. 28oC Min. 22oC)
                    Winter - October to September (Max. 32oC Min. 22oC)

     Legend says that Parasuraman, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu threw his axe into the sea from Gokarnam (near present Mangalore) and it is believed the sea retreated from where his axe fell to give birth to Kerala.

     Geologist are of the view that Kerala was formed much later than the rest of the subcontinent. Submarine earth movement probably pushed up the land between the curve of the Western Ghats to form this wonderful land. It is possible that the earth inhabitants could have witnessed this geological event leading to the creation of the myths & legends concerning the birth of Kerala.

     The interesting thing about the myths and legends of Kerala are that they are so strongly interlinked with scientific facts and history that it is very difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. According to 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.

     Historians believe that civilization existed in one form or the other in Kerala as early as 5000 BC to 3000 BC. T he early where most probably of Negrito stock as the rest of South India . The Negrito race was followed by the Austrics and then by the Dravidians. The Indo-Arabians (erroneously often referred to as Aryans) seems to have gained in substantial numbers by 2000-1500 BC.

      Christianity and Islam were introduced in Kerala much before the rest of the India . Historians and the Church agree that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived in Muziris (present day Kodungallur) in AD 52. Still later in AD 643 prophet Mohammed's disciple Malik Ibn Dinar arrived in Kerala to spread the prophet's message. Then in 1498 the first wave of the Europeans began to arrive. Vasco Da Gama, the Portuguese seafarer landed at the Kappad beach near Calicut in north Kerala.

      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 Weather 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.

TEMPLES IN KERALA

     The temples of Kerala are dedicated to various gods and goddesses from the Hindu mythology. An architectural delights, these temples are carved in the traditional style. Some of the significant temples in Kerala include the Padmanabhaswamy temple, Vadukkumnathan Temple , Vaikom Temple , Chottanikkara Temple , Mannarshala Temple , Ananthapura Lake Temple and the Ambalapuzha Temple . These temples reflects the religious fervor of people of Kerala

Kerala has about 30% of its land cover accounted by forests. The forests of Kerala are famous for elephants and tigers. Also there are a lot of animals are there like sambar, deer and wild buffalos. Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary, Parambikulam Wild Life Sanctuary, Eravikulam National Park are the major Wild Life centers. Kumarakom, Thattekad, Myladumpara are the main Bird watching centers.

The major tourist activities that can be undertaken in the wild life parks are wild life tours. One can really feel the smell of an Elephant in these tours. Elephant rides, staying at jungle lodges, tree houses, fishing camps etc. are other facilities available there. Guides are available in the Periyar Wild Life Sanctuary for treks in the forest. The Parambikulam forest authorities organize wild life tours in the park.

Elephants In Kerala :-

In Kerala one can see elephants in the streets. Elephants are used for lot of activities in Kerala like Temple Processions , lifting heavy timber trees and woods. Elephants have always found a place in the life of the Keralites. No Temple festivals are completed without an Elephant. They are loved and well cared by the people of Kerala. Certain organizations like the forest department which own elephants, enroll them as employees.

These 'Elephant Employees' earn salaries (with which it is feed). They are even pensioned off after a certain age. An Elephant is believed to be a quite intelligent animal, a well trained elephant can understand almost 40 commands. It is also believed to have a very good memory. As a 'supposed to be real life story' goes, a trained elephant in a camp ran away to the forest, the big guy returns to the camp after four long years and joins for work without forgetting a single command.