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An Overview
The 'natural wonder' state located in southern part of the Indian peninsula is bordered on the north by Karnataka, south and east by Tamil Nadu, and west by the Arabian sea. Ranking 12th among states in terms of population, Kerala, spread at 38,863 km², has a saga of a rich historic tradition, finding mention in the ancient epic Mahabharata to Asoka the Great's endeavors, the Chera dynasty and more. The state has been deemed as one of the most literate, healthiest, and gender-equitable regions, housing some of the most advanced educational systems in India. Malayalam is the official language of this least corrupt state in the country.
Climatic Conditions
Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate, which is influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon, witnessing 120–140 rainy days per year. A drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails in the eastern part of the region. The average rainfall varies from 1,250 mm to 3,107 mm annually as per region's wet and dry parameters.
Summers are usually very hot, accompanies by gale force winds, storm surges, cyclone-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, rises in sea level and storms.
The maximum daily temperature is 36.7 °C, the minimum being 19.8 °C with coastal areas experiencing 25.0–27.5 °C in the lowlands and 20.0–22.5 °C in the highlands.
Cultural Heritage
The visitor to Kerala can experience the nostalgia of a lifetime with its diverse cultural activities. Kerala is home to a number of native performing arts like
* Koodiyattom, a 2000 year old Sanskrit theatre tradition, officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
* Kathakali, a highly stylised classical Indian dance-drama
* Mohiniaattam, dance of the enchantress, a solo recital by women
* Thullal, whereby a single actor wears colorful costumes, all the while reciting, acting and dancing
* Padayani, a marvellous combination of music, dance, painting and satire
* Theyyam, a popular ritual dance.
Carnatic music dominates the Keralite traditional music and the dance programmes are just spectacular to view. Melam is a type of musical show that comprises up to 150 musicians with performances lasting up to four hours. The annual snake boat race is performed during Onam Celebrations, which is a source of major tourist attractions. Caparisoned Keralite elephants also steal the show during the Sree Poornathrayesa Temple festival. There are many more performing arts that are bound to mesmerize the visitor or the tourist.
Tourist Attractions
The lush and tropical Malabar Coast where Kerala is located has been a major tourist destination since long. Kerala has been termed as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the National Geographic Traveler magazine. The state's tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy.
Also deemed as 'God's Own Country', Kerala's tourist attractions include the following:
* Beaches at Kovalam, Cherai and Varkala
* Hill stations at Munnar, Nelliampathi, Ponmudi and Wayanad
* National parks and wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar and Eravikulam National Park
* Backwaters with an extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals at Alleppey, Kumarakom, and Punnamada
* Heritage sites - Padmanabhapuram Palace and the Mattancherry Palace
* Shopping and traditional theatrical performance centres - Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. |
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