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The narrow strip of land sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the southern Western Ghats (the most prominent mountain range in India, south of the Himalayas) in the extreme southwestern peninsula of India, is the green state of Kerala. Spectacularly beautiful, Kerala is a world of its own with coconut palms, thickly forested mountains, tall peaks, beautiful sandy and palm-fringed beaches, miles of crystal clear backwaters, plantations, rivers, rolling hills, lush green fields, pristine lakes and much more.
The history of Kerala has been punctuated with accounts of trade with the Middle East and Greeks and Romans in the ancient world and later with the colonial Europeans, particularly the Portuguese (under Vasco da Gama), the Dutch and the French, all of whom established colonies, though they couldn’t later withstand the might of the British Empire.
Thiruvanathapuram (formerly anglicized ‘Trivandrum’) in the southernmost district of the same name is the capital and in many ways the cultural hub, along with the district of Thrissur. The largest metro area and the most cosmopolitan region of Kerala is the Kochi metro area in the district of Ernakulam, located towards central Kerala.
Kerala has the largest literacy rate in India, while its health conditions are the most hygienic, on par with Europe and North America. The tremendous growth of the IT (Information Technology) and outsourcing industry in Kerala has substantially increased the income of the middle class, hitherto dependent on the government sector for employment. Technopark in Thiruvananthapuram is the largest IT park in Kerala, with others including Smart City in Kochi, coming up.
Tourism is the main industry of Kerala with the slogan “God’s Own Country” being adopted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala. Along with the unmatched natural beauty, the diverse and unique flora and fauna provide great tourist destinations for the casual traveler as well as the hardcore vacationer seeking hiking, trekking, camping, bird-watching, and other activities.
There is something to interest everyone in this land of coconut palms. |
