Kerala – God’s Own Country

Kerala, a state in Southern India is known as a tropical paradise of waving palms and wide sandy beaches. It is a narrow strip of coastal territory that slopes down the Western Ghats in a cascade of lush green vegetation, and reaches to the Arabian sea. Kerala borders the states of Tamil Nadu to the east and Karnataka to the north. It is also known for its backwaters, mountains, coconuts, spices and art forms like Kathakali (traditional South Indian dance-drama) and Mohiniyattam (classical dance form portrays feminine love). It is the most literate state in India, and a land of diverse religions, where you can find Hindu temples, mosques, churches, and even synagogues. With world class tourist sporting options, ayurvedic spas and treatments, eco-tourism initiatives, a large number of visit options ranging from beautiful high altitude blue mountains to pristine rain forests and golden sun-sand beaches Kerala has much to offer the visitor.

Kerala may be divided into three geographical regions: Highlands, Midlands and Lowlands.

The Highlands slope down from the Western Ghats which rise to an average height of 900 m – with a number of peaks well over 1,800 m in height – is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom and other spices.

The Midlands, stretching between the mountains and the lowlands, is made up of undulating hills and valleys. Cashew, coconut, areca nut, cassava (tapioca), banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane and vegetables of many varieties are grown in this area.

Kerala is the land of trees, the prolific, bustling, vegetation acts like a massive, biological air-filtration plant working round the clock. Spending days in Kerala’s countryside is like being in an air- purified environment. So is the rejuvenating effect of the lush greenery of the state.

English is widely spoken across Kerala (the native language is Malayalam) and it is considered to be one of the safest regions of India.

Climate
The pleasant and equable climate of Kerala attracts a number of tourists each year. Winter and summer (November to May) are the peak tourist seasons.

Monsoon tourism (June to October) in Kerala is gaining more popularity year after year. Monsoon tourism allows tourists to explore the intrinsic beauty of Kerala with a feel of adventure.