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 Kerala is a state in south India. It occupies an area of 38,863 square kilometer and situated in the southwestern part of India. Kerala is surrounded by Karnataka State in the northern part, Tamilnadu State in the Eastern part and Arabian Sea in the West and the Western Ghats on the east. The average temperature in various parts of Kerala is between 21° C and 33° C. Rain fall is maximum during monsoon season. The annual rainfall is about 3000mm. The summer in Kerala starts from April-June, with temperatures ranging from 24 - 33 degree Celsius, the Monsoon from July-September, 22 - 27 degree Celsius and Winter from October-March with temperatures ranging from 22 - 32 degree Celsius. The high Season is from December-May.
It is the most literate state in India, with a literacy rate greater than 90%. The name Keralam in Sanskrit means the land added on. But it is also popular as the land of Kera, the Coconut.
The State of Kerala was formed by the amalgamation of three regions: the Kingdom of
Thiruvithamcoore (Travancore), the Kingdom of Kochi (Cochin), and the Province of Malabar.
Kerala is divided into 14 districts. They are, starting from North Kerala
Kasargod, Kannur (Canannore), Wayanad (Wynad), Kozhikode (Calicut), Malappuram, Palakkad (Palghat), Thrissur (Trichur), Ernakulam (Cochin Kochi), Idukki,
Alappuzha (Alleppey), Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Kollam(Quilon) and
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the state
More than 95% of the people in Kerala speak Malayalam, however English is widely spoken and understood by the population of Kerala.
The major religions in Kerala are Hinduism (58%),Islam (21%), and Christainity(21%). Kerala also has a small Jewish population, said to date from 587 BC. when they fled the occupation of
Jerusalam. The state has many famous temples, churches, and mosques and synagogue in Kochi,the oldest in India.
Kerala occupies a narrow strip of India's southwestern coast. It is bounded by the Arabian Sea on the west and the Western Ghats on the east. The states of Karnataka in the north and Tamil Nadu in the east are Kerala's immediate neighbours. Mahe, a part of the union territory of Pondicherry, is an enclave within Kerala.
Kerala may be divided in three geographical regions: Highlands, Midlands, Lowlands.
The high lands slope down from the Western Ghats, which rise to an average height of 900 m with a number of peaks all over 1,800m in height. This is area of major plantations like tea, coffee, rubber, cardamom, and other spices.
The midlands lying, between the mountains and low lands, are made up undulating hills and valleys. This is an area of intensive cultivation. Cashew, coconut, areca nuts, tapioca, banana, rice, ginger, pepper, sugarcane, and vegetables.
The low lands- the coastal area that is made up of the river deltas, backwaters and the shore of the Arabian sea, is essentially a land of coconuts and rice. Fisheries and coir industry constitute the major industries of this area.
Agriculture is the most important economic activity. Coconut, tea and coffee are grown extensively, along with rubber, cashew and spices. Spices commonly cultivated in Kerala include pepper, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. Kerala possesses few major industries. Tourism plays an important role in the state's economy. Rice is the staple food of the people. Kerala has unique cropping pattern. It accounts 92 per cent of India's rubber, 70% of coconut, 60% tapioca, almost 100 % of lemon grass oil. Kerala is the single largest producer of certain crops like banana and ginger. Handloom and Bamboo based industries are well developed
The Kerala cuisine is known for its spicy foods. Traditionally, in Kerala food is served on a banana leaf. One has to take food with right hand. Almost every dish prepared in Kerala has coconut and spices to flavour the local cuisine giving it a sharp tanginess that is heightened with the use of tamarind., while coconut gives it its richness, absorbing some of the tongue-teasing, pepper-hot flavours. Tender coconut water is a refreshing drink. The snacks include banana and jackfruit chips. Kerala cuisine is a combination of vegetables, meats, and seafood. Seafood's are main diet of Coastal Kerala whereas Vegetable is the main diet in plains of Kerala and Meat is the main course among tribal, northern Kerala and the highland.
The official animal is Elephant. Official bird - Hornbill (vezhambal). Official tree - Coconut, Official flower - Cassia Fistula (Kani Konna).
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Learn more about Kerala by clicking on the
below links:
About
Kerala
Festivals of
Kerala
Performing
Art Forms of Kerala
Kerala
Wildlife and Jungles
Hill
Stations in Kerala
Beaches in
Kerala
Waterfalls
in Kerala
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