Kerala

Kerala is a state located south most on the west coast of India. It is bordered by
Karnataka to the north, the Lakshadweep Sea to the west and Tamil Nadu to the south and east. There are fringed beaches, pristine backwaters and greenery in profusion in Kerala.

The Portuguese explorer, Vasco de Gama who discovered India in 1498, first reached Calicut in Kerala.

The stare was created on November 1st, 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act.

Kerala comprises 14 districts. Idduki is the largest district in the state. The capital of Kerala is Thiruvananthapuram.

The official language of Kerala is Malayalam.

Kerala experiences the humid equatorial tropical climate. The best time to visit Kerala is between October and March.

Kerala’s coasts had direct contacts across the Arabian Sea with all the major Red Sea ports and the Mediterranean ports.

Kerala is one of the best tourist destinations in the world where a large number of tourists come round the year. The state is famous for the backwaters, ayurvedic treatments and tropical greenery.

Year by year Kerala is increasing in tourist number, as it goes up by 16.11%. That is about 5, 98,929 foreign tourists and 75, 91,250 domestic tourists during 2008.

Major tourist destinations of Kerala are Alappuzha, Bekal, Bharananganam, Guruvayur, Idukki, Kannur, Kochi, Kottayam, Kovalam, Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Malayattoor, Munnar, Parumala, Peermade, Sabarimala, Thekkady, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, Varkala Wayanad and Sasthamkotta.

Kerala also preserves some notable biodiversity sites, where one can find over 10, 000 plant species, about 4,000 flowering plant species and almost 900 medicinal plants.

The state is the home to myriad forms of dance and cultures. Some of the famous art forms of Kerala are kathakali, mohiniyattam, kalaripayattu, chaakyar koothu, maargamkali, oppana, ottamthullal, theyyam, kummattikali and krishnanttam.

Kerala cuisine is traditionally served on green banana leaves. A few delectable items are Idlli, Payasam, Pulisherry, Puttukadala, Puzhukku, Rasam, Sambar, etc.

There is Kerala Tourism Development Corporation in the state to manage tourism.

Kerala is well connected by rail, road, waterway and air. There are three major airports at Thiruvananathapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. Another airport at Kannur has also been proposed in order to manage huge traffic duly. Many airlines connect Kerala with their scheduled flight services. For that, booking can be made online as well as offline.