MAP & INFO

Kerala, it is said, was reclaimed from the seas by  Parasurama, the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, by throwing his battle axe across the length of what is now the land of the "green magic", "God’s own country" and  the "green symphony". The sheer beauty of this place   is indeed  worth a closer look! From the sun kissed beaches on the Arabian Sea to the heights of the Western Ghats, or the awe-inspiring temples or the fascinating forests and abundant wildlife, the friendly people, or their excellent culinary feats, the languorous trip down the backwaters, or the invigorating Ayurvedic massages - Kerala has much to offer the tourist. The State stretches along a narrow corridor from Kovalam in the South to Kasargod in the North.

About Kerala

The Place: Stretches from the sea to the hills of Western Ghats on the Eastern boundary of the state. Good monsoon rains during June to September.

People: Highly educated and literate population. Mainly rural and agrarian economy.

Religions: The Hindus form the majority ( more than 50%), followed by the Muslims ( 25%) and Christians of many denominations (Syrian Christians and Latin Catholics), form around 23% of the population.

Politics: Kerala is politically highly evolved. The two political fronts - the leftist Communist-led LDF and the right of centre, the Congress led United Democratic Front are the main political entities that have ruled Kerala. This two-party system has ensured some degree of political stability to this state.

Art &  Culture: Highly evolved art forms, centred around the temples evolved here. Dance forms like Kathakali, mohiniattam, kalaripayattu etc.. are exclusive to this state. The temples have remained central to people's lives and temple festivals are a riot of colours, sounds and  various art forms.

When To Visit  

Kerala is a warm, tropical state in the far south of India. It is a wonderful introduction to India for the first time visitor and offers complete diversity to those who have already visited the north.

National Geographic Traveler magazine recently voted Kerala as one of the fifty 'must see' destinations of a lifetime. Make sure you don't miss your chance to see India's most enchanting state.

Kerala has two monsoons a year (the main one in June/July and another in October) which is why it is so amazingly green and lush. Kerala is an agricultural state and there is virtually no industry. Coconuts are the main crop (in fact Kerala is known as the 'Land of the Coconut') but rice, tea, coffee, sandalwood, sago, rubber and spices are also grown. As tourism is fairly new to Kerala its development has been controlled which means that there are few high rise buildings and night clubs etc. What Kerala offers the tourist is natural beauty and a vibrant culture. 

The best time to visit is October to April, when there is less rainfall. However, you should bear in mind that Kerala is within the tropics and so rain can be experienced any time.

Temperature and Rainfall Chart - Trivandrum

Temperature and Rainfall Chart - Cochin

The above charts give the average temperature and rainfall in Trivandrum and Cochin. Places on the coast are always slightly cooler and less humid as they benefit from a sea breeze and hill stations or places high in the Western Ghats are considerably cooler.