Area	38,863sq. km
Population	33 million
Capital	Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Main Language	Malayalam
Best time to visit	October to March

Kerala derives its name from ‘keram’ which means coconuts. But this beautiful strip of land with the Arabian Sea to one side and the mountain range, Western ghats to the other is endowed by Nature. Beautiful beaches and lagoons makes one spellbound. This fertile land is crisscrossed by a network of rivers and backwaters and the tropical forests in the high ranges are home wild elephants, tigers, panthers and a host of endangered species, some endemic only to the area.
The Western Ghats with their dense forests and extensive ridges have sheltered Kerala from many mainland invaders and the long coastline has encouraged maritime contact with the outside world - a contact that has resulted in an interesting blend of cultures. Chinese fishing nets drawn up on the golden sand, Jewish synagogues, Portuguese forts, Dutch and Syrian churches, and of course beautiful Indian temples and palaces...all the heritage of a friendly people who live in harmony with Nature and with one another. Historically speaking, the coast has been known to the Phoenicians, then the Romans and later the Arabs and Chinese. People have been sailing to Kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory for at least 2000 years and it is through Kerala that Chinese products and ideas found their way to the west. The kingdom of the Cheras ruled much of present day Kerala until the early Middle Ages. Vasco da Gama's arrival in 1498 heralded an era of European contact as Portuguese, Dutch and English fought the Arab traders and then with each other for the control of the spice trade. The present day Kerala was created in 1956 from the former states of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar.

Kerala's multitude of faiths - Islam, Judaism, Jainism, Skikhism and a host of sects of Christianity and Hinduism, all coexist harmoniously in a state that is known for its Marxist inclinations! Kerala's splendid festivals with intriguing rituals;classical performing arts and art; herds of elephants leading giant processions; exotic handicrafts and seafood preparations; cosmopolitan cities where the past is always within reach and small hamlets in far flung areas where time has stood still. All this and more, makes Kerala the ideal holiday destination, far removed from the cares of everyday world.

For more on Kerala, visit : http://www.keralamtours.com/frcontactus.htm