Why Kerala, because Kerala was the first designer-built country, tailor-made for world travelers. A god named Rama-of-the-Axe had wanted to create a green haven for wanderers and so he had hurled his axe into the ocean. The water had bubbled and seethed in protest but, reluctantly, had to withdraw from the land. This green sliver of a state, cupped between elephant-haunted mountains and the heartbeat of the Arabian sea, is Kerala.

Naturally, they called it, GOD’S OWN COUNTRY.

Kerala is divided into three geographical regions: (1) High lands, (2) Midlands and (3) 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. This is the area of major plantations like tea, coffee, cardamom and other spices.

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

Kerala- a purified world

It is a purified world in Kerala, the land of trees. A big, spreading tree purifies as much air as a room air-conditioner. And the former is never switched off. The prolific, bustling, vegetation acts like a massive, biological, air-filtration plant working round the clock, round the year. Hence spending days in Kerala countryside is as if spending in an air- purified environs; some times better than it. So is the rejuvenating effect of the lush greenery of the state.



Kerala- a herbarium

The wanton growth of trees makes Kerala a herbarium. The four month-long, copious monsoon and recurrent flurry make this land a perfect nursery for all living beings. Loitering under the canopy of the foliage, you will feel blossoming the dreams. Thus, on a sojourn in Kerala, away from the rough and tumble of cities, you're breathing freshly purified air all the time.

FACT FILE Location Southwestern tip of India. Area 38, 863 sq km. Population  3,18,38,619  Capital Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) Language Malayalam;English is widely spoken. Religion Hinduism, Christianity, Islam Time >GMT +5:30> Currency Indian Rupee Climate Tropical. Summer February - May (24 - 330C) Monsoon June - September (22 - 280C) Winter October - January (22 - 320C) Major Cities Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.   Population Population 318.39 lakhs as per the latest 2001 Census  (31.839 Millions) Density of Population 819 per sq kms Literacy Rate 90.92 per cent.   Connectivity Air: There are three international airports in the state. They are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Nedumbassery (Kochi) and operate international flights and domestic flights. Road and Rail : The state is well connected by rail and road. Seaports Major : Kochi Minor : Beypore (Kozhikode), Alappuzha, Kollam. Major Beaches  Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal, Cherai. Major Wild Life Sanctuaries Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar. Bird Sanctuary Thattekad, Kumarakom. Major Hill Stations Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad. Farm / Cash Crops Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice. Exports Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products. Major Industries Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Building, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber.