| All About Kerala |
Kerala tourism
Kerala with 1.18% of total area of the country has 3.34% of the country’spopulation is at the south west corner of Indian peninsula. It occupies a long 550km narrow strip of land with Arabian Sea coastline in the west, Tamilnadu in the south and east and Karnataka in the north. The landscape varies from long beaches to hill stations and dense green jungles to busy cities. It has 1900km of palm fringed backwaters and is networked by 44 rivers. The equable climate, serene beaches, tranquil stretches of backwaters, lush hill stations and exotic wildlife, waterfalls, sprawling plantations and paddy fields made it as one of the sought after tourist destinations in Asia. These salient features made this small land as one of the “ten paradises of the world” by the National Geographic traveller.
The people of Kerala are friendly and the hospitality they shower on you during your visit to Kerala is one of the highlights of the state. Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varied demography has made it one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Kerala is nominated as one among the three finalists at the World Travel and Tourism council’s ‘Tourism for Tomorrow’ awards in the destination category
Approximate distance and travel time between different tourist spots in Kerala
| Kochi |
Munnar |
4.5 hrs |
135 Km |
| Kochi |
Thekkady |
6.00 hrs |
195 Km |
| Kochi |
Kumarakom |
2.0 hrs |
80 Km |
| Kochi |
Alappuzha |
1.00 hrs |
64 Km |
| Kochi |
Kovalam |
5.5 hrs |
236 Km |
| Kochi |
Kanyakumari |
8.00 hrs |
310 Km |
| Kochi |
Vagamon |
4 hrs |
132 Km |
| Kochi |
Thiruvananthapuram |
5.5 hrs |
222 Km |
| Kochi |
Guruvayoor |
3 hrs |
108 Km |
| Kochi |
Kodaikanal |
9 hrs |
305 Km |
| Kochi |
Ooty |
9 hrs |
299 Km |
| Kochi |
Nelliyampathy |
5 hrs |
170 Km |
| Kochi |
Calicut |
5 hrs |
200 Km |
| Kochi |
Wayanad |
8 hrs |
301 Km |
| Munnar |
Thekkady |
3.5 hrs |
112 Km |
| Munnar |
Ooty |
7 hrs |
241 Km |
| Munnar |
Kodaikanal |
5 hrs |
180 Km |
| Thekkady |
Kumarakom |
3 hrs |
122 Km |
| Thekkady |
Kovalam |
7 hrs |
329 Km |
| Thekkady |
Alappuzha |
4 hrs |
164 Km |
| Thekkady |
Kodaikanal |
5 Hrs |
195 Km |
| Thekkady |
Madurai |
3.5 Hrs |
160 Km |
| Kumarakom |
Alappuzha |
1 hr |
35 Km |
| Alappuzha |
Kovalam |
3.5 hrs |
165 Km |
| Thiruvananthapuram |
Kanyakumari |
2.5 hrs |
88 Km |
| Kanyakumari |
Rameswaram |
8 Hrs |
415 Km |
|
Note : Time and distance mentioned are indicative and can vary
Kerala Fact File
Location : Southwestern tip of India
Area : 38863 Sq.km
Population : 3,18,38,619 (Census 2001)
Capital : Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Language : Malayalam, English is widely spoken
Religion : Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Time : GMT + 5:30
Currency : Indian Rupee
Climate : Tropical
Summer : Feb - May (Min 30°C - Max 33°C)
Monsoon : June - Sept (Min 26°C - Max 29°C)
Winter : Oct - Jan (Min 24°C - Max
Art forms of Kerala
Kerala, which is known as God’s Own Country attracts a lot of tourist every year with its physical and natural beauty as well as with its rich cultural heritage, which fascinates the tourists. The art and culture of Kerala portrays various dance forms and martial arts performed with the accompaniment of vocal and instrumental music. These art forms are performed during festivals as well shows are also performed for the convenience of tourists.
 Kathakali - Kathakali is one of the classical dance drama of kerala based on the guidelines written in Natya Sastra. The costumes and makeup are ornamental, colourful and elaborate so that the gestures and expressions of the performer are easily seen and understood. The performers do not speak or sing but enact the story through hand gestures, body movements and facial expressions especially of the eyes. The themes of this art form are from mythology of Indian culture.
 Thullal – This is another art form with its distinct simplicity of presentation and its frank, outspoken wit and humour. The songs are in simple Malayalam and the techniques employed are not rigid. The performer will have the freedom to tease even the audience during his performance. Though Thullal is based on the classical principles of Naatya Saastra, it is said to have been a modification of Koothu. It is organized by Kunjan nambiar, a veritable genius and one of the foremost poets of Kerala
 Koothu – This is an old classical theatre arts of Kerala. It is a solo dance performed in the koothambalam of temples to the accompaniment of mizhavu and elathalam as instruments. The story to be narrated are usually picked from Epics and is portrayed with the dance movements, gestures and facial expressions according to the the principles of Natya Sastra. It is marked for the presence of humour elements, which adds to its dramatic character. The costume worn during the performance is colourful and unconventional with an unusual headgear.
 Mohiniyattom - This is a distinctive classical solo dance form of Kerala. Slow, graceful, swaying movements of the body and limbs and highly emotive eye and hand gestures are unique to this dance form. This art form has the blend of the grace of elegance of Bharata Natyam with the strength and force of kathakali to create a mood of romance. The costume for this dance is the traditional white mundu and melmundu of Kerala and with the hairs gathered up at one side of the head and adorned with jasmine flowers in the traditional style
 Kalaripayattu (Martial art form) – Kalaripayattu is a martial and healing art of Kerala dating back to 6th century. Through a traditional system of bodily and mental development, this art seeks to cultivate not only a powerful physical warrior but more importantly, a person of deep inner self-knowledge and humility. This involves extremely energetic techniques of defence and attack. Kalaripayattu is regarded as one of the oldest and most scientific in the world which is evolved in North Kerala. ‘kalari’ is the place where boys and girls are trained under ‘Gurukkal’. They are taught a set of body exercises as well as use of weapons like 'kuruvadi'(short stick) and 'sariravadi' (mace,spear,dagger,sword,shield). 'Marmams' are taught to the most promising of the lot which are vulnerable parts of the human body and a skilled person can disable or kill his opponent by a mere touch.
Districts in Kerala
The state of Kerala has 14 revenue districts with same name as important town or city in the district (except wayanad). These 14 districts are further divided into 62 taluks, 1453 revenue villages and 1007 gramapanchayats.
List of districts in Kerala (From South to North order)
1. Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
2. Kollam (Quilon)
3. Pathanamthitta
4. Alappuzha (Allepey)
5. Kottayam
6. Idukki
7. Ernakulam
8. Thrissur (Trichur or Thrishivaperur)
9. Palakkad (Palghat)
10. Malappuram
11. Kozhikode (Calicut)
12. Wayanad
13. Kannur (Cannanore)
14. Kasaragod
Kerala Food
Kerala food is spicy yet delicious. The distinctive cuisine of Kerala is prepared using the ingredients available locally. Seafood is also famous here. The local food includes a lot of coconut as it is available in plenty and is tasty. The oil used for cooking is mainly coconut or vegetable oil. Sea food such as fish, crabs, shelfish, lobsters are included in everyday cooking especially in the coastal regions. Smaller fish are dried salted and pickled. An average Malayali is very liberal in the use of spices and commonly use green chillies, cumin, coriander, clove, cinnamon, cardamom, dried red chilles and coriander leaves adds an irresistible flavour.
Tapioca and plantain cultivation is profuse in kerala and finds a great use of vegetables in both main dishes and snacks. The Kozhikodan Biriyani, Fish curry, Prawn masala are familiar favourites among non-veg food in Kerala.
The order in which the food is served is of physiological, cultural and religious significance. On the bottom left are placed the Pappadam and Chips. Above these the pickles and Pulli Inji are placed. Now from left to right are served Thoran, Olan, Avial, Kalan, Erisseri and Pachadi. In the middle of the leaf rice is served. On it Parippu, Sambar, Rasam and Curd may be served as per the course. The Payasam/ Pradaman is served between the Rasam and Curd courses. The courses get lighter as the meal proceeds and the addition of digestive tidbits such as Pulli Inji or Lime Pickle ensure complete digestion. Pradhaman or Payasam may be of many kinds but the favorite is Pal Payasam. The order in which the food is served is said to signify the spiritual progress of the soul from materialism (spicy) towards spiritualism (refined and subtle).
Kerala Recipes
Breakfast in a Malayali household may consist of one or more of the following dishes:
 Appam, Puttu, Idiyapam, Idli, Dosa. Idiyapam etc
 A traditional festival meal, Sadya or Saddya as it is called, is served on a plantain leaf end with the narrow end to the left. It necessarily includes the following dishes:
Parripu (Dal)
Sambar (Dal cooked with a slight tempering of vegetables like brinjal, drumstick, tomatoes etc)
Rasam ( A clear soup)
Avial (Assorted vegetables cooked in a paste of grated coconut and curd, spiced with cumin and green chillies)
Kaalan (Curry in a curd base)
Theyal
Olan (Red beans and White Pumpkin cooked in coconut gravy)
Thoran
Erisseri (Dal and Yam spiced with Cumin)
Pulli Inji (Ginger pieces in a spicy tamarind pulp)
Pachadi (Raita)
Kichadi
Chips (Banana/ Tapioca/Jackfruit)
Pradhaman/Payasam
Kerala Dress
The main dress worn by the people of Kerala are traditional in nature through the costumes are to a large extend guided by the geographical conditions of the region. The traditional dress forms are the 'Mundu and Neriathu' (a white piece of cloth with golden zari border symbolising royalty) for men; and 'sari' (a 5-6 metres long piece of cloth embroidered with golden border) with jacket for women. |
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