Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Thursday, December 30, 2010
About Kerala
Kerala (Malayalam: കേരളം, 
The state has an area of 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi) and is bordered by Karnataka to the north, Tamil Nadu to the south and the east and the Lakshadweep Sea[note] towards the west. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital and largest city of Kerala. Kochi and Kozhikode are the other major cities. Kerala is also known for its many small towns that are scattered across the state, thus creating a higher density of population.
From as early as 3000 BC, Kerala had established itself as a major spice trade centre. A 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great attests to a Keralaputra.[4] Around 1 BC the region was ruled by the Chera Dynasty, which traded with the Greeks, Romans and Arabs. The Tamil Chera dynasty, Ays and the Pandyan Empire were the traditional rulers of Kerala whose patriarchal dynasties ruled until the 14th century.[5][6] The Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Chola and Rashtrakuta kingdoms. Feudal Namboothiri Brahmin and Nair city-states subsequently gained control of the region.[7] Contact with Europeans after the arrival of Vasco Da Gama in 1498 gave way to struggles between colonial and native interests. By early 16th century, the Portuguese established their domination. They were defeated by the Dutch in 1663, who in turn were forced out of the land by the British East India Company in 1795, bringing the area under British dominion. After independence, the state of Kerala was created in 1956 from the former state of Travancore-Cochin, the Malabar district of Madras State, and the Kasaragod taluk of Dakshina Kannada.[8]
Kerala is a popular tourist destination famous for its backwaters, Ayurvedic treatments [9] and tropical greenery. Kerala has a higher Human Development Index than all other states in India.[10][11] The state has a literacy rate of 94.59 percent,[2] the highest in India. A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.[12] Kerala has witnessed significant migration of its people, especially to the Persian Gulf countries during the Kerala Gulf boom, and is heavily dependent on remittances from its large Malayali expatriate community.[13][14][15][16]
Friday, October 10, 2008
Beaches of Kerala
Kerala is blessed with the Western Ghats mountain range which undulates down India's western seaboard perfectly complementing the lakes, rivers and shorelineIn Kerala, you can find finest beaches of India. Kerala Coast, having a total length of 900 km, is fraught with sand beaches, coconuts, palm groves, and high-land rock promontories. Every beach has its own unique characteristics. There are large areas of palm groves that are closely attached with these beaches. Moreover, healthy, cool air blowing over the beaches would work like a soothing balm to your body and soul. While you laze and stroll on the kerala beaches, you would feel rejuvenating with sands, cool breeze, and also with clear blue waters.
In fact, you have many choices to visit beautiful Kerala beaches, the moment you land in this beautiful region. Some of the finest beaches of Kerala are: Alappuzha beach, Beypore beach, Kappad beach, Kovalam beach, Mararikulam beach, and Varkala beach.
Alappuzha beach is the most interesting tourist spot in Alappuzha District. Here, you can see a 140-year-old pier that is stretched closely into the sea. It is also known as the Venice of the East. Vijaya Beach Park adds attraction to the beach. You can see an ancient lighthouse commanding the sea.
As Alappuzha is located very close to the sea, it has occupied the special place in the maritime history. There is a Backwater Tourist Center, which invites hundreds of visitors annually. Alappuzha is noted for houseboat holidays, annual boat races, coir industry and marine products, and much more.
Beypore beach is famous for wood industry and shipbuilding center. In olden days, the designing and building of the Urus (traditional vessels) had spread all over the world. Even Arab trader would come to this coastal town of kerala. They were extremely amazed with Khalasis' (the traditional ship builders) shipbuilding crafts and knowledge because the planning and designing are conceptualized only in the mind of he master craftsman, not on the designing map.
Now you can see the wood industry here, that was once dependant on the shipbuilding industry. Now the ship building industry is in defunct. However, you can still find huge logs of wood floating, which proclaims its past glory to its visitors.
Kappad beach is famous for the historic landing of the Portuguese navigator Vasco Da Gama on May 27, 1498. After Gama's landing, the beach opened the sea route for the European traders to India, thus making Malabar Coast, the Gateway to the East. This beach tells the legend of 500 years old, which sadly shows the past traditions and origins to its visitors during their short stay on the beach.
Here you can see the 800-year-old temple on the rock, extending into the sea. You can reach shore from Kozhikode, which is 16 km from the beach.
Kovalam is one of the world's finest beaches in India. It has three adjoining crescent beaches. Here, you can find the beach lies on the massive rock promontory, thereby creating enchanting bay of pristine water. This beach provides leisure activities like swimming, sunbathing, special cultural programme, herbal body toning massages, and Catamaran cruising, and so on.
You can find people moving around late at night. For one thing, your skin becomes a faintly coppery tan within the short span when you are exposed to the tropical sun.
One of the enthralling features of Mararikulam beach is that since time immemorial, Mararikulam beach water has had the soothing affect not only on the local villagers but also on the tourists. Unlike other beaches of kerala, this beach is located on peaceful territory, and so it seems to relieve the worries of the people and the visitors.
Moreover, there is the Mararikulam Beach Resort on the beach, which is just like a home as it has many things to offer to its visitors. For instance, the resort provides wide range of facilities from a bicycle ride to beach volley ball games.
Varkala beach is famous for watching the sunset. You can sometimes find the sun melting into the sea. The golden sands have become the best place for cultural activities.
