Geography
The eastern region of Kerala is dominated by the ranges of the Western Ghats with dense tropical forests and misty peaks. Tea, Coffee, sandalwood, cardamom, rubber are extensively cultivated in the mountainous area. The mid-land has fertile reddish hills and valleys growing tapioca, banana, coconut, arecanut, mango, cashew , pepper and ginger. The sandy coastal region is picturesque with extensive coconut groves, paddy fields and backwaters.
Kerala has an unbroken coastline of 550 k. m. , 41 rivers originating from the Western ghats and flowing west towards the Arabian Sea and 3 tributaries of the river Cauvery flowing eastward.
The sea-gifted land receives a fairly good rainfall ranging 1250 to 5000 m.m. both from the South-West and the North-East monsoons.
History :
According to legend, the land was a gift of Parasurama, one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that he threw his battle axe into the sea to atone for his sin of slaying generation of Kshatriyas. At this the sea receded, creating the land-mass - Kerala. Legends may sometimes have hidden truths. Much of the land of Kerala was once under the sea and might have surfaced gradually owing to various reasons.
Kerala has a very long history of contact with outside World. In Cochin, there is still a small community of the descendants of Jewish settlers who fled from Palestine 2000 years ago. The Syrian Christians in the State claim to be the descendants of the converts of St. Thomas, the Apostle. Arab contacts were very ancient and Muslims have made their mark in Kerala as far back as the 9th century. Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese and Babylonians had trade relations with Kerala as far back as the 3rd Century BC. In 1498, the Portuguese led by Vasco-da-Gama landed at Calicut in Kerala. In the early 17th century, the Dutch, the French and the English came to Kerala and left their imprint on this land.
Kerala is now one of the most progressive States in India in terms of social welfare and physical quality of life. It has achieved the unique distinction of total literacy.
