In order to facilitate our foreign delegates who will be attending the IARF Congress this September, I hope to present few articles on various aspects of Kerala. It would help them to know something more about this charming state and make plans for their holiday before or after the IARF Congress. The first article is general in character.

A Bird’s Eye View of Kerala

The state of Kerala is spread over a total area of 38,863 sq. kms. and has a population of about 3,18,41,374 (2001 census). The capital city of the state is Thiruvananthapuram. The languages generally spoken are English and Malayalam and the state enjoys a literacy rate of 90.92%. The climate is tropical and the monsoon season stretches from June to October. The major beaches are Kovalam, Varkala, Fort Kochi, Kappad and Bekal whilst the most important seaport is Kochi. The three major airports are Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

Name of the Districts

Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum), Kollam, Alappuzha (Alleppey), Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur (Trichur), Palakkad (Palghat), Malappuram, Wayanad, Kozhikode (Calicut), Kannur (Cannanore) and Kasaragad

Major Cities

Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi (Emakulam district) and Kozhikode

Major Hill Stations

Ponmudi, Peermedu, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad

Major Wild Life Sanctuaries

Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara & Neyyar

Kerala, one of the southern States of India is situated along the luxurious shores of the Arabian Sea and has an expanse of about 38,863 Sq. Km. The entire State has been known since time immemorial, among myriad other features, for its inherent tranquility. Although keeping pace with the present day advancements, Kerala remains unscathed by modernization.

Kerala is endowed with various landscapes and natural resources. The Western Ghats, thick forests, palm-fringed lakes, rivers, lagoons etc. are to name a few. The coconut farms of Kerala are world renowned. It is no surprise that a domain of such a rich heritage fostered the growth of religion, culture and art.

All the major religions co-exist harmoniously in Kerala in as much as it is no exception to following the ideal of secularism of the nation. Here temples greet mosques, mosques wish churches and churches welcome temples. Ancient temples, mosques and churches are located all over the State. The synagogues stand tall as reminiscences of the ancient Jewish settlers. It was here that the famous dance drama ‘Kathakali’ evolved from an ancient form of Sanskrit drama called “Kudiyattam”.

The State, much longer than it is wide, is about 580 km. in length and is flanked by Karnataka in the north and the north-east and Tamil Nadu on the east and the south. The highest South Indian Mountain peak known as the Anamalai Peak which is about 2689 mts. in altitude is situated here in Idukki district. Kerala is the smallest of the South Indian States.

History has it that Kerala has been an irresistible temptation to visitors right from the ancient times. Here, Phoenicians had traded in ivory, spices and peacocks as long back as 3000 years ago. Many historic visitors to Kerala have adored its indisputable greatness in ways which came to them naturally.

Behold! A few of such historic utterances.

Marco Polo in his books of Travel (1292 A.D.) “When you leave the islands of Seilan and sail westwards about 60 miles, you come to the great province of Malabar which is styled India the greater. It is the best of all the Indus and is on the main land…There is in the kingdom a great quantity of pepper, ginger, cinnamon and nuts of India”.

Lord William Bentinck (1804 A.D.) “There was one point in regard to the inhabitants of Malabar, on which all authorities, however diametrically opposed to each other on other points agreed and that was with regard to the independence of mind of the inhabitants. This independence of mind was generally diffused through the minds of the people”.

While high mountains form the border on one side of the State, the deep blue Arabian Sea does on the other. And obviously there is no scarcity for beaches. Some of the famous beaches in the State are at Kovalam, Papanasam (Varkala) Shanghumugam, Vizhinjam, Alleppey Kappad, Bekal and Payambalam.

The mountain range is a treasure from tip to toe as the tops are covered with evergreen forests, while all along the incline are valuable teak, rich plantations of cardamom, tea, rubber, coffee and pepper. The southwest monsoon, between May and August, bring more showers than its ironical rival, north-east, in October. The heavy downpour and the broken terrains give rise to a number of rivers and brooks whose beauty has besotted many a visitor.

In retrospect, Kerala has been ruled over by a number of dynasties. It had been under the empire of Ashoka in the 3^rd century B.C. Then the historic battles had continually placed it under the control of several heroes. The rulers of the three great Tamil dynasties viz., the Cheras, the Cholas and the Pandyas had succeeded in turns, to bring the coveted region under their belts. Then the Islamic emperors conquered it and then it went into the hands of Vijayanagar Kingdom which offered resistance to the iconoclastic approach of the Muslim rulers.

Dr. Homi Dhalla