Kerala
About Kerala
Kerala, a state on the southwestern coast of India, is renowned for its unique geographical, cultural, and social attributes.
- Kerala is home to the Western Ghats, one of the world’s eight “hottest” hotspots of biological diversity. The forests contain over 5000 species of flowering plants, 139 mamm al species, 508 bird species, and 179 amphibian species.Kerala’s state bird is the Great Hornbill (Buceros bicornis).
- Kerala is famous for its backwaters, a network of brackish lagoons and lakes lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast. Houseboat cruising on these backwaters is a popular tourist attraction.
- Malayalam is the official language of Kerala. It is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and has a rich literary tradition.
- Kerala experiences a tropical climate with significant rainfall during the monsoon seasons, which contributes to its verdant environment.
- Kerala has its own traditional dance forms, such as Kathakali and Mohiniyattam. Kathakali is known for its intricate makeup, elaborate costumes, and detailed gestures, while Mohiniyattam is distinguished by its graceful movements and feminine style.
- Historically, Kerala has been a major spice exporter since 3000 BCE. Ancient civilizations including the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and Chinese traded specifically for spices like black pepper from the region, which was once known as the “Spice Coast.”
- Onam is the biggest and most important festival in Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with numerous festivities, including the famous snake boat races, elaborate flower carpets (Pookalam), traditional feasts (Sadya), and traditional games and dances.
- Emergency Number: 112
- Police: 112 or 100
- Ambulance: 108 or 102
- Women Helpline: 1091 or 181
- Fire Station: 101
- Travel tips: https://www.keralatourism.org/travel-tips/
