Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Kerala Highlights
Take a houseboat or canoe through Kerala's fabled
backwaters
(
Click here
) from Alleppey, Kollam or Kot-
tayam
Spot wild elephants at
Wayanad
(
Click here
) amid spectacular scenery
Amble around the breathtaking beach resort of
Varkala
(
Click here
) and have some laid-back fun in
Kovalam
(
Click here
)
Bed down in a remote resort and trek through emerald tea plantations around
Munnar
(
Click here
)
Explore the golden-sand beaches and backwaters around
Kannur
(
Click here
) and
Bekal
(
Click here
)
Relax in a homestay in
Fort Cochin
(
Click here
) in Kochin
Experience the ritual of a
Kathakali
performance or martial arts
kalarippayat
in Kochi (
Click here
)
Take the
cruise
between Kollam and Alleppey, stopping off at Amrithapuri to visit the 'Hugging Mother'
(
Click here
)
History
Traders have been drawn to the scent of Kerala's spices for more than 3000 years. The
coast was known to the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs and the Chinese, and was a
transit point for spices from the Moluccas (eastern Indonesia).
The kingdom of Cheras ruled much of Kerala until the early Middle Ages, competing
with kingdoms and small fiefdoms for territory and trade. Vasco da Gama's arrival in 1498
opened the floodgates to European colonialism as Portuguese, Dutch and English interests
fought Arab traders, and then each other, for control of the lucrative spice trade.
The present-day state of Kerala was created in 1956 from the former states of Travan-
core, Kochi and Malabar. A tradition of valuing the arts and education resulted in a post-
Independence state that is one of the most progressive in India, with the nation's highest lit-
eracy rate.
In 1957 Kerala had the first freely elected communist government in the world, which
has gone on to hold power regularly since - though the Congress-led United Democratic
Front (UDF) has been in power since 2011. The participatory political system has resulted
in a more equitable distribution of land and income, and impressive health and education
statistics. Many Malayalis (speakers of Malayalam, the state's official language) work in
the Middle East and their remittances play a significant part in the economy. A big hope for
the state's future is the relatively recent boom in tourism, with Kerala emerging in the past
