Long ago, in the mists of time, Lord Vishnu descended from the heavens in his incarnation of Parashuram. After slaying the evil kings 21 times over to repeal their force from earth, he did penance for waging the terrible war and threw his axe into the sea. The area where the axe landed, from shaft to blade, rose from the sea as Kerala, a land of plenty and prosperity.

In this entrancing state, a mere strip of southwestern India hugged by the coast on one side and by hills on another. Lush plantations rise from the sea and sweep the entire state in verdant glory, swathing the countryside, backwaters along which coconut palms stretch to the skies. Splendid festivals with mysterious rituals, full of colour and herds of elephants leading processions. Exotic handicrafts and seafood preparations, cosmopolitan cities where the past is always at hand and small towns where time has stood still and more makes Kerala the ideal holiday destination, far removed from the cares of the every day World.  

The official language of the state is Malayalam, but English is widely spoken and understood. The Nairs, Brahmins and   the Namboodiris are the Hindu castes of Kerala. Not only the Hindus that make up the colourful mosaic of this land, the Jews, for example, came when they fled the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. St.Thomas, the Apostle, came here in the 1^st Century AD, the Syrian Christians were in existence here in the 2^nd Century AD. When Portuguese came to Kerala, they found a thriving Christian community, but one that had never heard of the Pope!

Today, there are temples and mosques, churches and synagogues, which form the cohesive wrap & weft that have gone into the making of the fabric of Kerala.

Kerala’s history is closely linked with its commerce. Kerala was celebrated as the Malabar Coast, known for its spices and the first travellers were the Greeks, the Romans, the Arabs and the Chinese, the latter-day traders included the Portuguese, the Dutch, the French and the British. Almost all of them have left their imprint on this land in some form or the other. Pepper still remains the King of Kerala’s spices, but also has rich production in cardamom, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace, ginger, turmeric and also rich in cashew nuts and is India’s home state for coconut! As in the past, the state continues to be the spice capital of the World.

Kerala’s very own festivals include the colourful ‘Thrissur Pooram’ and ‘Onam’. The ‘Great Elephant March’ in the month of January gathers the largest number of caparisoned elephants in the region. Kerala is home for the World renowned dance forms such as ‘Kathakali’ and ‘Mohiniattam’. ‘Kalaripayattu’, a form of martial arts originated in the temples of Kerala. ‘Ayurveda’, a form of medical science originated in India, uses herbs and oils to rejuvenate body and skin. Ayurvedic massage centres in Kerala are world famous.

There is an equally wide variety of handicrafts available ranging from souvenirs to art in its range. Papier-mâché masks, coir products including long-lasting floor rugs, hand woven cottons, temple lamps and brass containers form some of the exciting choices available all over the state.

There is so much that is unique to Kerala that the only way to experience its rich atmosphere, its history and culture, is through travelling in the state and discovering a new facet everyday.