Archaeologists
believe that the first citizens of Kerala
were the hunter-gatherers, the ting
Negrito people. These people still inhabit
the mountains of southern India today,
consequently, they had a good knowledge
of herbal medicine and were skilled
in interpreting natural phenomena. The
next race of people in Kerala were believed
to be the Austriches. The Austric people
of Kerala are of the same stock as the
present-day Australian Aborigines. They
were the people who laid the foundation
of Indian civilizations and introduced
the cultivation of rice and vegetables,
which are still part of Kerala scene.
They also introduced snake-worship in
Kerala. Traces of such worship and ancient
rites have been found among the Aboriginal
tribes of Australia. Austric features
can still be seen fairly and clearly
among the people of Kerala today. Then
came the Dravidians (The Mediterranean
people). Dravidian absorbed many of
the beliefs of the Negrito and Austric
people, but they were strongly inclined
to the worship of the Mother Goddess
in all her myriad forms: Protector,
Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom
and arts.
The
Dravidians migrated to the southwards,
carrying their civilization with them,
though leaving their considerable cultural
input on their successors,the Aryans
(Indo - Iranians). But Kerala is still
strongly influenced by the Dravidian
culture: urbane, cash-crop and trade
oriented, and with strong maternalistic
biases. The Aryans have made a deep
impression on Kerala in late proto-historic
times.
Jewish and Arabs trade's were the first
to come to Kerala sailing in the ships
to set up trading stations. The Apostle
of Christ, St. Thomas is believed to
have come to Muziris in AD 52 and established
the first church in Kerala .
Portuguese discovered the sea route
to India from Europe when Vasco da gama
landed with his ship near Kappad in
Calicut in AD 1498. Slowly the Kerala
society became a mix of people belonging
to various sects of Christianity, Islam
and Hinduism. The arrival of Portuguese
was followed by the Dutch, the French
and finally the British.The State of
Kerala was created on the 1st of November
1956. The Keralites celebrate this day
as 'Kerala piravi' meaning the 'Birth
of Kerala'.
Kerala is a 38,900
sq km strip of land between the Western
Ghats and the Arabian Sea, like a banana
leaf to the southwestern coast of the
Indian peninsula. The particular shape
of the land is a defence type because
of the the hills that sealed off one
longitudinal section, leaving it open
to access from the sea alone.
There is a persistent legend which says
that Parasuram, the 6th incarnation
of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the
Hindu Trinity, stood on a high place
in the mountains, threw an axe far in
to the sea, and commanded the sea to
retreat. And the land that emerged all
from the waters became Kerala, the land
of plenty and prosperity.
Kerala
is a 560-km long narrow stretch of land.
At the widest, Kerala is a mere 120-km
from the sea to the mountains. Gracing
one side of Kerala, are the lofty mountains
ranging high to kiss the sky. And on
the other side the land is washed by
the blue Arabian Sea waters. The land
is covered with dense tropical forest,
fertile plains, beautiful beaches, cliffs,
rocky coasts, an intricate maze of backwaters,
still bays and an astounding 44 glimmering
rivers. Kerala's exotic spices have
lured foreigners to her coast from time
immemorial
Green
and serene, a paradise, God's own country,
an ethereal vision or a poet's inspiration,
a treasure of infinite beauty - all
is said about Kerala. Lush plantations
rise from the sea and sweep the entire
state in verdant glory. Splendid festivals
with mysterious rituals, full of colour,
herds of elephants, leading processions,
or in the wild, exotic handicrafts,
seafood preparation that makes Kerala
one of the most exciting destinations
of India. Snake-boat races on the backwaters
of Kerala, Elephant March with hundreds
of caparisoned elephants lined up, the
martial art, Kathakali - the spectacular
dance drama; Kerala Houseboats Kettuvallam
on back waters and Ayurvedic Herbal
Massage and Treatment that makes this
part of India a unique destination.
Kerala
is truly the undiscovered India. It
is God's own country and an enchantingly
beautiful, emerald-green sliver of land.
It is a tropical paradise far from the
tourist trial at the southwestern peninsular
tip, sandwiched between the tall mountains
and the deep sea. Kerala is a long stretch
of enchanting greenery. The tall exotic
coconut palm dominates the landscape.
Earlier, Kerala was made up of three
distinct areas. Malabar as far up the
coast as Tellicherry, Cannanore and
Kasargode with the tiny pocket-handkerchief
French possession of Mahe nearby (it
was returned to India in the early 1950
's and is now administratively part
of Pondicherry). This area belonged
to what was once called the Madras Presidency
under the British. The middle section
is formed by the princely State of Cochin;
the third comprises Travancore, another
princely State.
The present kerala
is the leading state of India with standard
of life may be equals to some of the
western counties.
Facts
and Figures
Location
North
Latitude between 80 -
18' and 120 - 48' East
Longitude between 740
- 52' and 770 - 22'
