Kerala

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Malayalam is written in a non-Latin script. Malayalam text used in this article is transliterated into the Latin script according to the ISO 15919standard.

Kerala
God's Own Country --

state

Seal

Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) Location of Kerala in India

Coordinates

8.5074N 76.972ECoordinates: N 76.972E

8.5074

Country Region District(s) Established Capital Largest city Largest metro Governor Chief Minister Legislature(seats)

India South India 14 1 November 1956. Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum) Thiruvananthapuram Kochi R. S. Gavai V. S. Achuthanandan Unicameral (141 seats: 140 elected, 1 nominated)

Population Density HDI (2005)

31,841,374[1] (12th) (2001)

819 /km2 (2,121 /sq mi)

0.814 (high) (1st) Literacy Official languages Time zone Area ISO 3166-2 94.59[2][3]% (1st) Malayalam IST (UTC+5:30)
38863 km2 (15005 sq mi)

IN-KL

Portal: Kerala Website

kerala.gov.in

Kerala (Malayalam: ,

Kraam (helpinfo)) is a state in the south-western part of India. It was created

on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act bringing together the areas where Malayalam was the dominant language. The state has an area of 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi) and is bordered by Karnataka to the north,Tamil Nadu to the south and the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. The major cities in Kerala are Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. Kerala is also known for its many small towns that are scattered across the state, thus creating a higher density of population. Stone age carving in Edakkal Caves had pictorial writings believed to be dating to at least 5000 BC, from the Neolithic man, indicating the presence of a prehistoric civilization or settlement in this region[4]. From as early as 3000 BC, Kerala had established itself as a major spice trade center. Kerala had direct contact across the Arabian Sea with all the majorRed Sea ports and the Mediterranean ports as well as extending to ports in the Far East. Thespice trade between Kerala and much of the world was one of the main drivers of the world economy. For much of history, ports in Kerala were the busiest (Muziris) among all trade and travel routes in the history of the world. A 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great attests to a Keralaputra.[5]Around 1 BC the region was ruled by the Chera Dynasty, which traded with the Greeks,Romans and Arabs. The Tamil Chera dynasty, Ays and the Pandyan Empire were the traditional rulers of Kerala whose patriarchal dynasties ruled until the 14th century.[6][7] The Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the neighboring Chola

Empire and Rashtrakuta Empire. Feudal Namboothiri Brahmin and Nair city-states subsequently gained control of the region.[8] Contact with Europeans after the arrival of Vasco Da Gama in 1498 gave way to struggles between colonial and native interests. In 1795, the area was under British dominion. After independence, the state of Kerala was created in 1956 from the former state of Travancore-Cochin, the Malabar district of Madras State, and the Kasaragod taluk of Dakshina Kannada.[9] Kerala is a popular tourist destination famous for its backwaters, Ayurvedic treatments [10]and tropical greenery. Kerala has a higher Human Development Index than all other states in India.[11][12] The state has a literacy rate of 94.59 percent,[2] the highest in India. A survey conducted in 2005 by Transparency International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.[13] Kerala has witnessed significant migration of its people, especially to thePersian Gulf countries during the Kerala Gulf boom, and is heavily dependent on remittancesfrom its large Malayali expatriate community.[14][15][16][17]
Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology 2 History 3 Geography and climate 4 Flora and fauna 5 Subdivisions 6 Destinations of Kerala 7 Government 8 Economy 9 Transport

9.1 Roads in Kerala

9.2 Railwa y

9.3 Water ways

9.4 Airport s

10 Demographics 11 Education 12 Culture 13 Media 14 Sports 15 Tourism 16 Gallery 17 See also 18 Notes 19 Citations 20 References 21 External links

[edit]Etymology
The name Kerala has an uncertain etymology. Keralam may stem from an imperfectMalayalam portmanteau fusing kera ("coconut tree") and alam ("land" or "location").[18]:122Kerala may represent the Classical Tamil chera-alam ("declivity of a hill or a mountain slope")[19] or chera alam ("Land of the Cheras").[20]:2 Natives of Kerala, known as Malayalis, refer to their land as Keralam.[21] The Matsya Purana mentions the Malaya Mountains in Kerala as the setting for the story of the Matsya Avatara of Lord Vishnu and King Manu (King Satyavrata)[22][23][24][25]. The Vamana Purana also mentions King Mahabali as the righteous and virtuous ruler that has his capital in Kerala. Kerala has been referenced in puranas as created by Parashurama by throwing his axe into the sea. The Aitareya Aranyaka is the earliest Sanskrit work that specifically mentions Kerala.[2] A 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great references Kerala asKeralaputra.[26]

[edit]History
Main article: History of Kerala

Stone age engravings, Edakkal Caves, Kerala.

It is not known if the region was inhabited during Neolithic times. Dolmens belonging to this period have been unearthed from Idukki district. The Edakkal Caves in Wayanad have carvings dating back to the early Stone Age period of 5000 B.C.[27][28][29] A cave near the Edakkal Caves in Thovarimala Ezhuthupara, Wayanad district, known locally as "Ezhuthupara" also carries pre-historic carvings dating back many millennia. According to legend, Parasurama, an avatar of Mahavishnu, threw his battle axe into the sea; and from those waters, Kerala arose.[30]

Parashurama, surrounded by settlers, commanding Varuna to part the seas and reveal Kerala.

Kerala finds mention in the annals of international tradefrom as early as 3000 BC, having established itself as the major spice trade centre of the world and traded withSumer.[31][32] Kerala and Tamil Nadu once shared a common language and culture; this common area was known as Tamilakam.[33]

St. Thomas Church (Palayur) is the oldest church in India

During the first century BC the region was ruled by the Chera Dynasty established by theDravidian tribe Villavar, whose mother tongue and court language was the ancient Tamil.[34] The capital of Cheras was Vanchi. The southern Kerala was ruled by the Pandyan Kingdom with their capital at Nelcynda.
[6][7]

The merchants from China, West Asia and Roman Empire had trade links with Cheras. The Sangam

literature from the period has descriptions of the Roman ships coming to Muziris, laden with gold as exchange for pepper.[35] Kerala is represented as the eastern tip of the known world in Tabula Peutingeriana, the only known surviving map of the Roman cursus publicus.[36] :192195, 303307 The west Asian-semitic [37] Jewish, Christian, and Muslim immigrants[37] established Nasrani Mappila, Juda Mappila and Muslim Mappilacommunities.[37]
[38]

The Jews first arrived in Kerala in 573 BC.[39][40] The works of scholars andEastern Christian writings state

that Thomas the Apostle visited Muziris in Kerala in 52 CE to proselytize amongst Kerala's Jewish settlements and convert them to Christianity. However, the year of his arrival is widely disputed due to lack of credible historical evidence.[41][42][43][44] Muslim merchants led by Malik ibn Dinar settled in Kerala by the 8th century CE and introduced Islam. The Later Chera Kingdom (c. 8001102), also called the Kulasekhara dynasty, was founded by Kulasekhara Varman who was also a Vaishnavaite saint. Ay kings ruled southern Kerala, but by the 10th century the Ay kingdom declined and became a part of the Chera Kingdom.[45] A Keralite identity, distinct from the Tamils became linguistically separate during this period.[46] The Kulasekhara dynasty came to an end by twelfth century, weakened due to the invasions byPandyas and Cholas.[35] In the absence of a strong central power, the state became divided under small principalities governed by Nair Cheftains. The kingdoms of Kochi, Venad, Kolathiri and Kozhikode Samuthiri emerged powerful. After Vasco Da Gama's arrival in Kappad Kozhikode in 1498, the Portuguese began to gain control of the lucrative pepper trade.[47][48][49] On 25 March 1505, Francisco de Almeida was appointed the Viceroy of India with his headquarters at Kochi. The period from 1500 to 1571 saw constant battles by the Saamoothiri and his navarch Kunjali Marakkar against the Portuguese until the latter were defeated and their fort destroyed by the Zamorin's forces at Chaliyam. The fall of Chaliyam fort marked the beginning of the end for the Portuguese in the great game of the East. Elsewhere, the Portuguese had established forts at Kannur, Cochin and Kollam.

Dutch commander De Lannoy surrenders to Marthanda Varma at the Battle of Colachel. Depiction at Padmanabhapuram Palace

The Dutch East India Company like the Portuguese before them took advantage of the conflicts between Kozhikode and Kochi and ousted the Portuguese to gain control of the trade. However, the Dutch were weakened by constant battles with Marthanda Varma of the Travancore Royal Family, the most prominent of them the Battle of Colachel in 1741. The Dutch finally surrendered to the British on Oct 20, 1795 when the latter marched from Calicut as part of the largerNapoleonic Wars between Holland and England in Europe. In 1766, Hyder Ali, the ruler of Mysoreinvaded northern Kerala. In the late 18th century, Tipu Sultan, Alis son and successor, launched campaigns against the expanding British East India Company, resulting in two of the four Anglo-Mysore Wars. He ultimately ceded Malabar District and South Kanara to the Company in the 1790s. The Company forged tributary alliances with Kochi in 1791 and Travancore in 1795. Malabar and South Kanara became part of the Madras Presidency.[50]

A nineteenth-century map of Madras Province in British India. Kerala was formed by merging Malabar, Cochin, Travancore and the South Kanara district

Kerala was comparatively peaceful under the British Raj; only sporadic revolts such as the 1946 PunnapraVayalar uprising and the 1921 Malabar Rebellion. TheDewan of Travancore Velayudan Thampi Dalava, and Pazhassi Raja, among others, vied for greater autonomy or independence.[51] Many actions, spurred by such leaders as Vaikunda Swami,[52]Sree Narayana Guru and Chattampi Swamikal, instead protested such conditions asuntouchability; notable was the 1924 Vaikom Satyagraham. In 1936, Chitra Thirunal Bala Rama Varma of Travancore issued the Temple Entry Proclamation that opened Hindu temples to all castes; Malabar soon did likewise. But Cochin did not do the Temple entry proclamation (1948) until after India's independence. The 1921 Moplah Rebellion involved Mappila Muslims rioting against Hindu zamindars Zamindari system and the British Raj.[53] After India gained its independence in 1947, Travancore and Cochin were merged to form Travancore-Cochin on 1 July 1949. On 1 January 1950 (Republic Day), Travancore-Cochin was recognised as a state. TheMadras Presidency was organised to form Madras State in 1947. On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was formed by the States Reorganisation Act merging the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin (excluding four southern taluks, which were merged with Tamil Nadu), and the taluk ofKasargod, South Kanara.[54] Elections for the new Kerala Legislative Assembly were held in 1957; this resulted in the formation of a communist-led government[54] headed by E.M.S. Namboodiripad. Many Indians consider this the first democratically elected communist government[55] in the world; however, both San Marino (in 1948) and Guyana (in 1953) had elected communists to power years earlier. Radical reforms introduced by the E. M. S. Namboodiripad government in favour of farmers and labourers helped change, to a great extent, the iniquitous social order that had prevailed in the land for a long time.

[edit]Geography

and climate

Main article: Geography of Kerala See also: Climate of India

Munnar hill station, Kerala

Kerala is wedged between the Lakshadweep sea and the Western Ghats. Lying between north latitudes 818' and 1248' and east longitudes 7452' and 7722',[56][57] Kerala experiences the humid equatorial tropic climate.

The state has a coast of length 590 km (367 mi)[58] and the width of the state varies between 35 and 120 km (2275 miles). Geographically, Kerala can be divided into three climatically distinct regions: the eastern highlands (rugged and cool mountainous terrain), the central midlands (rolling hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains). Located at the extreme southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kerala lies near the centre of the Indiantectonic plate; hence, most of the state is subject to comparatively little seismic and volcanic activity.
[59]

Pre-Cambrian and Pleistocene geological formations compose the bulk of Keralas terrain.

Eastern Kerala region consists of high mountains, gorges and deep-cut valleys immediately west of the Western Ghats' rain shadow. Forty-one of Keralas west-flowing rivers, and three of its east-flowing ones originate in this region. The Western Ghats form a wall of mountains interrupted only near Palakkad, where the Palakkad Gap breaks through to provide access to the rest of India. The Western Ghats rises on average to 1,500 m (4920 ft) above sea level, while the highest peaks may reach to 2,500 m (8200 ft). Anamudi is the highest peak at an elevation of 2,695 metres (8,130 ft). Just west of the mountains lie the midland plains comprising central Kerala, dominated by rolling hills and valleys.[56] Generally ranging between elevations of 2501,000 m (8203300 ft), the eastern portions of the Nilgiri and Palni Hills include such formations as Agastya Mala and Anamala. Keralas western coastal belt is relatively flat, and is criss-crossed by a network of interconnected brackish canals, lakes, estuaries, and rivers known as the Kerala Backwaters. Lake Vembanad Keralas largest body of waterdominates the Backwaters; it lies betweenAlappuzha and Kochi and is more than 200 km in area. Around 8% of India's waterways (measured by length) are found in Kerala.[60] The most important of Keralas forty-four rivers include the Periyar (244 km), the Bharathapuzha (209 km), the Pamba (176 km), the Chaliyar(169 km), the Kadalundipuzha River (130 km), the Valapattanam (129 km) and the Achankovil (128 km). The average length of the rivers of Kerala is 64 km. Many of the rivers are small and entirely fed by monsoon rains.[56] These conditions result in the nearly year-round water logging of such western regions as Kuttanad, 500 km of which lies below sea level. As Kerala's rivers are small and lack deltas, they are more prone to environmental factors. The rivers also face problems such as sand mining and pollution.[61] The state experiences severalnatural hazards such as landslides, floods, lightning and droughts. The state was also affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami. A catastrophic flood occurred in Kerala in 1341 AD that drastically modified the terrain and consequently affected the history.[62] The flood resulted in changing the course of the river Periyar, recession of Arabian Sea by several miles downwards making the Kuttanad region cultivable, closure of the Muziris (Kodungalloor) harbour and creation of a new harbour at Kochi.[63][64][65] With 120140 rainy days per year, Kerala has a wet and maritime tropical climate influenced by the seasonal heavy rains of the southwest summer monsoon.[66]:80 In eastern Kerala, a drier tropical wet and dry climate prevails. Kerala's rainfall averages 3,107 mm annually. Some of Kerala's drier lowland regions average only

1,250 mm; the mountains of eastern Idukki district receive more than 5,000 mm of orographic precipitation, the highest in the state. During summer, Kerala is prone to gale force winds, storm surges, cyclone-related torrential downpours, occasional droughts, and rises in sea level.[67]:26, 46, 52 The mean daily temperatures range from 19.8 C to 36.7 C.[56] Mean annual temperatures range from 25.027.5 C in the coastal lowlands to 20.022.5 C in the eastern highlands.[67]:65

[edit]Flora

and fauna

A blue tiger (Tirumala limniace) butterfly in Chalakudy

Cassia Fistula, (Malayalam: , Kani Konna), is the state flower of Kerala.

Petals of the gloriosa lily (Gloriosa superba) flower curve upward into a claw-like shape; below, its stamens grow radially outwards.

A fulvous forest skimmer (Neurothemis fulvia) in Chalakudy, near Thrissur

Main article: Flora and fauna of Kerala Much of Kerala's notable biodiversity is concentrated and protected in the Western Ghats. Almost a fourth of India's 10,000 plant species are found in the state. Among the almost 4,000 flowering plant species (1,272 of which are endemic to Kerala and 159 threatened) are 900 species of medicinal plants.[68][69]:11 Its 9,400 km of forests include tropical wet evergreen and semi-evergreen forests (lower and middle elevations 3,470 km), tropical moist and dry deciduous forests (mid-elevations4,100 km and 100 km, respectively), and montane subtropical and temperate (shola) forests (highest elevations100 km). Altogether, 24% of Kerala is forested.[69]:12 Two of the worlds Ramsar Convention listed wetlandsLake Sasthamkotta and the Vembanad-Kol wetlandsare in Kerala, as well as 1455.4 km of the vast Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. Subjected to extensive clearing for cultivation in the 20th century,[70]:67 much of the remaining forest cover is now protected from clearfelling. Kerala's fauna are notable for their diversity and high rates of endemism: 102 species of mammals (56 of which are endemic),453 species of birds, 202 species of freshwater fishes, 169 species of reptiles (139 of them endemic), and 89 species of amphibians (86 endemic).[68] These are threatened by extensive habitat destruction, including soil erosion, landslides, salinization, and resource extraction.[71]

Eastern Keralas windward mountains shelter tropical moist forests and tropical dry forests, which are common in the Western Ghats. Here, sonokeling (Dalbergia latifolia), anjili, mullumurikku(Erythrina), and Cassia number among the more than 1,000 species of trees in Kerala. Other plants include bamboo, wild black pepper, wild cardamom, the calamus rattan palm (a type of climbing palm), and aromatic vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides).[69]:12 Living among them are such fauna as Indian Elephant (Elephas maximus indicus), Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard(Panthera pardus fusca), Nilgiri Tahr, Common Palm Civet, and Grizzled Giant Squirrel.
[69]:12, 174175

Reptiles include the King Cobra(Ophiophagus hannah), viper, python, and Mugger

Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris) . Kerala's birds are legionMalabar Trogon, the Great Hornbill, Kerala Laughingthrush, Darter, and Southern Hill Myna are several emblematic species. In lakes, wetlands, and waterways, fish such as kadu (stinging catfish) and Choottachi (Orange chromideEtroplus maculatus) are found.[69]:163165

[edit]Subdivisions
Main articles: Districts of Kerala and Corporations, Municipalities and Taluks of Kerala

Population density map of Kerala graded from darkest shading (most dense) to lightest (least dense)

Kerala's fourteen districts are distributed among Kerala's six historical regions: North Malabar (Far-north Kerala), Malabar (northern Kerala), Kochi (central Kerala), Northern Travancore, Central Travancore (southern Kerala) and Southern Travancore (Far-south Kerala). Kerala's modern-day districts (listed in order from north to south) correspond to them as follows:

North Malabar: Kasaragod, Kannur, Mananthavady Taluk of Wayanad, Koyilandy andVadakara Taluks of Kozhikode

Malabar: Wayanad except Mananthavady Taluk, Kozhikode except Vadakara and KoyilandyTaluks, Malappuram, Palakkad District except Chittoor Taluk and a part of Thrissur

Kochi: A part of Ernakulam, Chittoor Taluk of Palakkad, and a part of Thrissur.

Northern Travancore: Part of Ernakulam, and Idukki. Central Travancore: Southern part of Idukki, Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and northern part of Kollam.

Southern Travancore: Southern part of Kollam, Thiruvananthapuram.

(traditionally, Nanchinad in Kanyakumary, which is part of Tamil Nadu) Kerala's 14 districts, which serve as the administrative regions for taxation purposes, are further subdivided into 63 taluks; these have fiscal and administrative powers over settlements within their borders, including maintenance of local land records.Taluks of kerala are further divided into 1453 revenue villages and 1007 Gram panchayats. Mah, a part of the Indian union territory of Puducherry (Pondicherry), is a coastal exclave surrounded by Kerala on all of its landward approaches.

[edit]Destinations

of Kerala

Main tourist destinations of Kerala include Alappuzha, Bekal, Bharananganam, Guruvayur, Idukki, Kannur, Kochi, Kottayam, Kovalam,Kozhikode, Kumarakom, Malayattoor, Munnar, Parumala, Peermade, Sabarimala, Thekkady, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissu r, Varkala andWayanad.

[edit]Government
Main article: Government of Kerala Government of Kerala is setup according to rules and regulations by Government of India. State is governed via a parliamentary system ofrepresentative democracy; universal suffrage is granted to state residents. There are three branches of government. The unicamerallegislature, the Kerala Legislative Assembly, comprises elected members and special office bearers (the Speaker and Deputy Speaker) elected by the members from among themselves. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker and in his absence by the Deputy

Speaker.[72] Kerala has 140 Assembly constituencies.[73] The state sends 20 members to the Lok Sabha and 9 to the Rajya Sabha, theIndian Parliament's upper house.[74]

The Kerala Legislative Assembly Building in Thiruvananthapuram

The Governor of Kerala is the constitutional head of state, and is appointed by the President of India.[75]
[76]

The executive authority is headed by the Chief Minister of Kerala, who is the de factohead of state and is

vested with extensive executive powers; the Legislative Assembly's majority party leader is appointed to this position by the Governor. The Council of Ministers, which answers to the Legislative Assembly, has its members appointed by the Governor on advice of the Chief Minister. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats, for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs.[77] The judiciary comprises the Kerala High Court (Located at Ernakulam has a Chief Justice combined with 26 permanent and two additional (pro tempore) justices) as the apex court in the state and a system of lower courts. Kerala High Court also hears cases from the Union Territory ofLakshadweep. The state's 20052006 budget was 219 billion INR.[78] The state government's tax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) amounted to 111,248 million INR in 2005, up from 63,599 million in 2000. Its nontax revenues (excluding the shares from Union tax pool) of the Government of Kerala as assessed by the Indian Finance Commissions reached 10,809 million INR in 2005, nearly double the 6,847 million INR revenues of 2000.[79] However, Kerala's high ratio of taxation to gross state domestic product (GSDP) has not alleviated chronic budget deficits and unsustainable levels of government debt, impacting social services.[80] Kerala hosts two major political alliances: the United Democratic Front (UDFled by the Indian National Congress)and the Left Democratic Front (LDFled by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). At present, the LDF is the ruling coalition in government; V.S. Achuthanandan of the CPI(M) is the Chief Minister of Kerala and Oommen Chandy of the UDF is the Chief Opposition leader. Strikes, protests and marches are ubiquitous in Kerala due to the comparatively strong presence of labour unions.[81][82]

[edit]Economy

The interior of a building in theTechnopark, at Thiruvananthapuram(Trivandrum). 75% of the state's IT exports are from Technopark

Main article: Economy of Kerala See also: :Category:Industries based in Kerala Since independence, Kerala was managed as a democratic socialist welfare economy. Since the 1990s, liberalisation of the mixed economy allowed onerous Licence Raj restrictions againstcapitalism and foreign direct investment to be lightened, leading to economic expansion and job creation. In fiscal year 2007-2008, nominal gross state domestic product (GSDP) was 162,414.79 crore (US$35.24 billion).[83] Recent GSDP growth (9.2% in 20042005 and 7.4% in 20032004) has been robust compared to historical averages (2.3% annually in the 1980s and between 5.1%[84]:8 and 5.99%[85] in the 1990s).[84]:8 The state clocked 8.93% growth in enterprises from 1998 to 2005 compared with 4.80% nationally.[86] Relatively few such enterprises are major corporations or manufacturers.
[67]

Kerala's Human Development Index rating is the highest in India.[87]This apparently paradoxical "Kerala

phenomenon" or "Kerala model of development" of high human and low economic development results from the strong service sector.[67]:48[88]:1 Kerala's economy depends on emigrants working in foreign countries (mainly in the Persian Gulf countries such as United Arab Emirates or Saudi Arabia) and remittances annually contribute more than a fifth of GSDP.[14][15][16]

Rural women processing coir threads

The service sector (including tourism, public administration, banking and finance, transportation, and communications63.8% of GSDP in 20022003) and the agricultural and fishing industries (together 17.2% of GSDP) dominate the economy.[85][89] Nearly half of Kerala's people are dependent on agriculture alone for income.[90] Some 600 varieties[69]:5 of rice (Kerala's most important staple food and cereal crop)[91]:5 are harvested from 3105.21 km (a decline from 5883.4 km in 1990)[91]:5 of paddy fields; 688,859 tonnes are produced per annum.[90] Other key crops include coconut (899,198 ha), tea, coffee (23% of Indian production,
[92]:13

or 57,000 tonnes[92]:67), rubber, cashews, and spicesincluding pepper, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon,

and nutmeg. Around 1.050 million fishermen haul an annual catch of 668,000 tonnes (19992000 estimate); 222 fishing villages are strung along the 590 km coast. Another 113 fishing villages dot the hinterland. Traditional industries manufacturing such items as coir, handlooms, and handicrafts employ around one million people. Around 180,000 small-scale industries employ around 909,859 Keralites; 511 medium and large scale manufacturing firms are located in Kerala. A small mining sector (0.3% of GSDP)[89] involves extraction of ilmenite, kaolin, bauxite, silica, quartz, rutile,zircon, and sillimanite.[90] Home gardens and animal husbandry also provide work for hundreds of thousands of people. Other major sectors are tourism, manufacturing, and business process outsourcing. As of March 2002, Kerala's banking sector comprised 3341 local branches; each branch served 10,000 persons, lower than the national average of 16,000; the state has the third-highest bank penetration among Indian states.[93] Unemployment in 2007 was estimated at 9.4%;[94] underemployment, low employability of youths, and a 13.5% femaleparticipation rate are chronic issues.[95]:5, 13[96] Poverty rate figures range from 12.71%[97] to as high as 36%.[98] More than 45,000 residents live in slum conditions.[99]

The state treasury has suffered loss of thousands of millions of rupees thanks to the state staging over 100 hartals annually in recent times. A record total of 223 hartals were observed in 2006, resulting in a revenue loss of over 2000 crore.[100]

[edit]Transport
See also: Roads in Kerala

Trivandrum Central Railway Station Building

State Water Transport Department is the main agency who provides inland water transport facilities to the people residing in the water logged areas.

A road in Kerala

[edit]Roads in Kerala
Main article: Roads in Kerala Kerala has 145,704 kilometers (90,536 mi) of roads (4.2% of India's total). This translates to about 4.62 kilometers (2.87 mi) of road per thousand population, compared to an all India average of 2.59 kilometers (1.61 mi). Virtually all of Kerala's villages are connected by road Roads in kerala includes 1,524 km of National highway (2.6% of nation's total), 4006 km of state highway and 23,702 km of district roads.[101] NH 17 connects Edapally (Kochi) to Panavel (near Mumbai) and is the longest stretch of national highway through the state. The other major national highway passing through the state is the NH47 which connects Salem to Kanyakumari and passes through the major towns and cities like Palakkad, Thrissur, Kochi,Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram. The length of the NH47 through Kerala is 416.8 km.[102] The NH47 stretch from Cherthala to Thrissur via Kochi is 4-laned and 4-lane work is progressing beyond Thrissur. NH 19 (Kochi - Rameswaram), NH 208(Kollam - Thirumangalam), NH 212 (Kozhikode - Mysore), NH 213(Kozhikode - Palakkad), NH 220(Kollam - theni) are the other national highways serving the state of Kerala.
[103]

Most of Kerala's west coast is accessible through two national highways, NH 47, and NH 17 and eastern hills are accessible through proposed Hill Highway (Kerala). The Kerala State Transport Project (KSTP), which includes the GIS-based Road Information and Management Project (RIMS), is responsible for maintaining and expanding the state highways system; it also oversees major district roads.[104][105] Traffic in Kerala has been growing at a rate of 1011% every year, resulting in high traffic and pressure on the roads. Kerala's road density is nearly four times the national average, reflecting the state's high population density. Kerala's annual total of road accidents is among the nation's highest.[106]

[edit]Railway
The Indian Railways' Southern Railway line runs throughout the state, connecting all major towns and cities except those in the highland districts of Idukki and Wayanad. Kerala's major railway stations are Kasaragod, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadakara, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shornur Junction, Palakkad Junction, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam Town, Ernakulam Junction, Alappuzha, Chengannur, Kottayam, Kollam Junctionand Thiruvananthapuram Central

[edit]Water ways
The backwaters traversing the state are an important mode of inland navigation. National Waterway 3 traverse through the state.

[edit]Airports
The state has three major international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Kozhikode, that link the state with the rest of the nation and the world.The Cochin International Airport (COK) was the first Indian airport incorporated as a public limited company and is funded by nearly 10,000 Non Resident Indians from 30 countries.[107] A fourth international airport is proposed at Kannur.[108]

[edit]Demographics
See also: Religions of Kerala Main article: Demographics of Kerala The 31.8 million[109] Keralites are predominantly of Malayali descent, while the rest is mostly made up of Jewish and Arab elements in both culture and ancestry. Kerala's 321,000 indigenous tribal Adivasis, 1.10% of the population, are concentrated in the east.[110]:1012 Malayalamis Kerala's official language; Tamil, Tulu, Kannada and various Adivasi (Tribal) languages are also spoken by ethnic minorities especially in the south-western region.

[show]Population trend[111][112]

A fisherman in rural Kerala

Kerala is home to 3.44% of India's population; at 819 persons per km, its land is nearly three times as densely settled as the rest of India, which is at a population density of 325 persons per km.[113] Kerala's rate of population growth is India's lowest,[114] and Kerala's decadal growth(9.42% in 2001) is less than half the all-India average of 21.34%.[115] Whereas Kerala's population more than doubled between 1951 and 1991 by adding 15.6 million people to reach 29.1 million residents in 1991, the population stood at less than 32 million by 2001.

Kerala's coastal regions are the most densely settled, leaving the eastern hills and mountains comparatively sparsely populated.[56]

Traditional dress of Kerala: a Malayali woman in a set-sari and a Malayali man wearing a mundu with a shirt.

Females comprise 51.42% of the population; males form the remaining 48.58% of the population.[116]:26 Kerala's principal religions are Hinduism (56.2%), Islam (24.70%), andChristianity (19.00%).[117] In comparison with the rest of India, Kerala experiences relatively little sectarianism.[118] According to 2001 Census of India figures, 56% of Kerala's residents are Hindus, 24% areMuslims, 19% are Christians, and the remaining 1% follows other religions.[117] The major Hindu castes are Nambudiri, Nairs, Ezhavas and Dalits. Notably, steps taken by many progressive and tolerant Hindu kings[119] over the years and movements like Narayana Gurus movement for social reform and tolerance helped to establish Kerala as one of the most socially progressive states in India. The Abrahamic religions attest to Kerala's prominence as a major trade centre. Islam andJudaism arrived in Kerala through Arab traders.[120] A significant Jewish community existed in Kerala until the 20th century when most of them migrated to Israel leaving only a handful of families.[121] The Paradesi Synagogue at Kochi is the oldest synagogue in the Commonwealth.Christianity is believed to have reached the shores of Kerala in 52 AD with the arrival of St Thomas, one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ[122][123][124][125][126] The major Christian denominations are Catholic, Oriental Orthodox and Protestant.
Religion in Kerala[117]
Religion Percent

Hinduism Islam Christianity Others

56.2% 24.7% 19.0% 1.1%

Jainism has a considerable following in theWayanad district. Buddhism was dominant at the time of Ashoka the Great but vanished by the 8th century AD.[127] Kerala has witnessed significant migration of its people, especially to the Persian Gulf countries, starting with the Kerala Gulf boom, and is uniquely dependent on remittancesfrom its large Malayali expatriate community.
[14][15][16]

Kerala government states gender relations are among the most equitable in India[Need quotation to verify],[128] despite discrepancies among low caste men and women.[129]:1 Certain Hindu communities such as the Nairs, some Ezhavas and the Muslims around North Malabar used to follow a traditional matrilineal system known as marumakkathayam, although this practice ended in the years after Indian independence. Other Muslims, Christians, and some Hindu castes such as the Namboothiris and the Ezhavas follow makkathayam, a patrilineal system.[130] Owing to the former matrilineal system, women in Kerala enjoy a high social status.[131] Kerala's human development indices primary level education, health care and elimination of povertyare among the best in India. According to a 2005-2006 national survey, Kerala has one of the highest literacy rates (90.92%) among Indian states[2] and life expectancy (73 years) was among the highest in India in 2001.
[132]

Kerala's rural poverty rate fell from 69% (19701971) to 19% (19931994); the overall (urban and rural)

rate fell 36% between the 1970s and 1980s.[133] By 19992000, the rural and urban poverty rates dropped to 10.0% and 9.6% respectively.[134] These changes stem largely from efforts begun in the late 19th century by the kingdoms of Cochin and Travancore to boost social welfare.[135][136] This focus was maintained by Kerala's postindependence government.[67][87]:48
[show]List of Major cities in Kerala

Kerala has the highest life expectancy in the country which is nearly 75 years and 78 years respectively for males and females. The life expectancy of Kerala is similar to developed nations in the world that shows the facilities for treatment and health. Kerala's healthcare system has garnered international acclaim. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation designated Kerala the world's first "baby-friendly state" because of its effective promotion of breast-feeding over formulas[137] For example, more than 95% of Keralite births are hospital-delivered.[138]:6 Aside from ayurveda (both elite and popular forms),
[139]:13

siddha, and many endangered and endemic modes of traditional medicine,

including kalari, marmachikitsa>:17 and vishavaidyam, are practiced. These propagate viagurukula discipleship,
[139]:56

and comprise a fusion of both medicinal and supernatural treatments,[139]:15 and are partly responsible for

drawing increasing numbers of medical tourists.

A steadily aging population (11.2% of Keralites are over age 60[87]) and low birthrate[140] (18 per 1,000)[141] make Kerala one of the few regions in the developing world to have undergone the "demographic transition" characteristic of such developed nations as Canada, Japan, and Norway.[88]:1 In 1991, Kerala's total fertility rate (children born per women) was the lowest in India. Hindus had a TFR of 1.66, Christians 1.78, and Muslims 2.97.[142] Kerala's female-to-male ratio (1.058) is significantly higher than that of the rest of India.[88]
[143]:2

sub-replacement fertility level and infant mortality rate is lower compared to other states (estimated at 12[67] to 14[144]:5 deaths per 1,000 live births).

[141]:49

However, Kerala's morbidity rate is higher than that of any other Indian state118 (rural Keralites) and 88 (urban) per 1,000 people. The corresponding all India figures are 55 and 54 per 1,000, respectively.
[144]:5 [141]

Kerala's 13.3% prevalence of low birth weight is substantially higher than that of First World nations.

Outbreaks of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea, dysentery, hepatitis, and typhoid among the more

than 50% of Keralites who rely on 3 million water wells is a problem worsened by the widespread lack of sewers.[145]:57

[edit]Education
Main article: Education in Kerala

Children lining up for school in Kochi

Kerala has highest literacy among the states of India. State topped the Education Development Index (EDI) among 21 major states in India in year 2006-2007.[146] More than 94% of the rural population has access to primary school within 1 km, while 98% of population benefits one school within a distance of 2 km. An upper primary school within a distance of 3 km is available for more than 96% of the people, whose 98% benefit the facility for secondary education within 8 km.The access for rural students to higher educational institutions in cities is facilitated by widely subsidised transport fares. Kerala's educational system has been developed by institutions owned or aided by the government.In the educational system prevailed in the state schooling is for 10 years which is subdivided into lower primary,

upper primary and high school, After 10 years of secondary schooling, students typically enroll in Higher Secondary Schooling in one of the three major streamsliberal arts, commerce or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students can enroll in general or professional under graduate programmes. Schools and colleges are run by the government, private trusts, or individuals. Many of the schools owned by private sector are aided by government. Most of the public schools are affiliated to Kerala State Education Board. Other familiar educational boards are Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE), or the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). English is the language of instruction in most self financing schools, while government and government aided schools offer English or Malayalam. No fees(or a nominal fees) are required in schools run by or aided by government. Fees concerning the higher and technical education are very low; the ratio of recovery of government's revenue expenditure was 2.6% in 2006-2007.[147] However, the lacking of fees or low fees does not imply low educational cost, as the students incur other costs of several types (examination fees, special fees, material costs, clothing travelling, private tuition...). In fact, according to the 61st round of National Sample Survey (20042005), per capita spending on education by the rural households resulted to be more than twice the national average ( 41 for Kerala, India spending, on the contrary, resulted to be greater than Kerala's ( 74 for India, 18 for India). Urban

66 for Kerala). However,

the survey reveals that the rural-urban difference in expenditure on education by households was much less in Kerala than in the rest of India.[148]

The University of Kerala's administrative building in Thiruvananthapuram.

The Kerala school of astronomy and mathematics is flourished between the 14th and 16th centuries. In attempting to solve astronomical problems, the Kerala school independently created a number of important mathematics concepts including resultsseries expansion for trigonometric functions. The universities in kerala are Kannur University, Mahatma Gandhi University, University of Calicut,University of Kerala, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kerala Agricultural University,Sree Sankaracharya

University of Sanskrit.[149] Premiere educational institutions in kerala areIIMK, one of the seven Indian Institutes of Management, National Institute of Technology Calicut(NITC), Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)

[edit]Culture

A Kathakali artist

Theyyam, The ritual art of North Malabar

During Onam, Keralites create floral pookkalam designs in front of their houses.
During Onam, Keralites create floralpookkalam designs in front of their houses.

Keralite elephants, caparisoned, during the Sree Poornathrayesa Templefestival.

Main articles: Arts of Kerala and Culture of Kerala Kerala's culture is derived from both a Tamil-heritage region known as Tamilakam and southern coastal Karnataka. Later, Kerala's culture was elaborated upon through centuries of contact with neighboring and overseas cultures.[150] Native performing arts include koodiyattom (a 2000 year old Sanskrit theatre tradition, officially recognised by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity[151]), kathakalifrom katha ("story") and kali ("performance")and its offshoot Kerala natanam, Kaliyattam -(North Malabar special), koothu (akin to stand-up comedy),mohiniaattam ("dance of the enchantress"), Theyyam, thullal NS padayani. Kathakali andMohiniattam are widely recognized Indian Classical Dance traditions from Kerala. Other forms of art are more religious or tribal in nature. These include chavittu nadakom, oppana(originally from Malabar), which combines dance, rhythmic hand clapping, and ishal vocalisations.Margam Kali is one of the ancient round group dance practiced by Syrian Christians of Kerala. However, many of these art forms are largely performed for tourists or at youth festivals, and are not as popular among most Keralites. Contemporary art and performance styles including those employing mimicry and parody are more popular. Kerala's music also has ancient roots. Carnatic music dominates Keralite traditional music. This was the result of Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma's popularisation of the genre in the 19th century.[152][153]Raga-based renditions known as sopanam accompany kathakali performances. Melam (including thepaandi and panchari variants) is a more percussive style of music; it is performed at Kshetramcentered festivals using the chenda. Melam ensembles comprise up to 150 musicians, and performances may last up to four hours. Panchavadyam is a different form of percussion ensemble, in which up to 100 artists use five types of percussion instrument. Kerala has various styles of folk and tribal music. The popular music of Kerala is dominated by the filmi music of Indian cinema. Kerala's visual arts range from traditional murals to the works of Raja Ravi Varma, the state's most renowned painter. Kolla Varsham or Malayalam Era, which is assumed to have been established by King Udaya Marthanda Varma in 825 AD, serves as the official calendar of Kerala.[154] The Malayalam calendar is used to plan agricultural and religious activities. Kerala's cuisine is typically served as a sadhya(feast) on green banana

leaves. Such dishes as idli, payasam, pulisherry, puttukadala, or PuttuPayarPappadam, puzhukku, rasam, and sambar are typical. Keralitesboth men and women aliketraditionally don flowing and unstitched garments. These include the mundu, a loose piece of cloth wrapped around men's waists. Women typically wear the sari, a long and elaborately wrapped banner of cloth, wearable in various styles. Presently, North Indian dresses such as Salwar kameezare also popular amongst women in Kerala. Elephants are an integral part of daily life in Kerala. Indian elephants are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culture. They are often referred to as the 'sons of the sahya.' The ana (elephant) is the state animal of Kerala and is featured on the emblem of the Government of Kerala. The predominant language spoken in Kerala is Malayalam. Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (17361799) is considered to be the father of modern Malayalam prose. He is the author ofVarthamanapusthakam (1790), the first ever travelogue in an Indian language Malayalam literature is medieval in origin and includes such figures as the 14th century Niranam poets (Madhava Panikkar, Sankara Panikkar and Rama Panikkar), and the 17th century poetThunchaththu Ezhuthachan whose works mark the dawn of both modern Malayalam language and indigenous Keralite poetry. The "triumvirate of poets" (Kavithrayam), Kumaran Asan, Vallathol Narayana Menon, and Ulloor S. Parameswara Iyer, are recognised for moving Keralite poetry away from archaic sophistry and metaphysics, and towards a more lyrical mode. In the second half of the 20th century, Jnanpith awardees like G. Sankara Kurup, S. K. Pottekkatt, Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and M. T. Vasudevan Nair have made valuable contributions to the Malayalam literature. Later, such Keralite writers as O. V. Vijayan, Kamaladas, M. Mukundan, and Booker Prize winner Arundhati Roy, whose 1996 semi-autobiographical bestseller[155] The God of Small Things is set in theKottayam town of Ayemenem, have gained international recognition.[156][157] Malayalam cinema carved a niche for itself in the Indian film industry. It has been producing both parallel and mainstream cinema of great acclaim for years. Directors like Adoor Gopalakrishnan, John Abraham, G. Aravindan have been some of the great names in the Indianparallel cinema. Kerala has also given birth to numerous acclaimed actors such as Bharat Gopy, Prem Nazir, Mammotty, Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Murali and Oduvil Unnikrishnan.

[edit]Media
Main article: Media in Kerala The National Family Health Survey - 3, conducted in 2007 ranked Kerala as state with the most media exposure in India. Dozens of newspapers are published in Kerala, in nine major languages,[158] but principally Malayalam and English. The most widely circulatingMalayalam-language newspapers are Malayala Manorama, Mathrubhumi, Madhyamam, Mangalam,Chandrika, Deepika, Kerala

Kaumudi andDeshabhimani. Major Malayalam periodicals include Mathrubhumi, India Today Malayalam, Madhyamam weekly,Grihalakshmi, Veedu,Vanitha, Chithrabhumi, Kanyaka and Bhashaposhiniand overtake automobile magazine. Doordarshan is the state-owned television broadcaster. Multi system operators provide a mix of Malayalam, English and international channels via cable television. There are 17 Malayalam TV channels like Asianet, Indiavision, Surya TV, Kairali TV, Manorama News, Amrita TV, Jeevan TV and JaiHind TV broadcast along with the major national channels. All India Radio, the national radio service, reaches much of Kerala via its Thiruvananthapuram,Kochi, Thrissur, Alappuzha , Kozhikode and Kannur Malayalam-language broadcasts. Television programmes such as serials, reality shows and the Internet have become a major source of entertainment and information for the people in Kerala. A Malayalam version of Google News was launched in September 2008.[159] Regardless, Keralites maintain high rates of newspaper and magazine subscriptions. A sizeable "people's science" movement has taken root in the state, and such activities as writers' cooperatives are becoming increasingly common.[88][160]:2 BSNL, Reliance Infocomm, Tata Docomo, Vodafone, Aircel, Idea and Airtel compete to provide cell phone services. Broadband internet is available in most of the towns and cities and is provided by different agencies like the state-run Kerala Telecommunications (which is run by BSNL) and by other private companies like Asianet Satellite communications, VSNL. BSNL provides broadband service in most of the villages. Malayalam films are known for their realistic portrayal of characters and being socially oriented without giving a lot of importance to glitz and glamour. Movies produced in Hindi, Tamil and English (Hollywood) popular among Keralites. Late Malayalam actor Prem Nazir holds the world record for having acted as the protagonist of over 720 movies.[161] Nowadays Malayalam movies are dominated mainly by two actors;Mammootty and Mohanlal who have been in the malayalam movie industry for over 25 years. They have won several National and State awards and are considered among the greatest actors in India[162][163]

[edit]Sports
Main article: Sports in Kerala

The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi is one of the largest multi-use stadiums in India

Several ancient ritualised arts are Keralite in origin. These include kalaripayattukalari ("place", "threshing floor", or "battlefield") and payattu ("exercise" or "practice"). Among the world's oldest martial arts, oral tradition attributes kalaripayattu's emergence to Parasurama.[164] Other ritual arts include theyyam and poorakkali. Cricket and football are the most popular sports in the state.[165] Two Kerala Ranji Trophy players gained test selection in recent years. Sreesanth, born in Kothamangalam, has represented India since 2005.[166] Among other Keralite cricketers is Tinu Yohannan, son of Olympic long jumper T. C. Yohannan.[167][168][169] Notable Kerala footballers include I. M. Vijayan, C. V. Pappachan, V. P. Sathyan, and Jo Paul Ancheri.[170][171] Other popular sports include badminton, volleyball and kabaddi. Among Kerala athletes are P. T. Usha, T. C. Yohannan, Suresh Babu, Shiny Wilson, K. M. Beenamol, M. D. Valsamma and Anju Bobby George. Volleyball is another popular sport and is often played on makeshift courts on sandy beaches along the coast. Jimmy George, born in Peravoor, Kannur, was a notable Indian volleyball player, rated in his prime as among the world's ten best players.[172]

[edit]Tourism
Main article: Tourism in Kerala

Kovalam beach, Trivandrum

Sunset at Varkala Beach

Kerala, situated on the lush and tropical Malabar Coast, is one of the most popular tourist destinations in India. Named as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 places of a lifetime" by the National Geographic Traveler magazine, Kerala is especially known for itsecotourism initiatives.[173][174] Its unique culture and traditions, coupled with its varieddemographics, has made Kerala one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Growing at a rate of 13.31%, the state's tourism industry is a major contributor to the state's economy.[175] Until the early 1980s, Kerala was a relatively unknown destination;[176] most tourist circuits focused on North India. Aggressive marketing campaigns launched by theKerala Tourism Development Corporation, the government agency that oversees tourism prospects of the state, laid the foundation for the growth of the tourism industry. In the decades that followed, Kerala's tourism industry was able to transform the state into one of the niche holiday destinations in India. The tagline Kerala- God's Own Country has been widely used in Kerala's tourism promotions and soon became synonymous with the state. In 2006, Kerala attracted 8.5 million tourist arrivals, an increase of 23.68% over the previous year, making the state one of the fastest-growing destinations in the world.[177] Popular attractions in the state include the beaches at Kovalam, Cherai, Varkala, Kappad,Muzhappilangad and Bekal; the hill stations of Munnar, Nelliampathi, Ponmudi and Wayanad; and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries at Periyar, Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary and Eravikulam National Park. The "backwaters" region, which comprises an extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals that centre on Alleppey, Kollam, Kumarakom, and Punnamada (where the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in August), also see heavy tourist traffic. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram Palace and the Mattancherry Palace, are also visited. Cities such as Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram are popular centres for their shopping and traditional theatrical performances. During early summer, the Thrissur Pooram is conducted, attracting foreign tourists who are largely drawn by the festival's elephants and celebrants.[178]The main pilgrim tourist spots of Kerala are Sabarimala Temple, Padmanabhaswamy Temple (Thiruvananthapuram), Padanilam Parabrahma Temple(Mavelikkara), Chettikulangara Temple, Vadakumnathan Temple, Guruvayoor Temple, Sarkara Devi Temple, Malayattor Church and Parumala Church.

[edit]Gallery

Thiruvathirakali: a dance performed by women in

Kerala during Onam festival

Paddy fields of Kerala

The decorated face of a Kathakali artist

The Aranmula Boat Race, held during Onam Oppana, a dance form among the Mappila community in Kerala

[edit]See

also

List of notable people from Kerala

[edit]Notes
^

The International Hydrographic Organisation defines the border between Lakshadweep Sea and Arabian 1448N 7407E) to Corah Divh (

sea by a line running fromSadashivgad Lt. on West Coast of India (

1342N 7210E) and thence down the West side of theLakshadweep and Maldive Archipelagos to the most Southerly point of Addu Atoll in the Maldives.[179]

^ : Around the 9th century, the Cheras fell from power. Several small kingdoms (swaroopams) formed under the leadership of chieftains, filling the resulting political vacuum.[49]

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[edit]External

Sunny, C (2004). "Domestic Violence Against Women in Ernakulam District". Centre for Development Studies. Retrieved 3 March 2006.

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