History of Kerala

Kerala is one among the most beautiful places in India .The name Keralam in Sanskrit means the land added on. Traditional Keralite legend proclaims that Parasurama, an avatar of Mahavishnu, threw his ax into the sea. As a result, the land of Kerala arose and was reclaimed from the Badger overseers. Speaking language of Kerala is Malayalam.

Vasco da Gamma’s voyage to Kerala from Portugal in 1498 was largely motivated by Portuguese determination to break the Arabs' control over trade of spices grown in Kerala. Da Gama established India's first Portuguese fortress at Cochin in 1503 and, taking advantage of rivalry between the royal families of Calicut and Cochin, ended the Arab monopoly.

After India's independence in 1947, the princely states of Travancore and Kochi were merged to form the province of Travancore-Cochin on July 1, 1949. Madras Presidency became India's Madras State. The state of Kerala was created on November 1, 1956 when Malabar District was merged with Travancore-Cochin state and Kasargod taluk of South Kanara District to form the State of Kerala, based on the recommendations of the State Reorganization Commission set up by the Government of India.

Capital of Kerala-Thiruvananthapuram
Language-Malayalam
Area : 38,863 sq. km (15,005 square mile)
Number of Districts in Kerala 14

Population
Males Females Total
31,841,374 15,468,614 16,372,760

Population Growth Rate+ 9.42% (Decadal)
Density of Population819 persons per sq.km
Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males)1058
Infant Mortality rate16 per 1000 live births
Life Expectancy71.3
Literacy in Kerala
TotalMalesFemales
90.90%94.287.7
Taluks63
Villages1452
Corporations5
Municipalities52
Assembly Constituencies140
Lok Sabha Constituencies20
Rajya Sabha seats9
Major Religions
Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Location of Kerala
8° 18' & 12° 48' north latitude and 74° 52' & 77° 24' east longitude.
Kerala is located in the south west corner of India.
Rivers of Kerala
44 - (41 west-flowing and 3 east-flowing)

Kerala Climate
Southwest Monsoons ( June - September )
North east Monsoons ( October, November )
Winter ( December - February )
Summer ( March - May )
Forest Area
11,125.59 sq.km
Kerala EconomyAgricultural
Major Agricultural ProduceSpices, Rubber, Coconut, beverages like coffee, tea
Official AnimalElephant
Official BirdHornbill (Vezhambal)
Official FlowerThe Indian laburnum (Kanikkonna)
Official TreeCoconut Palm
Tourist AttractionsNatural Beauty, Ayurveda, Backwater cruises, Cultural diversity, Art forms, Snake-boat races etc...

Universities in Kerala

1.University of Calicut
2.Cochin University of Science and Technology
3.Kannur University
4.University of Kerala
5.Kerala Agricultural University
6.Mahatma Gandhi University
7.Sree Shankarachaarya University of Sanskrit
8.Shree Chitra Thirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology