Kerala  *

 

 

    It is a land of backwaters and rivers. Rivers here are small and rainfed – turning into small rivulets in summer. The backwaters include lakes and sea inlets – the biggest is the Vembanad lake some 200 square kilometres in area which opens into the Arabian sea at Kochi port; Pamba, Periyar and many other rivers empty into this lake.

 

    Kerala accounts for 92 per cent of India’s rubber, 70 per cent of its coconut, 60 per cent of its tapioca, and almost 100 per cent of its lemon grass oil. It is the single largest producer of bananas and ginger, besides large quantities of the tea and coffee, Coir and cashew are traditionally the largest industries in the state. Out of the marine produce exports from India Kerala’s share is 36.5 per cent.

 

    Kerala may be divided into three geographical regions – the highlands – sloping down from the Western Ghats with some peaks rising to over 1800 meters – covered with tea, coffee, spice and rubber plantations, the Midlands where cashew, coconut, banana, rice, ginger, pepper and sugarcane are cultivated and the lowlands or coastal area made up of river deltas and backwaters. Fisheries, coir weaving and coconut farming are the major economic enterprises here.

 

    Thiruvananthapuram is the capital city where mosques, temples and churches co-exist in perfect harmony. Kovalam is a picturesque beach just 132 kilometres away. Ponmuddi is a pleasant hill station 60 kilometres away.

 

    At the time of independence, Kerala had three administrative regions – princely states of Travancore, Cochin and Malabar, which were directly under the British, forming a part of the Madras presidency. The modern state came into existence on 1 November, 1956 with some territorial adjustments.

 

    Kathakali – is the dance that represents in a dazzling manner, the artistic inheritance of the state, Mohiniattam – the Dance of the Enchantress – is another classic genre closely related to Bharatanatyam.