Kerala
is situated on the southwestern region of India, popularly known as
‘God’s Own Country’,the land presents vistas of greenery from the majestic
heights of Western Ghats with its exotic hill stations undulating west
ward to endless miles of placid back waters, whispering green coconut
corridors long shore line, golden beaches with hot sunshine and warm
sea, enchanting art forms, historic and cultural monuments.
Kerala has a host of colourful magical festivals and is a land of rich cultural heritage. Kerala is also an ideal destination of health holidays., The landscape is dominated by rice fields, mango and cashewnut trees and, above all, coconut palms. The equable climate with copious shower has ensured a never-ending supply of fresh fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts, and spices.
People have been sailing to kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory for at least 2000 years. Kerala is one of the ten 'Paradises Found' by the National Geographic Traveler, for its diverse geography and overwhelming greenery. Kerala -is a perfect destination for tourism, holidays, Honeymoon,art, culture, tradition,health care, yoga, ayurveda and meditation.
| Location | : |
Southwestern tip of India | ||
| Area | : |
38, 863 sq km | ||
| Population | : |
3,18,38,619 | ||
| Capital | : |
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) | ||
| Major Cities | : |
Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi (Ernakulam district) and Kozhikode. | ||
| Language | : |
Malayalam; English is widely spoken. | ||
| Religion | : |
Hinduism, Christianity, Islam | ||
| Time | : |
GMT +5:30 | ||
| Currency | : |
Indian Rupee | ||
| Climate | : |
Tropical. | ||
| Summer | : |
February - May (24° - 33°C) | ||
| Monsoon | : |
June - September (22° - 28°C) | ||
| Winter | : |
October - January (22° - 32°C) |
| Population | : |
318.39 lakhs as per the latest 2001 Census (31.839 Million) | ||
| Density of Population | : |
819 per sq kms | ||
| Kerala's Share in the National Population | : |
3.1 per cent | ||
| District Average | : |
22.74 lakhs (2.274 Million) | ||
| Sex Ratio | : |
1058 women for 1000 men |
| Literacy Rate | : |
90.92 per cent. | ||
| Male Literacy Rate | : |
94.20 per cent | ||
| Female Literacy Rate | : |
87.86 per cent |
| Seaports | : |
Major : Kochi | ||
| Major Beaches | : |
Kovalam,Cherai, , Fort Kochi, Varkala ,Kappad and Bekal | ||
| Major Wild Life Sanctuaries | : |
Thekkady (Periyar), Parambikkulam, Wayanad, Silent Valley, Aralm, Peechi-Vazhani, Chimani, Shenduruny, Idukki, Chinnar, Peppara, Neyyar. | ||
| Bird Sanctuary | : |
Thattekad, Kumarakom | ||
| Major Hill Stations | : |
Ponmudi, Peerumade, Thekkady, Munnar and Wayanad | ||
| Farm / Cash Crops | : |
Rubber, Coffee, Tea, Spices, Pepper, Cashew, Coconut, Arecanut and rice | ||
| Exports | : |
Marine, Coir, Handicrafts, Spices, Food and other Products | ||
| Major Industries | : |
Tourism, Information Technology, Fertilizer, Oil Refining and Power Generation, Ship Buildings, Machine Tools, Electronics, Cables, Rubber. |
Mundu & Chatta is the traditional dress among Christain women and Rawka, Mundu & Neriyath is the traditional dress among Hindu women which is still followed by some peoples. Dhoti / Pants and Shirts are the common dress for men & Sari / Churidar for women.
Malayalam language is the mother tounge of Kerala. But Kanada is mainly spoken in the northern districts as it's near to Karnataka and Tamil is spoken in the Eastern & Sountern districts as it's near to Tamil Nadu. English & Hindi is also spoken commonly as people from Northern part of India also come & settle in Kerala.
Kerala
Sadya, the typical kerala feast served on a banana leaf, is a sumptous
spread of rice and more than fourteen vegetable dishes - sambar,
rasam, olan, kaalan, pachadi, kichadi, aviyal, thoran etc. The culinary
skills of the various communities of kerala has given us a cuisine
of great variety.Every dish prepared in kerala has coconut and spices
added to it. Tender coconut water, 'the world's safest natural soft
drink', is a refreshing nutritious thirst quencher. |
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An
Aranmula kannadi or Aranmula metal mirror is a special type of mirror
produced at Aranmula, a village in the state of Kerala. Composed
of a special metal alloy, instead of glass, the Aranmula kannadi
is a front surface reflection mirror, which eliminates secondary
reflections and aberrations typical of back surface mirror. The
exact metals used in the alloy are unknown, by are mixed with copper
and tin to cast the missors, before being polished for several days
in a row to achieve their reflective surface. |
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Visas
Foreign Nationals desirous of coming into India are required to possess a valid passport of their country and a valid Indian Visa.There is no provision of 'Visa on Arrival' in India and no fee is charged for immigration facilities at the airports. Foreign passengers should ensure that they are in possession of valid Indian Visa before they start their journey to India Carry your visa for entry to India/Kerala on your holiday. For further clarifications, contact the Indian High Commission. For visa extension, contact Office of the Commissioner of Police, Thiruvananthapuram.
LIST OF INDIAN EMBASSIES ABROAD
http://india.gov.in/overseas/indian_missions.php
Procedure for obtaining Visa
Visas can be applied for in person or by post at the High Commission of India based in the country from where the candidate intends to depart for India. Specific visas are granted for a variety of purposes that are aforementioned.
Requirements for Visa
Generally the following documents are required for obtaining Indian Visa. However, the requirement may vary from country to country.
Original
passport valid for at least 6 months
Visa fee
Two passport size photographs
Supporting documents, where necessary
Duly completed application form
For information
on passport and visa rules please visit: www.passport.nic.in
For more
information and guidelines please visit: http://www.keralapolice.org/foreigners.html ,
http://www.tvmcitypolice.org/foreigners.jsp
There is no limit to the amount of foreign currency that visitors can bring | Banks are open for transaction from 10.00 to 14.00 hrs on all days except Sundays | Main hotels, restaurants and shopping centres honour major credit cards | Indian Rupee (INR)
Kerala
- One of the 50 must see destinations of a lifetime - " National Geographic
Travel "
Kerela - One of the 10 paradises of the World - " National Geographic Travel "
Kerala - One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century - " Travel and Leisure "
Kerala - One of the ten hot spots for the millennium - " Emirates In-flight Magazine "
Kerala - One of the ten love nests in India - " Cosmopolitan "
Kerala - One of the six destinations of the millennium - " Khaleej Times "
Kerala Tourism - Prestigious International Award for Leisure Tourism for the year 2000-2001,by Pacific Area Travel Writer's Association PTWA
Kerala Tourism - the best State that promoted tourism in India in the year 2001 - " Outlook Traveller " and TAAI
| Kerala Hill station | Kerala Beaches | Kerala Backwaters |
Kerala
Special Packages |
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| Kerala Hill station | Kerala Beaches | Kerala Backwaters |
