Kerala Tourism

Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. To its east and northeast, Kerala borders Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; to its west and south lie the Indian Ocean islands of Lakshadweep and the Maldives, respectively. Kerala envelops Mahé, a coastal exclave of Pondicherry. Kerala is one of four states that compose the linguistic-cultural region known as South India.

First settled in the 10th century BCE by speakers of Proto-South Dravidian, Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan Empire. Later, the Cheran kingdom and feudal Namboothiri Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region. Early contact with overseas lands culminated in struggles between colonial and native powers. Finally, the States Reorganisation Act of November 1, 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood. Social reforms enacted in the late 19th century by Cochin and Travancore were expanded upon by post-Independence governments, making Kerala among the Third World's longest-lived, healthiest, most gender-equitable, and most literate regions. However, Kerala's rates of suicide, unemployment, and violent crime rank among India's highest.

History

According to legend, Parasurama (an avatar of Vishnu) caused the oceans to retreat, revealing Kerala. During Neolithic times, humans largely avoided Kerala's malarial rainforests and wetlands; thus, the first evidence of habitation — potsherds and dolmens — dates to the 10th century BCE. These were produced by speakers of a proto-Tamil language from northwestern India, suggesting that ancient Kerala and Tamil Nadu (part of Tamilakam) once shared a common language, ethnicity, and culture. By the early 14th century, Kerala had become a linguistically distinct region. The first major recorded kingdom, the Chera, ruled Kerala from Vanchi. Allied with the Pallavas, they warred against the Chola and Pandya kingdoms. A Keralite identity — distinct from the Tamils and associated with the second Chera empire and the development of Malayalam — evolved during the 8th–14th centuries. In written records, Kerala was first mentioned in the Sanskrit epic Aitareya Aranyaka. Later, figures such as Katyayana, Patanjali, Pliny the Elder, and the unknown author of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea displayed familiarity with Kerala.

 

Climate

The climate of Kerala is tropical like most parts of India. Due to close proximity to sea, the temperature of Kerala remains equable for most parts of the year. The state does not have a continuous dry spell and the summer lasts from April to June. Maximum temperature remains around 32 degree centigrade. Kerala receives most of the rain from Monsoons, which touch the state in June and remain there till September. Besides the South West Monsoons, Kerala also receives rain from the North Eastern Monsoons.

Winter season in Kerala begins from October and lasts till January. In winters, the temperature drops a bit but the weather is never too chilly in Kerala. In winters, the average temperature in Kerala remains around 21 degree centigrade. The presence of the Western Ghats on the eastern side of the state and across the path of the southwest monsoon creates an important climatic zone with abundant rainfall on the windward side and a dry belt on the leeward eastern side.

 

Best Time to Visit Kerala

If the destination is like Kerala than the choice really becomes difficult as the land offers so many unique things to the visitors. Whether it's the backwaters, the beaches or the cultural aspects, there is so much to explore in Kerala. Due to its close proximity to sea, the climate of Kerala is neither too hot nor too cold. It has made Kerala an all season destination, however, the period between October to April are considered best as the temperature of Kerala during this period remains quite moderate.

Traditionally, the period between August to march has been considered a good time to travel in Kerala and the period between April to August is considered the best time for getting Ayurvedic treatments, for which Kerala is known world over. This way Kerala has become almost an all season destination. The period between June to July, which used to be considered off season due to monsoons have also started to see a good influx of visitors. In fact, the Monsoon period is considered ideal for Ayurvedic treatments.