|
Legend says that Parasuraman, the sixth
incarnation of Lord Vishnu threw his
axe into the sea from Gokarnam (near
present Mangalore) and it is believed
the sea retreated from where his axe
fell to give birth to Kerala.
 Geologist
are of the view that Kerala was formed
much later than the rest of the subcontinent.
Submarine earth movement probably pushed
up the land between the curve
of the Western Ghats to form this wonderful
land. It is possible that the earth
inhabitants could have witnessed this
geological event leading to the creation
of the myths & legends concerning
the birth of Kerala.
 |
 |
 |
|
A
man with a small boat |
Snake
Boat race |
Bull
Race |
The interesting
thing about the myths and legends of
Kerala are that they are so strongly
interlinked with scientific facts and
history that it is very difficult to
distinguish between fact and fiction.
According to the discovery of Microliths
or small stone implements near Kozhikode
and Cochin point to presence of man
in Kerala as far back as 4000 BC.
Historians believe that civilization
existed in one form or the other in
Kerala as early as 5000 BC to 3000 BC.
T he early where most probably of Negrito
stock as the rest of South India. The
Negrito race was followed by the Austrics
and then by the Dravidians. The Indo-Arabians
(erroneously often referred to as Aryans)
seems to have gained in substantial
numbers by 2000-1500 BC.
Christianity and Islam were introduced
in Kerala much before the rest of the
India. Historians and the Church agree
that St. Thomas the Apostle arrived
in Muziris (present day Kodungallur)
in AD 52. Still later in AD 643 prophet
Mohammed's disciple Malik Ibn Dinar
arrived in Kerala to spread the prophet's
message. Then in 1498 the first wave
of the Europeans began to arrive. Vasco
Da Gama, the Portuguese seafarer landed
at the Kappad beach near Calicut in
north Kerala.
Kerala
is a land which always encouraged trading
and traders. In 1000 BC King Solomon's
ship visited "Ophix" (the
modern puvar south of Thiruvananthapuram)
to trade in Ivory Sandalwood and Peacocks.
This fame of Kerala Spices brought the
Romans in 30 AD. Who were followed by
the Greeks, Arabs, Chinese. The spices
trade brought Vascoda Gamma to Kappad
(near Kozhikode) in 1498. Which paved
the way for a new trading history. Followed
by Gamma Europeans opened the way for
new trade in spices, Ivory, Sandalwood
and Peacocks.
Geographically
Kerala is one of the smallest states
in India covering merely 1.3% of total
area of the country. Karnataka in north
and Tamilnadu in East. Physically the
state can be divided in to three natural
divisions, the sandy costal region with
coconut groves, paddy fields, back waters
and sea. The midland region made up
of fertile reddish hills and valleys
that grow most of Kerala's agricultural
crops. Peaks extensive ridges and ravines
of the Western Ghats. Where sandalwood,
tea, coffee, rubber and most of Kerala's
exotic spices are grown.
Kerala
enjoys balmy Weather almost all through
out the year. It is neither too cold
in the winter months nor too hot in
summer. The best time to visit is November
to February, where the air bracing and
on some morning there is a light mist.
|
Kerala
is probably
the greenest place you will ever see. The coconut
palms, the red tilted houses, the innumerable
lakes and beaches will remain long lasting impressions
to any visitor. The colorful festivals like
ONAM & VISHU, various types dances like
Kathakali, Kaikottikali, Mohiniyattom and Koodiyattam,
martial arts like Kalaripayattu and wildlife
sanctuaries are the other attractions. Ayurveda
the 3000 year old system of medicine (recognized
by World Health Organization as a system of
alternative medicine), is becoming very popular
all over the world. Kerala is a very attractive
tourist place in Asia. 
