Kerala

Kerala is a state located in the southern end of India, with borders touching TamilNadu in the east and south, and Karnataka on the north. The word 'Kerala' broadly means the 'land of coconut tree' in native language malayalam. Kerala has become one of the most sought-after destinations due to it's unique geography - which has mountainous Western Ghats on the east, serene Arabian Sea on the west, and 44 well-connected rivers. Together, they create a magical location which can offer customised holiday for almost everyone - from mountains and greenery, to beaches and backwaters - you get it all right here.

At A Glance

Area         :  38, 863 sq km
Population :  3,18,38,619
Capital      :  Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
Language  :  Malayalam
Religion    :  Hinduism, Christianity, Islam
Time         :  GMT +5:30
Currency   :  Indian Rupee(INR)
Governor   :  R.S. Gavai
Chief Minister :  V.S. Achuthanandan
Established :  November 1, 1956

Climate   

Summer    :     February - May (24 - 33^oC)
Monsoon   :     June - September (22 - 28^oC)
Winter       :     October - January (22 - 32^oC)

Sub-divisions

Kerala is divided into fourteen districts and further sub-divided into 62 Taluks.
The alphabetic list of districts in Kerala is as below:

• Alappuzha

• Ernakulam

• Idukki

• Kannur

• Kasaragod

• Kollam

• Kottayam

• Kozhikode

• Malappuram

• Palakkad

• Pathanamthitta

• Thiruvananthapuram

• Thrissur

• Wayanad

Economy

Tourism is the major industry in Kerala. Other growing sectors in Kerala are information technology, fertilizer, oil refining and power generation, ship-building, machine tools, electronics, cables and rubber. The major items exported from Kerala are coir, seafood, handicrafts, spices and other food products.

Tourism

Kerala offers a holiday for every taste - be it adventure, trekking, mountains, beaches, heritage, health spa - you name it! The ancient ayurvedic treatments and massages for various ailments are big attractions among tourists and locals alike. Over past few years, medical tourism has also gained popularity among foreign tourists. Kerala tourism dept runs more than 30 Tourist Information centres across many districts in Kerala to facilitate tourists. The updated list of all centres can be found here: http://www.keralatourism.org/information-offices.php


Note: I know I have perhaps bitten more than I can chew - by trying to put everything about Kerala in this Knol which is close to impossible. Please help me in this endeavor.