KERALA

Kerala is a state on the tropical Malabar Coast of southwestern India.. The principal spoken language is Malayalam, but other languages are also spoken. Kerala ranks 21st by area (about the size of the Netherlands) and 12th by population nationwide.

Kerala was influenced by the Mauryan Empire. Later, the Cheran Kingdom and feudal Nair and Namboothiri Brahminical city-states became major powers in the region.Early contact with overseas lands culminated in struggles between colonial and native powers. The States Reorganisation Act of 1st November 1956 elevated Kerala to statehood.

In the prevailing theory, Kerala is an imperfect Malayalam portmanteau that fuses kera ("coconut palm tree") and alam ("land" or "location").Another theory is that the name originated from the phrase chera alam ("Land of the Chera"). International ranked Kerala as the least corrupt state in the country.

Kerala has 14 districts and they are the revenue divisions of the State.

Districts:

Kasaragod, Kannur, Wayanad, Kozhikkod, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur, Eranakulam, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam.

Holy places:

Sabarimala,Guruvayoor, Ettumanoor.

Hill Stations:

Munnar, Coorg,Idukki, Devikulam.

Forts:

Pallippuram, Palakkad, Bakel, St. Angelo’s.