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On the southwest coast of India, is a narrow, fertile strip. Kerala's backwaters are a place of relaxation. Boating in rivers, canals, lakes and lagoons by village paddy fields, coconut groves.
Kerala's beautiful beaches and palm trees, inland long western ghats, wildlife sanctuaries, coffee and spice plantations, aroma of cinnamon and cardamom in the air - all give perfect relaxation to the viewers sitting on the hill station.
The sheltered location of Kerala, has allowed special costumes, festivals, arts to thrive KATHAKALI is most renowned art of dancing and religious play. LOCAL THEYYAM, a holy dance performed as a sacred offing by the costumed dancers is also worth remembering.
Long coastline of Kerala offers maritime contact with outside world since centuries colonial past Syrian - Christian churches, strong Muslim, Dutch, Portuguese homes. Kerala is famous for Aurvedic Clinics, Massage. People of Kerala are hospitable. All over you can enjoy delicious cuisine.
Kerala's immediate neighbour states are Karnataka in the north and Tamilnadu in the east. Some of the part of Mahe-Pondicherry (union territory) also shares a land border with Kerala. In Kerala, more than 95% of the people speak Malayalam language.
Kerala is divided into 14 districts. They are Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Idukki, Kannur, Kasargod, Kollam, Kottayam, Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and Wayanad.
In India, Kerala ranks highest with respect to "Social Development Parameters" especially in primary education and healthcare, mainly due to government policies, which make these services available free of cost for people of Kerala who would not otherwise have access to them. More than 90% of the people in Kerala are literate, which is the highest among Indian states.
However, Kerala's emphasis on social welfare also resulted in slow economic progress. Kerala's per capita GDP is lower than the nation's average of 360 USD per year. Remittances from Keralites working abroad, mainly in the Middle East, make up over 60% of the state's GDP. |