Kerala is a narrow strip, extremely fertile and is almost impossibly green throughout. The slender green silver land that clings to the southwestern flank of the Indian peninsula, as it lies between the high western ghats in the east and the vast Arabian sea in the west. Still, geologist say, Kerala had not been born. In fact, it is quite possible that the birth of Kerala which must have been a rather long process in human terms, though lightning-quick in geological ones could have been witnessed by the first human beings wandering in the forested highlands of the Western Ghats. There is a persistent legend which says that Parasuraman, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the Preserver of the Hindu Trinity, stood on a high place in the mountains of the Western Ghats, threw his axe far into the sea, and command the sea to retreat. It did and the land that emerged dripping from the waters became Kerala. This small, emerald crescent of land contains jungles, beaches, mountains, lake and some of the most romantic natural resources in the world. The mountanious region of the state is dominated by the ranges of Sahya mountain (Western Ghats) which rise to an average height of 1520 mtrs, with a number of peaks towering over 2400 mtrs. This is the area of dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and major plantations. To the casual visitor, the Kerala countryside might well seem a canopy of green, but to the close observer it is finely differentiated. Each shade of green owes its existence to a valuable cash crop that has been introduced and nurtured by the human land. There are the emerald green rice fields over which generations of slimwaisted Kerala women have worked, and the fresh green banana groves. The coconut plantations appear from the air like the whorls on a giant's head, even taller arecanut trees waving feathers. As long before as the 3rd Century BC, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Chinese and Babylonians had trade relations with Kerala.
The Arab and Jewish traders started exporting Kerala's spices to the west. These contacts, in turn, led to the arrival of Christianity and Islam in to Kerala. It was the first place in India to host these two faiths. Later, when a new need arose, the Islamic people became Kerala's ship builders, seafarers and powerful merchant princes. In the 15th century, when the semitic monopoly of the spice trade became too expensive for the European markets to bear, Portugal financed Vasco da Gama to discover the sea route to the spice lands of Kerala. The Portuguese were followed by the Dutch in to Kerala, they by the French in a limited way, and finally by the British who stayed on in India till 1947. This multi-layered international history has left traces throughout the state. The Arabs and Chinese also made their mark on Kerala and fisherman use Chinese Fishing Nets to this day. One can find ancient Hindu temples sitting serenely near gaily-painted colonial-style Churches and splendid mosques. Crumbling Portuguese ruins by the sea-side soften the harsh memories left behind by colonisers, while British residences and English town squares remind one of the more recent colonial past. Kerala has also had Christians as long as Christianity has been in Europe !. The Portuguese were more than a little surprised to find Christianity already established along the Malabar coast when they arrived here 500 years ago. Christianity, Judaism and Islam found their way into Kerala. A tolerant people welcomed them. Kerala has an amazing mixture of religious toleration are an essential part of Kerala's culture and heritage. Performing and visual arts play an important part in Kerala's life. The state has of course become internationally famous for its unique and spectacular 'Kathakali' masked dance-drama and there are other equally stunning performance forms which still thrive throughout the state, drawing engrossed audiences. These include 'Theyyam' 'Koodiyattam' 'Mohiniyattam' 'Krishnanattam' and 'Kalaripayattu' (Martial art of Kerala). A charming, unique vacationland, it is captivatingly and spiritually alive with its many fares, festivals and celebrations and also offers sun kissed beaches, unique Wildlife Sanctuaries, tranquil backwaters, breath-taking scenery and splendid architecture. Ofcourse, Kerala is God's own country !