Kerala, India’s southernmost state, is located between the Western Ghats on the east and the Arabian Sea on the west. Derived from the Malayalam word “Kera”, Kerala literally means “the land of coconut”, which is found in plenty throughout the length and breadth of the state. There’s a reason the state is known as “God’s own country”. While mythology claims that the state was created by Lord Vishnu, who threw an ax across the river to create a land for his devotees to settle in tranquillity, it is a state where different religion co-exists peacefully. There is also another reason for it. The natural beauty of Kerala, its famous backwater, paddy fields, exotic beaches, tea plantations, and the wet maritime tropical climate make it no less than a paradise on Earth. Also, native to Kerala is the traditional dance form of Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Kummattikali, performed during Onam has earned a distinct place in the art and culture of India.
