Kerala Kerala

'Kerala Kerala' is the unanimous reply from tourists to India, when asked the question "Where to go for the best holiday in India?". So let us introduce Kerala to you, starting from 'where is Kerala?' and then we will tell you all about Kerala.

Kerala lies on the Western coast of South India and is a narrow strip of land with long sandy beaches on the Western side of Kerala. On the Eastern border of Kerala is a beautiful forest and plantation covered mountain range, known as the Western Ghats. In the middle lies a long stretch of lakes called the Kerala Backwaters.

Kerala Weather is pleasant, especially during the Monsoons or Monsoon Season. Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Kerala is the home of Ayurveda in India and is also the most sought after honeymoon destination in India. 'National Geographic's Traveler' magazine names Kerala as one of the "ten paradises of the world" and "50 must see destinations of a lifetime". 'Travel and Leisure' magazine names Kerala as "One of the 100 great trips for the 21st century" or Time Magazine to say "Afoot and Afloat - Kerala is Worth the Journey".

So what is this magic about Kerala?? Why all this praise for Kerala by all the leading Travel Magazines of the world? Why are there millions of internet searches for 'Kerala''. Searchers for 'Kerala' from all over the world use different spellings like 'Keral', 'Kerel', Kerela', 'Kerl', Kerla' and 'karala' - all of which means 'Kerala'. These millions of searches for Kerala on the internet bears witness to the worldwide popularity of Kerala as the best holiday destination in India.

Kerala in India witnessed the arrival of three religions into India through its ancient port Muziris and Pattanam, now called Kodungallur. The first Jewish settlements were thought to have been established in 961 BC at the time of the rule of King Solomon in Israel. Christianity came first to Kerala with the arrival of an Apostle of Jesus, St. Thomas (Doubting Thomas) in 52 AD and the first Christian Church in India was established by the Apostle. Islam came to the shores of India through Kerala in 629 AD and the first Islamic Mosque, Cheraman Juma Masjid was built here. It is believed that the cosmopolitan and gentle traits of the Kerlite people stems from these early encounters with foreigners.

During the middle ages the Europeans fell in love with the taste of Black Pepper and it became one of the most expensive commodities in Europe. Pepper became more expensive than gold. Whatever little pepper that reached Europe before the 15th century came by over land routes. So finding a sea route to India became a priority for Europe in the middle ages. Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama commanded the first fleet of ships to sail to India directly from Europe. Vasco da Gama set foot in India on the Kappad beach near Calicut in Kerala on 20th May 1498.

In those days there was great rivalry between Portugal and Spain. Spain also wanted to find an easier route to the Spices of Kerala. Spanish explorer Christopher Columbus underestimated the size of the earth, and thought that he could reach Kerala Malabar Coast in India by a shorter route, by sailing round the world the opposite way. He reached the Americas, but he thought he was in India. He was surprised to see the complexion of the local people was more reddish than he expected, and called them ‘Red Indians”!! So America was discovered thanks to Kerala!!

Please go through our web pages to get some idea about Kerala and why it is getting to be so popular worldwide as one of the best tourist destination in the world.