Kerala
, Gods Own Country.....
I belong to a tiny state in India called
Kerala
, situated in the southwestern tip of Peninsular India. sandwiched
between the Arabian Sea and the forested Western Ghats. it is better known
as God's Own Country. Its a breathtakingly green land covered by coconut
palms , silken reams of emerald backwaters , spice scented hill tops, Lush
Exotic wildlife , Ancient regimens. Spectacular art forms. Colorful
festivals. Fascinating history. and a wealth of unique culture and traditions
To celebrate NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Traveler's 15th anniversary,
they put together a landmark issue. Its contents: a roundup of the 50 greatest
places of a lifetime. destinations no curious traveler should miss.
Kerala was one among the 50 , it was placed under the category 'Paradise
Found' along with the Hawaiian islands and Seychelles .
Culture , Language .....
Isolated
from the deccan plateau by the mountainous belt of the Western Ghats, but
with a long coastline open to foreign influences, Kerala has evolved a
unique culture. It is an educationally advanced state with its own language,
Malayalam,
and has the highest rate of literacy (100%) among Indian states .It is
India's most advanced society in terms of education and health and has
the highest physical Quality of Life which is comparable to that of the
united states of America according to various studies conducted ...(don't
expect , good highways or any McDonalds though ) . I have given below some
things that are special to Kerala.
Kalaripayattu
is the comprehensive system of martial arts of Kerala, regarded as one
of the oldest and most scientific in the world , the more famous Karate
is believed to be originated from Kalaripayattu. Kalaripayattu training
aims at the ultimate co-ordination of mind and body.
Pooram is the great elephant pageant typical of certain temples in
Kerala. Bejeweled tuskers numbering ten to hundred, line up for this
exotic spectacle with mahouts siting atop them carrying the muthukuda
(tinsel covered silk parasols) and waving the venchamaram (white tufts).
Kathakali (literally, story play): This
spectacular classical dance drama of Kerala is over 1500 years old. This
elaborate art form is usually performed in 
the
evenings and continues up to dawn, and is an integral part of all temple
and cultural festivals in Kerala. The costumes and makeup are ornamental,
elaborate and designed to give a superhuman effect. The actors do not speak
or sing but enact the story through mudras (hand gestures), graceful movements
and facial expressions. The themes of this awe inspiring art are taken
from India's rich and colourful mythology.
Nature
Kerala is a land of great natural beauty. From
the majestic heights of the Western Ghats the country undulates westward
presenting a vista of silent 
valleys
clothed in the richest green. Among the many rivers that glide across the
plains to merge their waters with 
the
Arabian sea, the more important are the Periyar, the Pamba and the
Bharatha puzha. The elegant waterfalls at Athirampally near Trichur is
a popular tourist spot. Along the coast, sand dunes shelter a linked chain
of lagoons and backwaters the still waters of which are studded with sea-gulls
and country canoes plying at a snails pace. The silence of the clear skies
is broken only by the coos of koels, a type of cuckoo, and the frequent
flutter of cranes perched on the embankments. The highest peak of peninsular
India Annai Mudi is located in this state. The scenic Thekkady Wild Life 
Sanctuary
is a popular vacation destination for nature lovers.The climate is equable
and varies little from season to season. The temperature normally ranges
from 80 to 90 F in the plains but drops to about 70 F in the highlands.
The state gets its due share of both the southwest as well as the northeast
monsoons, and the rainfall is heavy, averaging around 118 inches annually.
Photos speak louder than words.................
Hope you enjoyed reading this
Shafeek
ps : Since I didnt get enough time to write
this up (also I am not very good at it) ,everything here
has been collected from a couple of websites
, so dont be surprised if you see the same wordings/pictures
elsewhere.