Kerala is one of the ten 'Paradises Found' by the National Geographic Traveler, for its diverse geography and overwhelming greenery. It is a land much acclaimed for the contemporary nature of its cultural ethos, and much appreciated for the soothing, rejuvenating paradise that it is.
Legend has it that Kerala rose from the sea at the spot where the axe thrown by Parasurama, one of the incarnations of Vishnu, fell. The Keralite, brought up in this luxurious land ruled by Nature, is an instinctive lover of her streams, lakes, rivers and seas. It is the spirit of this beautiful relationship that shines through.
Visitors come here primarily to unwind and indulge; this is, after all, where succumbing to a therapeutic Ayurvedic massage is as mandatory as idling away an afternoon aboard a slowly drifting houseboat (kettuvallam) or sipping coconut milk under a tropical sun before taking in a wonderful Kathakali dance. Eastward, the spice-scented Cardamom Hills and wild elephants of Periyar beckon, while a short flight west takes you to the little-known but sublime tropical reefs of the Lakshadweep islands. All of which make Kerala not just a must-see on your India itinerary, but a major destination in its own right.
Climate: Located on the southwestern coast of India, Kerala is hot all year around with temperatures between 27c and 33C all year. The highest sunshine hours per day are Nov - May with aprox 10 hours per day, this falls to 2 - 5 hours per day Jun - Sep. Humidity is between 70 - 85% with the highest humidity being from July - Sep. Monsoon season is from June-Sep with between 260 - 620mm of rainfall per month, the remainder of the year is generally very dry.
Almost hundred percent literacy rate. World-class health care systems. India's lowest infant mortality and highest life expectancy rates. The highest physical quality of life in India. Peaceful and pristine, Kerala is also India's cleanest state.
