Spice Garden of India - Kerala boasts of a rich tradition and a deep historical background. Long before Vasco Da Gama discovered India when he landed on the coast of Kerala, the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and the Chinese had long since been sailing to Kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory.

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Climate

Kerala's climate reaches equatorial conditions. Maximum temperatures rarely exceed 90°F (32°C); minimum rarely falls below 70°F (21°C). The annual range at Cochin is only 6°F (3.3°C) and the diurnal is about 10°F (5.6°C), Apart from the heavy rainfalls in the hills, rainfall decreases from around 120 inches (3,008 mm.) in the north to half that at Trivandrum. There is an even distribution of rain throughout the year in Trivandrum: 39% in June - August, 33% in September - November, and 28% in December -May which is dry season in most of India. Not all parts of Kerala are as fortunate as Trivandrum in the moderation of rainfall and humidity rates.

Kerala boasts of a rich tradition and a deep historical background. Long before Vasco Da Gama discovered India when he landed on the coast of Kerala, the Phoenicians, Romans, Arabs, and the Chinese had long since been sailing to Kerala in search of spices, sandalwood and ivory. Since those days there is an undeniable Chinese influence in Kerala right down to the Chinese fishing nets. Its history is the synthesis and assimilation of old tradition and new values.

The state also boasts of political first by being the first place in the world to have elected a Communist Government in 1957. Political scene in Kerala is highly volatile, and the State has seen too many changes of power. In spite of this political hypersensitivity, it remains comparatively calm. All are welcome to the 'Spice Garden of India'.

Being India's most literate state and one of the few to follow the matrilinear familial system, it's a microcosm of multi-religious India, cohabited by Hindu, Christian and Muslims.

Kerala, one of the smallest states in the Republic of India, was formed in 1956. It has an area of 15,005 sq. miles. [38,863 sq. km. ] about one percent of the total land area of India. The state stretches for about 360 miles along the Malabar coast on the western side of the Indian peninsula; its width varies from 20 to 75 miles.

It is bordered by the states of karnataka on the north, Tamil Nadu to the east and the arabian sea to the west (map). The state has 14 districts and the capital is in Trivandrum [now Thiruvananthapuram]. Geography Kerala is made up of fourteen districts. Each of them have a distinct character.

Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum) is the capital of Kerala, famous for it's Kovalam beach (rated one of the top ten beaches of the world). Geography is destiny in Kerala with the monsoon winds bringing the gift of life annually. It's monsoons are likened to a battalion of wild elephants.

Agriculture contributes most to the state's income in the primary sector. Kerala's major sources of exports are agro-based and traditional like coir and cashew as well as marine products and manpower. In spices, pepper is the single most important product, with Kerala being the largest producer and exporter of black pepper. Cardamom and ginger are also exported.