Architecture & History

 

 

• Kerala has rich historical facts dating back to non-prehistoric era around the AD 3rd century from the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms.

 

• Kerala has wonderful cave architecture for their temples.

 

• Over the several years, there has been much exchange of lifestyle and cultural thoughts between the Indo-Aryan ancestry and the Nambudiri, a hindu clan.

 

• The temples in Kerala are face of the Indian Vedic architectural science depicting the values of Vaastu Shastra and touch of the Dravidian Architecture.

 

• The Tantrasamuchaya, Thachu-Shastra, Manushyalaya Chandrika, and Silparatna are important architectural sciences have had a strong influence on Kerala Architecture style.

 

• The Manushyalaya-Chandrika style has deep connection in Kerala where the work style evolved.

 

• The early architectural designs are grouped into two main categories -

 

• Tomb Cell
• Megalith

 

• The rock cut tomb cells are generally located in the laterite zones of central Kerala at Porkalam in the Thrissur district.

 

• The tombs are single or multiple layered chambers with a rectangular court in the east from where steps rise to the ground level.

 

• The megaliths are the umbrella stones depicting handless palm leaf umbrellas used for covering pits enclosing burial urns.

 

• The Megaliths became the annual meeting grounds of the tribes and gave rise to occult temples of ancestral worship.

 

• The version of Dravidian architecture found in Kerala in the far south-west has very few large temples, and sloping roofs which is prevalent in areas with the heavy monsoon rainfall.

 

• There is usually a stone core below a timber superstructure.

 

• The natural building materials used for construction in Kerala are stones, timber, clay and palm leaves.

 

• Soft laterite available at shallow water depth is a rare local stone that gets stronger and durable when brought to the atmospheric air.

 

• These stones can be easily cut, moulded and used as building blocks.

 

• Laterite blocks pasted with mortars of shell lime are classic binding material used in traditional buildings.

 

• Lime mortar's  strength and performance can be enhanced by mixing of vegetable juices. Mural Paintings and low relief work are used in buildings profusely.

 

• Timber is an abundant building material from bamboo to teak found in different regions of Kerala.

 

• The roof structure in timber was covered with palm leaf thatching for most buildings and rarely with tiles for palaces or temples.

 

• The Kerala murals are found in buildings painted with vegetable dyes on wet walls with various shades of earthly colors.

 

• With the traditional building styles and design exist the high rise in the cities made of cement and bricks with contemporary building architectural design.

 

 

 

Demographic Location

 

• Kerala is located in the southern part of India along the coastal line of Arabian Sea.

 

• The Western Ghats run on the western side of the state. There are lofty ranges on the western ghat which help in bringing mild to heavy rain to the state.

 

• Karnataka lies on the north and northeast side of Kerala and Tamil Nadu lies on the eastern side.

 

• The state of Kerala is very near to Lakshwadeep islands.

 

• Kerala is known for the inland back water inflow of streams which are enjoyed for tourist activities by house boats and boating.

 

 

People, Rituals and Language

 

• People of Kerala speak in Malayalam language which is a South Dravidian subgroup of the Dravidian language family.

 

• Malayalam is the official language of the state of Kerala, the Island union territory of Lakshadweep in the Arabian Sea and Poduchery.

 

• Malayalam has three important regional dialects and a number of smaller ones.

 

• There are 56 letters in the Malayalam alphabet, one among the largest alphabet system in the country.

 

• Due to influence of Tamil and Sanskrit on Malayalam language, the Malayalam alphabet has the largest numbers of letters among the Indian language orthography.

 

• Amongst other language spoken in Kerala is English, Tamil, Kannada and Hindi.

 

Season and Climate

 

 

• The climate of Kerala is uniform and does not vary vastly from season to season.

 

• Throughout the year, daily temperatures usually rise from the low 70s F (low 20s C) into the 80s F (27 to 32 °C).

 

• The state is directly exposed to the southwest monsoon, which prevails from July through September.

 

• The Southwest Monsoon sets in the Indian Peninsula by entering the mainland from Kerala. The first showers of the Southwest Monsoon are seen in Kerala.

 

• Kerala receives rain from the reverse Northeast Monsoon as well.

 

• In the Northeast Monsoon winds with huge amount of moisture blow in October and November from the nearby seas.

 

• Precipitation averages about 115 inches annually statewide, with some hilly areas receiving more than 200 inches.

 

Culture & Education

 

 

• More than half of Kerala’s residents, including most of the Malayalis, follow Hinduism.

 

• About one-fourth of the population practices islam, with the Moplah (Mapilla) people of the Malabar Coast constituting the state’s largest Muslim community.

 

• Christians, who account for nearly one-fifth of the population, belong broadly to the Syrian Orthodox  and Roman Catholic churches as well as to various Protestant denominations.

 

• Practicing Vocal and Instrumental Music and learning Dance forms like Kathakali. It is a sublime dance drama that depicts episodes from Indian epics.

 

• Mohiniattam is another classical art form that evokes the highest form of femininity through its graceful movements.

 

• Kerala has one of the most advanced educational systems and highest levels of literacy in India.

 

• Elementary education is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 14.

 

• There are primary, middle, and secondary schools, as well as polytechnical and industrial training institutes, arts and science colleges, and professional colleges.

 

• Kerala also has several universities like

 

• The University of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram
• The University of Calicut in Kozhikode
• The Cochin University of Science and Technology  in Kochi
• The Kerala Agricultural University in Thrissur.

 

• Kerala is more known for the following reasons:

 

• Appam with stew
• Karimeen pollichathu (fish)
• Malabar Parotta with Kerala beef curry
• Erissery or pumpkin and lentil curry
• Palada payasam (dessert)
• Kerala prawn curry (chemmeen curry)
• Thalassery biriyani
• Fish moilee

 

• Koodiyattom is a traditional form of drama in Sanskrit. Koothu is a more light-hearted performance mode, like stand up comedy performance.

 

• Mohiniyattam is another Keralite performing arts is a type of graceful dance performed by women and accompanied by musical vocalizations.

 

• Thullal, Thirayattam, Padayani and Theyyam are other important Keralite performing arts.

 

• Kummattikali is the famous colorful mask-dance of South Malabar, performed during the festival of Onam.

 

• The Kannyar Kali dances (also known as Desathukali) are fast-moving, militant dances attuned to rhythmic devotional folk songs and asuravadyas.

 

• Margam Kali is one of the ancient round group dance of Kerala practiced by Saint Thomas Christians.

 

• The Ragas and Talas of lyrical and devotional music with roots from Carnatic music.

 

Famous Spots

 

 

 

• Alleppey is a city in Kerala that has achieved the titled of ‘Venice of the East. The backwaters with beautiful scenic backdrop adds to the beauty of the place. The entire places is surrounded by coconut groves, paddy fields, ducks. One of the biggest attraction of the place is the yearly Snake Boat Race in the Spring season.

 

• Munnar is is hilly city in Kerala. The place has a perfect blend of soil and weather for tea farming and Spice plantation.

 

Munnar is also known for its adventurous trekking and camping. With the great weather and landscape Munnar proves to be a place for relaxation to body, mind, and soul.

 

• Kovalam is known for its scenic beauty. The Golden soft sand with the coconut trees and pleasant breeze blowing from the sea makes the climate favourable for tourists.

 

• There are several Ayurvedic message center along with exciting sports like parasailing and snorkeling.

 

• Fort Kochi is called the gateway to God’s Own Country. Besides the splendid sea water of the Arabian Sea, Fort Kochi has museums, Hindu Temples, Churches, art galleries and beaches.

 

• Thekkady is a land of lush green fields on the rising Western Ghats. The forests patches and lake of Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary amke the large landscape of this place.

 

• Periyar is considered as one of famous Tiger Reserves in India also occupied as home of around 35 species of animals, like elephants, tigers, sambars, and gaurs.

 

• There are several species of birds that live in the mid of the greenery. The forest witness activities like safari, jungle patrol, bamboo rafting, jungle camp, and border hiking.

 

• Wayanad is the ‘land of paddy fields and the greenest place in Kerala. This place invites adventurous stay in a treehouse.

 

• Many tribes live in this area. People engage in pleasure activities like Trekking. Neelakurinji flower blooms here amidst the green landscape once in 12 years.

 

• Kozhikode also known as Calicut with numerous historical events is a beautiful city in Kerala. The Malabar coast is the main attraction of this city.

 

• Due to multi cutlural adaption several churches, temples, historic monuments to sanctuaries and waterfalls are found in this region.

 

• Kozhikode has unique touch of Arabic and Chinese tradition.

 

• Trivandrum is the capital of Kerala state. The red cliff is a natural attraction with the skyline merging to the Arabian Sea.

 

• Varkala Beach is known for the mineral springs.

 

• Also known as Papanasam Beach, water sports and recreational activities like scuba diving, jet-skiing, and swimming in the shallow waters are enjoyed.

 

 

 

 

Aqualife, Flora & Fauna

 

 

• Coconut Palm groves fill the watery coastal plains of Kerala.

 

• Much of the Western Ghats and riverine areas are covered with monsoon rainforest and thick vegetation (tropical deciduous forests).

 

• Rolling green grasslands are found in abundance in the upland region of the Western Ghats.

 

• The forests and grasslands are natural habitat to various species of wildlife.

 

• Mammals like Sambar Deer, Gaurs, Nilgiri Tahrs (type of wild goats), Elephants, Leopards, Tropical Tigers, Bonnet Monkeys, rare Lion Tailed Macaques, and hilly Langurs.

 

• Amongst reptiles are the poisonous King Cobra, Crocodiles, tropical frogs and Turtles.

 

• Peacocks and Hornbills are some common birds.

 

• The Periyar National Park and Tiger Reserve are one of the state's largest national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

 

• Kerala’s principal cash crops are rubber, coffee, and tea, cultivated on the slopes of the foothills, along with areca nut, cardamom, cashew nut, coconut, ginger, and pepper.

 

• The major food crops of Kerala are rice, pulses (like peas and beans), sorghum, and tapioca. Commercial poultry farming has gained momentum state wide.

 

• The forests in Kerala gives human valuable timbers such as ebony, rosewood, and teak. bamboo (used in the paper and rayon industries), wood pulp, charcoal, gums, and resins.

 

• The state is also a national leader in fish production. Sardines, tunas, mackerels, and prawns are among the principal products of the industry.