WHY TO SLOW DOWN IN KERALA

“SLOW DOWN IN KERALA”-Because it’s really worth slowing down when you are in Kerala, the southernmost state of India. Situated between the Arabian sea and western ghats, this not so large state has population more than that of California,literacy rate amongst highest in the world,birth rate blow that of America and is ever falling.Health awareness and food habits has made infant mortality much below that of the entire country.Early mornings one could hear music from temples,muessins at the mosques and church bells ringing  in cathedrals This state has a tag called “God’s own country” and  could give you everything you want as a traveler or a tourist.

Kerala was formed in 1956 after India got freedom in 1947.The people there gives a warm welcome to every new comer there.It is one of the few state in India where every one is English Literate.The behavior and Literacy has big connection with the Portuguese ,Dutch and English people who went there for Trade or for any other purpose.St Thomas,one of the disciple of Jesus is believed to have landed in then the port of Muziris (now Kodungalloor) in AD 52.

It is believed that Kerala had trade relations with many other countries even before AD 52.Spices and cashew were the main goods for trade.It is recorded that queens of Egypt used pepper from Kerala since 1500 BC.Pliny,who visited kerala in 1 AD wrote about pepper in his records.Malabar found a place even in IBN Battutta's records as land without robbery and thieves. Portuguese explorer Vasco Da Gama landed in Kerala at Kappadu in present Calicut district in 14th century.He reached India through Atlantic ocean as the first European to set his foot in India via Atlantic. Kerala spices attracted Portuguese traders to kerala in 15th century.And later came the dutch,the British. Kerala was formed by the unification of Malabar, Travancore and Kochi kingdoms.At the end of Anglo Mysore war between the Malabar Kingdom and British ,Mlabar went with British rule in 1792.Travancore and Kochi was not under the British rule.They were princely states.British signed treaties of alliance with king of Cochin in 1791 and Travancore in 1795.

Kerala's Education history is something unique.The mighty Travancore royal family,Nair service society, SNDP, MES, Christian missionaries all has a positive impact on the education system of this little state.The christian missionaries during British rule gave lot of attention to education.The women are mostly educated so as the people of lower strata ,thanks to the free and compulsory primary education strategy executed by the rulers.
The culture,tradition and religion all has its effect on the food habit of Kerala.On a visit to kerala one would find a variety of dishes like beef-fry/roast,avial,Kerala paratta,fish curry,paal payasam etc.The south (Travancore),central(Cochin) and the north (Malabar) kerala has their own unique dishes and separate style of cooking of same dish.As someone said “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, when in Kerala, do as the Malayalis do. Malayalis are good eaters of rice food.Rice food is a must from breakfast to dinner.They like to have food in banana leaf whenever and wherever possible.

Kerala is connected to most of the countries around the world.It has three international airports within an area of 500 km. Another one is coming up and its in the final stages of construction which makes it 4 international airports ,which could easily beat United States in Air Connectivity.Within the country,the state is connected to all Indian cities by rail and all major south Indian cities by bus. Kerala so This is a small attempt to help all those going to Kerala and are in Kerala in having a good time in a low cost and budgetary manner.