Kerala is often called God’s Own Country because it’s one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in India blessed with abundant nature’s bounty, year-round foliage, diverse wilderness, crystal clear beaches, and the magnificent landscapes of the Western Ghats! This Indian state in India perched on the Western Coast of India, or the Malabar Coast, is also the birthplace of Ayurveda, the ancient practice of healing and wellness!
Kerala, the ancient Spice Capital of the World, has earned its place as the pride of Incredible India owing to its beautiful terrain encompassing a variety of picturesque landscapes that will leave you awestruck! From lush green hills to tea gardens, backwaters, mangroves, forests, rivers, waterfalls, beaches, lakes, lagoons, and estuaries, Kerala has it all!
Thanks to scenic beauty and loads of activities available, Kerala has become popular as God’s Own Country. Blessed with natural beauty and ecological diversity, God’s Own Country Kerala has a lot to offer to tourists and explorers.
Facts about Kerala – God’s Own Country
Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of Kerala as well as its cultural and commercial hub. Imbued with all elements of nature, Kerala also leads the country in various aspects like literacy rate, sex ratio, least population growth, and travel & tourism.
ALSO SEE- Best Time to Visit Kerala
Kerala is known as Keralam in the Malayalam language and its breathtaking destinations ought to be on everyone’s bucket list! Here are some more facts about Kerala that you might find interesting and that you must know before planning a trip to it.
| Literacy Rate: | 99.98% (Highest in India) |
| Sex Ratio: | 1.084 (More women than men- highest in India) |
| Tradition & Culture: | Kathakali, Thrissur Pooram, Kalarippayattu, Theyyam, Snake Boat Race |
| Famous Beaches: | Kovalam, Varkala, Marari, Bekal, Fort Kochi, Cherai |
| Famous Backwaters: | Alleppey, Kumarakom, Bekal, Kollam |
| Famous Food Items: | Puttu, Banana Fritters, Appam, Karimeen Pollichathu, Malabar Parotta |
Let us now examine why Kerala was known as God’s Own Country in olden times, and why people continue to do so even today!
Why was ancient Kerala called God’s Own Country?
As per mythology, Kerala was created by the Gods!
According to various ancient mythological accounts, Sage Parshurama, who was the incarnation of Vishnu and the creator of the world, created Kerala with his axe. He threw the axe in the water and the water receded to make the place of land on which the modern state of Kerala stands.
ALSO SEE – Onam Festival in Kerala- How to Celebrate & the Legend of Mahabali
According to another mythological account, King Mahabali used to rule Kerala and the Gods grew jealous of the prosperity and wealth of the kingdom in those days. They eventually succeeded in sending him away through the incarnation of Lord Vishnu called Vamana.
To commemorate the memories of King Bali, Onam, the state festival of Kerala, is celebrated every year with joy and zeal.
Why is modern Kerala known as God’s Own Country?
Mr. Walter Mendez coined the term “God’s Own Country” for Kerala to revive the tourism sector of the state in 1989. He worked on different ideas as per the request of the Kerala Tourism Department to promote the natural beauty of Kerala across the world. He was the Creative Director of an ad agency and his coined name God’s Own Country did wonders for the tourism sector of Kerala.
Kerala’s economy is growing at a rate of 13%. “God’s Own Country” was the tagline of Kerala Tourism across all platforms of the country and the world. This simple tagline showed the potential of the state as the favorite tourist destination in India.
The tag found a place in the hearts of lakhs of curious travelers who have been swarming the state ever since to see the beauty fondly known as God’s Own Country!
7 major reasons why Kerala is God’s Own Country
There are many aspects of Kerala courtesy of which it has come to be called God’s Own Country. Kerala is among the few places in the world where you can enjoy the luxury of experiencing beaches, backwaters, hill stations, houseboats, history, amusement parks, and rich culture and heritage all in one place within a distance of 400 kilometers.
The variety of experiences it offers makes it stand out among all the tourist destinations in the world!
1. Flora and fauna of Kerala
Nature has given the gift of exotic flora and fauna to Kerala. The land is blessed with fertility to produce food in abundance. We’re not exaggerating when we say that Kerala is a nature’s abode in all senses with its endless lush landscapes and vast patches of green land.
There are so many wildlife sanctuaries in Kerala established by the government to protect the wildlife of Kerala. From lakes to national parks, Kerala has luxurious natural spots for tourists to visit and to shelter thousands of endangered species of wildlife and birds.
From Thekkady’s Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve of Thekkady to Munnar’s Eravikulam National Park, there are tonnes of biodiversity zones in Kerala where you can be one with nature!
Kerala’s popular hill stations like Munnar, Thenmala, Vythiri, Wayanad, Vagamon, and Ponmudi brimming with resplendent nature and abundant foliage also bring wanderers closer to nature here!
National Parks: Silent Valley National Park, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary & Tiger Reserve, Pambadum Shola National Park, Matthikettan Shola National Park, Eravikulam National Park, Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
Lakes in Kerala: Vembanad Lake, Asthamudi Lake, Sasthamkotta Lake, Periyar Lake, Poovar Lake
Tea plantations in Kerala: Munnar, Wayanad, Idukki, Chinnakanal, Bonakkad
ALSO SEE – Top 15 Places to Visit in Kerala (with Map)
2. Beaches in Kerala
There are so many eye-catching beaches in Kerala. The long coastline of Kerala, or the Malabar Coast, offers so many attractions for tourists who visit God’s Own Country every year in large numbers.
- Lighthouse Beach in Kovalam
It is a perfect place for tourists to visit in Kovalam. You can indulge in activities like volleyball, parasailing, surfing, and paragliding to quench your thirst for adventure on this beach. It is also known for its vast palm groves and plantation views.
- Varkala Beach
Just a dip in the water of Varkala Beach is known to cleanse oneself of all impurities. The water is known as the destroyer of sins. This beach is a paradise for seafood lovers as it offers so many dishes from classic vegetarian to seafood cuisine. Food is affordable at Varkala Beach.
- Alappuzha Beach
This beach is also known as Alleppey Beach and is a very famous beach in Kerala. It is renowned for its waterways and a 150-year-old pier that stretches into the sea.
It is lined with shady palm trees that you can sit under and relax after taking a dip in the cool sea. This place also plays host to many festivals like the Sand Art Festival and the Alappuzha Festival.
ALSO SEE- Top 10 Best Beaches in Kerala this year (UPDATED)
3. Climate of Kerala
The weather of Kerala is sublime for most times of the year. While the plains do experience a hot and humid climate in summer, the weather turns pleasant in winters and monsoons, with the cool sea breeze tickling your senses! And the best part is that the hill stations in Kerala are refreshingly cool and pleasing year-round!
Kerala is a tropical place located on the Malabar Coast along the Arabian Sea on India’s western shores. Out of 365 days in a year, this state experiences rainfall for about 120 to 140 days. Most of the rainfall occurs in June, July, and August.
Kerala experiences a moist and tropical climate geographically and it is an all-season destination. However, the best time to visit Kerala is from September to March in winter when all destinations are green after the rains.
ALSO SEE – Best Places to Visit in Kerala ( with Map)
4. Backwaters of Kerala
Kerala has come to be known for its elegant houseboats sailing graciously on the jade-colored backwaters of alluring destinations like Alleppey and Kumarakom. Kerala’s pristine waterways and houseboats are your much-needed dose of serenity when you visit God’s Own Country. They paint the most vivid scenery of this Indian state!
The backwaters of Kerala resemble a maze of lagoons and canals criss-crossed with rivers, shallow pools, and in some places, even estuaries. And sailing on slender shikaras or lavish houseboats is the best way to explore them!
Backwater destinations in Kerala: Alleppey, Kumarakom, Kuttanad, Cherai Island, Poovar Island, Kollam, Ashtamudi
ALSO SEE – Which are the best backwaters in Kerala?
5. Spices of Kerala
Kerala is world-famous for its spice gardens and is often referred to as the Spice Capital of India. Kozhikode, a beautiful city in Kerala, is the prime spice city of India. If you’re a fan of spicy food, you’ll love to visit this exotic destination and explore its many spice plantations. You will find a rich blend of authentic spices in its cuisine and culture.
The strong aroma of the many spices grown and produced in Kerala lingers in its air wherever you travel in the state. In fact, it is these intoxicating aromas that pull thousands of foodie travelers to Kerala year after year!
Europe searched desperately for years to find the route to the Spice Capital of India. India has been famous for its spices in the European market for centuries. The spice trade was the talk of the town in those days across the world.
Spices grown in Kerala:
- Pepper – A native of Kerala
- Clove – Flavoring agent used in dishes
- Cardamom – Queen of spices
- Cinnamon – Spice with abundant antioxidant properties
- Nutmeg – A major ingredient in baking
- Curry leaves – Aromatic leaves that have several health benefits
- Ginger – Used in household cooking & medicinal functions extensively
- Turmeric – Rich in flavors & medicinal properties
- Vanilla – The very soul & essence of baking
Taste some credible dark pepper, cardamom, cinnamon, and outlandish vanilla in God’s Own Country when you visit its dreamy estates and plantations on a nature hike and you will be left asking for more!
ALSO SEE – Best Spices of Kerala to buy in 2024
6. Food in Kerala
Since it’s the Spice Capital of India, Kerala is famous for its cuisine as well. It has an authentic and utterly delicious cuisine that impresses the palette of every visitor regardless of where in the world they’re from.
Kerala has a rich menu of dishes for all sorts of visitors, from vegetarians to hardcore non-vegetarians and seafood lovers. There are mouth-watering dishes to savor your taste buds once you enter Kerala.
- Puttu and Kadala Curry
Puttu and Kadala Curry is the traditional food of Kerala. It is made with coconut shavings and rice in a cylindrical shape and is the staple breakfast dish of Kerala. It is served with Kadala Curry which is made up of highly nutritious black chickpeas. It is a delicious dish that you must not miss on your visit to Kerala.
- Appam with Stew
Appam with stew is one of the favorite dishes of Kerala. Appam is a rice pancake with a thick center and a paper-thin structure on the outside. It is served with stew, a curried dish of meat or vegetable chunks. This creamy coconut curry enhances the taste of this dish by a hundred times.
- Kerala Prawn Curry
You can not miss out on the special prawn curry of Kerala. Kerala is a coastal state and has sumptuous aquatic cuisine. If you like seafood, you’ll love Kerala-style prawn curry made with authentic spices grown here.
Other famous dishes in Kerala:
- Idiyappam
- Nadan Kozhi Varuthathu
- Kerala Style Beef Fry
- Malabar Parotta
- Kerala Style Fish Molee
- Banana Fritters
- Palada Payasam
- Onam Sadhya
7. The rich culture & heritage of Kerala
Kerala has a distinct culture and unique ancient traditions unlike anywhere else in India, or the world. Kerala draws a large number of domestic as well as international tourists every year with its timeless heritage and vibrant culture.
Here are some examples of its vivid cultural practices that have stood the test of time and lure in explorers every year!
- Ayurveda
Kerala is the birthplace of Ayurveda and it has been practiced here for centuries. Kerala, God’s Own State, prides itself on its tradition of Ayurvedic healing and wellness that has time and again proven to be more effective than modern medicine.
Ayurveda is, in fact, a globally preferred form of healthcare now. Health centers and wellness retreats all over the world use Ayurvedic practices, therapies, and Spa treatments to offer holistic health to people from all walks of life.
ALSO SEE – Top 10 Holistic Ayurveda Resorts In Kerala
- Folk dance and music
Kerala is known for its distinct and vibrant form of folk dance and music. With percussion melodies, Carnatic music, and the use of traditional musical instruments that produce the most brilliant rhythms, Kerala enchants visitors with soulful music.
It is also home to the world-renowned dance forms of Kathakali and Mohiniyattam, both of which employ complex facial expressions and fluid body movements perfected out of years of practice to depict stories of ancient epics.
- Kalaripayattu
In addition to folk dance, Kerala is also famous for its traditional martial art form – Kalaripayattu. Most Kalaripayattu shows in Kerala showcase a dramatic version of this fighting technique involving swordplay and incredibly swift body movements to depict attack and defense strategies.
- Art & craft
Traditional handicrafts passed down through generations like the famed Arnamula Mirror are a testament to Kerala’s unique art and craft. From intricate temple paintings and articles creatively fashioned out of coconuts and coir, to the vibrant Kalamkari paintings, Kerala has some of the richest treasures of artwork and handicrafts in India.
- Festivals of Kerala
Have you heard of the famed Aranmula Snake Boat Races of Kerala? If you haven’t, you’re missing out on one of the most entertaining and enjoyable festivals in India that will give you an instant adrenaline rush!
The Thrissur Pooram is also another vivid and enchanting festival in Kerala. The day marks a display of several artistically decorated and caparisoned elephants in the town of Thrissur in addition to lively dance, music, decorations, and food!
ALSO SEE – Thrissur Pooram festival – Best Temple, history, and timings
Hosting lakhs of visitors every year with warmth and love, Kerala embraces its name as God’s Own Country in letter and spirit. The Kerala Tourism Dept is doing a great job of satisfying the needs of enthusiastic travelers across the seven seas and making it everyone’s number one choice for an adventure into the wild or a peaceful sojourn in nature’s lap. When are you visiting?
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