GENERAL INFO

A slender green sliver of land clinging to the south  western flank  of  the  Indian peninsula, Kerala is one of the  southern states of the Republic of India. 

Though it's roots date back to the early years of the christian era, the modern state of Kerala was created in 1956, when all the states of India were reorganized on a linguistic basis. History was created in 1957, when Kerala became the first state in the world to have democratically elected a Marxist government to power. Things have changed, but politics still continues to dominate conversation, particularly in the numerous wayside tea stalls, where the brew is as strong as the ideology.

The state has been in the forefront, in terms of education and health services. It has the highest rate of literacy, lowest rate of infant mortality and the leading female to male ratio, in the country. 

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.