Kerala

About Kerala

Kerala is state of India situated at southwest region of India. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country. It has its own unique culture & traditions .Kerala is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world growing at a rate of 13.31%.The tourism is a major contributor to the kerala state's economy.

Many people visit kerala every year from different regions of India & from other countries of world. Kerala is popular for its mountain ranges, forests, beaches& sanctuaries. The district Kochi contributes much in the total number of international & domestic tourists in kerala. Other attractions are beaches at Kovalam; Cherai & Varkala.There are many lake resorts around Vembanad Lake, Kumarakom & Alapuzha. There are hill stations & resorts at Munnar, Vagamon & Ponmudi. Sanctuaries at Periyar & Eravikulam National Park. Heritage sites, such as the Padmanabhapuram ,Hill & Mattancherry Palace are most visited by tourist.

To further promote tourism in kerala Grand kerala Shopping Festival was started by the Government of kerala has been held every year during the December-January. Kerala has a long sea coast line of 580 km.Kovalam beach situated near Thiruvananthapuram is the most visited beach in the kerala.

Attraction of KERALA:

Backwaters:

The backwaters were formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range the "backwaters" region a network of rivers, lakes & canals that centre on Alleppey, Kumarakom, & Punnamada also seems beautiful.

The backwaters in kerala are a chain of brackish lagoons & lakes lying parallel to the Malabar Coast. House boats which are well known as Kettuvalam in local language rides in the backwaters are a major tourist attraction. Backwater tourism is centered mostly on Alappuzha kollam & Kumarakom. Boat races held during festival seasons. In this boat recess long boats are used which is operates by group of people. This is looking very nice that the group of people working together this is also a major tourist attraction in the backwater regions. The backwater network includes large lakes such as the Vembanad Lake being the largest among them, linked by 1500 km long canals, this is man-made canal fed by several rivers & extending virtually the entire length of kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves & shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range.

Kalarippayattu (kerala marshal art):

Kalarippayattu the original martial art of Kerala had its origin from the “Dhanur Veda”. Parasurama one of the ten incarnations of the Lord Mahavishnu learned the lessons of this martial art from none other than Lord Shiva. Here are seven fighting methods described in the “Vasishta Samhita” (methods of martial arts formulated by the great Indian saint Vasishta).The kalarippayattu has adopted only five out of the total seven methods. The martial art by name kalari can be mainly divided in to two, kalarippayattu (the fighting techniques) & the kalari chikitsa (the healing methods).

Kalarippayattu:

The kalarippayattu martial art can further divided in to four.

1. Meythari. (This is physical methods of fighting) 

2. Kolthari. (This is methods of fighting with a round stick)

3. Ankathari. (This is fighting with weapons-knife, sword, churika)

4. Verum kai mura. (This is methods of fighting with bare hand)

Kalari

This process of healing techniques intended to cure the physical injuries which occur during practices like fractures, wounds, injuries to vital parts etc. Kalari healing is also a part of the curriculum. Various types of massaging like “sukha thirummu” (massage for relief), reksha thirummu (healing massage), chavitti thirummu(massage done by bare feet), various types of “kizhi applications” .kizhi is a cotton pouch in which various medicines mixed with oil are enclosed in slightly warm temperature. The kizhi is rubbed in to the body parts (the affected parts in particular).The oil mixed with medicines seep out & gets absorbed in to the body of the patient. This type of treatment is gaining wide popularity now a day.

During the longed period of British rule this art suffer much problems, as they banned this art. This ban has caused several methods to become lost due to non functioning of kalari.

TRADITION

Kerala’s traditional Dance

Kerala is home to a number of dance & art forms. Several dance forms which originated in Kerala are today popular worldwide especially the Kathakali dance form.Kathakali was originated over 500 years ago; Kathakali is a spectacular classical dance form of Kerala. It is a wonderful combination of drama, dance, music & spiritual. Kathakali is one of the oldest theater forms in the world. The word Kathakali made by two words ‘Katha’ means Story & 'kali' means Play. Thus Kathakali literally means combination of 'Story & Play'.The most important thing in that is ‘mudras’ or we can say that ‘expressions’ in Kathakali.