The Chera Dynasty was the first prominent kingdom based in Kerala. The Ay kingdom in the deep south and the Ezhimala kingdom in the north formed the other kingdoms in the early years of the Common Era (CE). The region had been a prominent spice exporter since 3000 BCE. The region's prominence in trade was noted in the works of Pliny as well as the Periplus around 100 CE. In the 15th century, the spice trade attracted Portuguese traders to Kerala, and paved the way for European colonisation of India. At the time of Indian independence movement in the early 20th century, there were two major princely states in Kerala: Travancore and Cochin. They united to form the state of Thiru-Kochi in 1949. The Malabar region, in the northern part of Kerala, had been a part of the Madras province of British India, which later became a part of the Madras State post-independence. After the States Reorganisation Act, 1956, the modern-day state of Kerala was formed by merging the Malabar district of Madras State (excluding Gudalur taluk of Nilgiris district, Lakshadweep Islands, Topslip, the Attappadi Forest east of Anakatti), the taluk of Kasaragod (now Kasaragod District) in South Canara (Tulunad), and the erstwhile state of Thiru-Kochi (excluding four southern taluks of Kanyakumari district, and Shenkottai taluks).[15]
Kerala has the lowest positive population growth rate in India, 3.44%; the highest Human Development Index (HDI), 0.784 in 2018 (0.712 in 2015); the highest literacy rate, 96.2% in the 2018 literacy survey conducted by the National Statistical Office, India;[8] the highest life expectancy, 77 years; and the highest sex ratio, 1,084 women per 1,000 men. Kerala is the second-least impoverished state in India according to the Annual Report of Reserve Bank of India published in 2013.[18][19] Kerala is the second-most urbanised major state in the country with 47.7% urban population according to the 2011 Census of India.[20] The state topped in the country to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals according to the annual report of NITI Aayog published in 2019.[21] The state has the highest media exposure in India with newspapers publishing in nine languages, mainly English and Malayalam. Hinduism is practised by more than half of the population, followed by Islam and Christianity. The culture is a synthesis of Aryan, Dravidian, Arab, and European cultures,[22] developed over millennia, under influences from other parts of India and abroad.
Portrait of Parashurama by Raja Ravi Varma relating to Keralolpathi.
Poovar is often identified with Biblical Ophir
Portrait of the sword of Zamorins of Kozhikode, relating to the legend of Cheraman Perumal.
Stone Age (6,000 BCE) writings of Edakkal Caves in Kerala.
Ancient Silk Road map showing the then trade routes. The spice trade was mainly along the water routes (blue).
Names, routes and locations of the Periplus of the Erythraean Sea (1st century CE)
Ezhimala, the early historic headquarters of Mushika dynasty, which was succeeded by the kingdom of Kannur later.
Quilon Syrian copper plates granted to Saint Thomas Christians by Venad (Kollam) ruler Sthanu Ravi Varma, testified about merchant guilds and trade corporations in Early Medieval Kerala. The sixth plate also contains a number of signatures of the witnesses to the grant in Arabic (Kufic script), Middle Persian (cursive Pahlavi script) and Judeo-Persian (standard square Hebrew script).[120]
A panorama of port Kozhikode, shows several types of ships, shipbuilding, net fishing, dinghy traffic and a rugged, sparsely populated interior (Georg Braun and Frans Hogenberg's atlas Civitates orbis terrarum, 1572)
Uru, a type of ship that was historically used for maritime trade, built at Beypore, Kozhikode
A 1652 Map of India (Malabar Coast is highlighted separately on the right side)
The path Vasco da Gama took to reach Kozhikode (black line) in 1498, which was also the discovery of a sea route from Europe to India, and eventually paved way for the European colonisation of Indian subcontinent.
Bolgatty Palace, built in 1744 by Dutch Malabar, also acted as the British Residency in Kochi
The Mattancherry Palace at Kochi was built and gifted by the Portuguese as a present to the Kingdom of Cochin around 1545
Bekal Fort at Kasaragod built in 1650 CE, the largest fort in Kerala
British Residency in Asramam, Kollam
St. Angelo Fort at Kannur, built by the Portuguese in 1505
Eustachius De Lannoy of the Dutch East India Company surrenders to Maharaja Marthanda Varma of the Kingdom of Travancore after the Battle of Colachel. (Depiction at Padmanabhapuram Palace)
A 1744 map of Malabar Coast (Malabar coast is on the left side)
Kanakakkunnu Palace at Thiruvananthapuram. Thiruvananthapuram became a major city on Malabar Coast after the ruler Marthanda Varma annexed all minor kingdoms up to Cochin to form Travancore in 18th century CE.
Kerala in British India (1909). Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode, Kochi, and Kannur, were the major cities of the state at that time as indicated in the map
Anamudi, the highest peak in South India.
Tea and Coffee are produced in the hilly terrains of Wayanad.
Vembanad, a portion of Kerala backwaters, is the longest lake in India.
Ponnani Lighthouse beach
Topography of Kerala
Silent Valley National Park
The Cardamom Hills are notable for biodiversity
Administrative Subdivisions
The city of Thiruvananthapuram serves as the administrative headquarters of Kerala.
The Kerala High Court complex in Kochi.
The Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram – seat of executive administration of Kerala, and formerly of the legislative assembly
The Kerala Legislative Assembly Building in Thiruvananthapuram
The city of Kochi is the largest financial, commercial, and industrial hub in Kerala, with the highest GDP as well as the highest GDP per capita in the state.[281][282]
Technopark at Thiruvananthapuram, the first and largest information technology (IT) park in India
Vallarpadam Terminal at Kochi, the first transshipment terminal in India
A Shopping mall at Kozhikode
Mappila Bay harbour at Kannur
A cruise ship at Vizhinjam port.
Coconuts are an important regional cash crop.
Infopark, Kochi
Jackfruits are the state fruit, and are a cultural icon of Kerala.
A paddy field at Palakkad, also known as The Granary of Kerala
Cheena vala (Chinese fishing net)
NH 544 Six lane Thrissur – Vadakkencherry
Thamarassery Churam (Mountain pass)
A panoramic view of Vyttila Mobility Hub integrated transit terminal in the city of Kochi
KSRTC Bus Station at Kozhikode
The main Portico of the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station
Kochi Metro train at Palarivattom Metro station
Cochin International Airport, the first airport in the world to be fully powered by solar energy
Cranes at the Cochin Shipyard
The Population pyramid of Kerala
Participants at a pride parade in Thrissur in October 2018
Human Development Index map for Indian states in 2006, as calculated by Government of India and United Nations Development Programme.[430]
Regional Cancer Centre, Trivandrum
Arya Vaidya Sala, Kottakkal
Languages of Kerala (2011)[477]
Malayalam (97.02%)
Tamil (1.49%)
Others (1.5%)
Jain Temple at Sultan Bathery.
Thirunavaya Navamukunda Temple.
Model of original Cheraman Juma Mosque.
St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Church, Palayoor.
Paradesi Synagogue.
Religion in Kerala (2011)[481]
Hinduism (54.73%)
Islam (26.56%)
Christianity (18.38%)
Other or none (0.32%)
University of Kerala at Thiruvananthapuram
Cochin University of Science and Technology at Kochi
Indian Institute of Management at Kozhikode
Indian Naval Academy at Kannur
Malayalam in Malayalam script
A Kathakali artist
Theyyam, The ritual art of North Malabar
During Onam, Kerala's biggest celebration, Keralites create pookkalam (floral carpet) designs in front of their houses.
Thrissur Pooram festival
A mohiniattam performance
The Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University at Tirur
Onam Sadya
Kerala elephant
Malayala Manorama office in Kottiyam, Kollam
The annual snake boat race is performed during Onam on the Pamba River
Greenfield International Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram.
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.
A panoramic view of Varkala Beach Cliff
A panoramic view of Western Ghats mountain ranges from Mangalam Dam Reservoir
) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India.[13] It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South Canara, and Travancore.[14][15] Spread over 38,863 km2 (15,005 sq mi), Kerala is the twenty-first largest Indian state by area. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the east and south, and the Lakshadweep Sea[16] to the west. With 33 million inhabitants as per the 2011 census, Kerala is the thirteenth-largest Indian state by population. It is divided into 14 districts with the capital being Thiruvananthapuram. Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.[17]