Facts and Interesting Points About Kerala
Interesting Points About Kerala
- Kerala name is derived from two Malayalam words Kera and Alam. In Malayalam Kera means ‘coconut tree’ and Alam means ‘land’; thus, the meaning of Kerala is ‘Land of Coconuts’. Around 7.70 lakh hectares of cultivated area in the state are used for coconut plantation.
- Kerala is known as the Spice Coast of India.
- The state is bordered by Karnataka to the north and Tamil Nadu to the east and by the Arabian Sea to the south and west.
- Kerala surrounds Mahe, a segment of the Puducherry, on the northwestern coast.
- Kerala is the largest rubber producer in the country. The state is only accounting for producing more than 90% of the total rubber in the country.
- Kerala is also known for its backwater stretches.
- Somatheeram Ayurveda Hospital is the first of its kind in the world with a resort ambience.
- The first-ever church, mosque and synagogue in India were built in Kerala.
- St. Thomas Church, Palayoor is located at Palayur in Thrissur district in Kerala. It was established in 52 AD by St Thomas. It is the first church in India.
- Cheraman Juma Masjid is the first mosque to be built in India. It is situated in Kodungallur in the Thrissur district.
- Paradesi Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in India. It is located in Kochi, Kerala state. It was built in 1567.
- Kerala is the most literate state in India. As per the 2011 census, the state has a literacy rate of nearly 93.91%. The Kerala Education Act introduced in 1958 gave a tremendous boost to the literacy rate in the state.
- Kerala is the first state of India to receive rainfall by the southwest monsoon.
- The state has the world’s richest temple, Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple is known as the richest temple in the world. This temple has a whopping amount of precious assets in terms of gold and precious stones.
- Kerala has the highest sex ratio in India. The state has a female-to-male ratio of 1084 females for 1000 males as per the 2011 census.
- Kerala is the only state in India to have hospitals and banks in every village.
- Kerala has a special bond with the Elephants. The elephants play an imperative role in religious processions and festivals.
- In 2016, President Pranab Mukherjee declared Kerala the first digital state in the country. The state has the largest telecom literacy rate in India.
- Anamudi or Anai Mudi Peak of the Anaimalai range is the highest point in the Western Ghats. The peak is located in Ernakulam district and the Idukki district of Kerala.
- Kerala’s Cochin International Airport Ltd. is the first airport in the world that would be running fully on solar power.
- Kerala is the first state in the country with 4 operational international airports at Cochin, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur.
- As per information from the National Family Health Survey of 2015–16, Kerala has the highest institutional delivery rate of 99.8%. The figure implies that almost 100% of infants born are born in hospitals and medical institutions.
- NH-66 is running parallel to Muzhappilangad Beach of Kerala, making it the longest drive-in beach in Asia.
- The launch of the first sounding rocket from Thumba near Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala on 21 November 1963, marked the beginning of the Indian Space Programme.
- The world’s largest soil museum and the first soil museum in India was set up by the Department of Soil Survey and Conservation of the Government of Kerala on 1 January 2014.
More Informations About Kerala
General Details About Kerala |
|
| Formation | 1 November 1956 |
|---|---|
| Capital | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Governor | Arif Mohammad Khan |
| Chief Minister | Pinarayi Vijayan |
| Chief Justice | Justice K T Koshy |
| Districts | 14 |
| Area (km2) | 38,863 |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 20 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 9 |
| State Legislative Assembly Seats | 141 |
| Languages | Malayalam, Tamil |
State Symbols of Kerala |
|
| State Animal | Indian Elephant |
|---|---|
| State Bird | Great Hornbill |
| State Tree | Coconut Tree |
| State Flower | Kanikonna |
Demography of Kerala |
|
| Population (2011 Census) | 33,406,061 |
|---|---|
| Population Density (per km2) | 860 |
| Sex ratio (Females per 1000 males) | 1084 |
| Literacy Rate (%) | 94.00 |
| Per Capita Income (₹) | 236,093 |
Forest & Wildlife Reserves in Kerala
- Eravikulam National Park
- Silent Valley National Park
- Anamudi Shola National Park
- Mathikettan Shola National Park
- Pambadum Shola National Park
- Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve
- Agasthyamala Biosphere Reserve
- Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Peechi-Vazhani Wildlife Sanctuary
- Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary
- Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Idukki Wildlife Sanctuary
- Peppara Wildlife Sanctuary
- Chimmony Wildlife sanctuary
- Chinnar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary
- Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kurinjimala Sanctuary
- Malabar Wildlife Sanctuary
- Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary
- Karimpuzha Wildlife Sanctuary
Major Rivers in Kerala
- Kallada River
- Achankoil River
- Kavvayi River
- Chaithravahini River
- Shiriya River
- Keecheri River
- Uppala River
- Karuvannur River
- Kallayi River
- Mogral River
- Bharatapuzha River
- Ithikkara River
- Anjarakandy River
- Valapattanam River
- Kuttiyadi River
- Neeleshwaram River
- Neyyar River
- Meenachil River
- Manimala River
- Mahe River
- Kuppam River
- Chandragiri River
- Perumba River
- Tirur River
- Pallikkal River
- Periyar River
- Chalakudy River
- Chaliyar River
- Pamba River
- Kadalundy River
- Muvattupuzha River
- Korapuzha River
- Kariangode River
- Vamanapuram River
- Karamana River
Important Mountains in Kerala
- Anamudi (8841m)
- Mecheri Mala
- Koyil Mala
- Meesapulimala
- Koorakakobu Mala
- Meenamala
- Chekkan Mudi
- Perumbattikallu
- Kottappara Mala
- Nellikkamala
- Aladi Mala
- Nedumpara Peak
- Kumarikkal Mala
- Malleeswaran Mudi
- Mukkuthi Mala
- Poothadan Mudi
- Pambadum Chola
- Vagavara Mala
- Karimala Gopuram
- Kudikkal Kunnu
- Nandavaram Mudi
- Chekkumala
- Kalladikkodu Mala
- Ponmudi
- Karimala
- Vellakkalli Mala
- Sispara Palakkad
- Pamba Mala
- Ayiravalli Mala
- Eerodumala
Agriculture in Kerala |
|
| Major Crops | Rice, Maize, Soya bean, Groundnut, Wheat, Pea, Gram, Barley, Castor, Mustard, Linseed, Rapeseed, Maize, Moong Dal, etc. |
|---|---|
| Cash Crops | Tea, Coffee, Tobacco, Cashews, Pulses, Nuts, Ginger, Coconut, Jute, Cotton, Sugarcane, Rubber etc. |
| Vegetables | Okra, Tomato, Chilli, Bitter Gourd, Radish, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Brinjal, Cabbage, Cauliflower etc. |
| Fruits | Jack fruit, Mango, Papaya, Banana, Custard Apple, Cashew, Indian Gooseberry, Tamarind, Star Gooseberry, Bread Fruit, Guava, Passion Fruit, Dragon Fruit, Avocado, Cocoa Fruit, Wax Apple, etc. |
| Spices | Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Ginger, Nutmeg, Pepper, Turmeric etc. |
Mineral Deposits in Kerala
- Gold
- Iron ore
- Bauxite
- Graphite
- China Clay
- Fire Clay
- Lignite
- Limestone
- Granite
- Gemstones
- Magnesite
- Steatite
- Silica Sand
Industries in Kerala
- Tourism
- Ship Building
- Textile & Handloom
- Bamboo Industry
- Chemical Industry
Airports in Kerala
- Calicut International Airport
- Kannur International Airport
- Cochin International Airport
- Trivandrum International Airport
Sea Ports in Kerala
- Cochin Port (Called the “Queen of the Arabian Sea”)
Traditional Dances in Kerala
- Kathakali
- Mohiniyattam
- Thirvathirakali
- Kolkali
- Ottamthullal
- Koodiyattam
- Chakyar Koothu
- Oppana
- Margamkali
- Theyyam
Art and Crafts of Kerala
- Woodcrafts
- Coir and Coconut Shell Crafts
- Brass and Bronze Artifacts
- Kaithari Cotton Works
Regional Festivals Kerala
- Kerala Boat Festival
- Theyyam Festival
- Onam
- Temple Festivals
- Vishu
- Attukal Pongala
- Christmas
- Maha Shivarathri
- Makaravilakku
- Thiruvathira
- The Arattu Of Lord Padmanabhan
- Ambalapuzha Arattu