oO god's own country Oo

INTRODUCTION

Kerala or Keralam (Malayalam: കേരളം) is a land of lush greenery, seemingly endless backwaters, wonderful waterfalls, mystic peaks, pristine beaches and lots of other wonders making it truly God's Own Country.

Kerala is an Indian state, located south most on its west coast. It is bordered by Karnataka to the north and northeast, Tamil Nadu to the south and southeast and the Lakshadweep Sea towards the west.

Natives of Kerala are known as Malayalis. The country was anciently called Cheralam and Cherala Nadu. A 3rd-century-BC rock inscription by emperor Asoka the Great references Kerala as Keralaputra. Similarly, the Roman trade map Periplus Maris Erythraei references the Chera territory as Cerobothra.

MAP

LOCATION OF KERALA I

N INDIA

MAP OF KERALA

QUICK FACTS

Country India

Region South India

Established 1st November 1956

Capital and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)

Largest City

Largest Metro Kochi

Districts 14

Official Language Malayalam

The state has three major international airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode.

Helpful Websites

keralatourism.org

keralatourism.gov.in

kerala.gov.in

oO The Land of Spices Oo

Spices are defined as "a strongly flavored or aromatic substance of vegetable origin, obtained from tropical plants, commonly used as a condiment". In ancient times, spices were as precious as gold and as significant as medicines , preservatives and perfumes. Humans were using spices in 50,000 BC. India produces 86% of the spices in the world today and quality spices come from Kerala.

Spices and herbs are good not only for our taste buds but also for our health. They supply calcium, iron, vitamin B, vitamin C , carotene and other antioxidants. For instance fresh parsley has been linked with cancer prevention due to its antioxidant content and spicy food is much more appealing than a vitamin pill. Besides herbs and spices don't have any kilojoules or fat, so you can eat them to your heart's content. The spice trade in Kerala started at least 3000 years before Christ.(More details regarding the spice trade shall be posted later).This is what Kerala was known for in the earliest ages and this is what changed the face of Kerala forever. Christopher Columbus found out America accidentally when he sailed in the year 1491 to find out a sea-route to Kerala, the land of spices. In Kerala varieties of spices grow abundantly. The Western world bought the spices from Kerala, that gave flavor to the foods of the west. MAJOR SPICES IN KERALA Cardmom Cassia Chilly Cinnamon Clove Coffee Curry Leaf Cashew Ginger Greater Galanga Kokam Nut Meg Pepper Tamarind Tea Turmeric Vanilla

For information about Spices :

http://www.spiceskerala.com/