Kerala, lovingly called "God's own country" is truly a land of eternal bliss with the mesmerizing beauty of its sun bathed golden seashores dotted with abundant coconut trees, the zigzag rocky terrain of the Western Ghats, straggling plantations and paddy fields, the azure lagoons and the cascading rivers and waterfalls, fascinating bio-diversity and its age-old heritage and tradition.

Kerala or Keralam in Malayalam is located on the southernmost tip of India and embraces the coast of Arabian Sea on the west and is bounded by the Western Ghats in the east. This South Indian state stretches from north to south along the coast line of 580 kms with an approximate breadth of 35 to 120 kms. Lying within east longitudes 74 degree 52' and 72 degree 22' and north latitudes 8 degree 18' and 12 degree 48' this idyllic land of pleasing beauty embraces1.18 % area of the country of India.Kerala also encloses Mahé, Pondicherry's coastal exclave. With 14 districts and other cities the total area of Kerala is 38, 863 sq km.

Districts: Kerala has 14 districts that form the revenue division of the state and these districts are subdivided into villages or taluks. The districts are classified under NorthKerala, CentralKerala and South Kerala owing to their historical, geographical and cultural resemblances.

North Kerala comprises of Kasargod Kannur Kozhikkod Malappuram Wayanad	Central Kerala comprises of Eranakulam Idukki Palakkad Thrissur
South Kerala comprises of Alappuzha Kollam Kottayam Pathanamthitta Thiruvananthapuram	Cities: The cities of Kerala are Alappuzha (Alleppey) Ernakulam (Cochin) Idukki Kannur Kasargod Kollam Kottayam (Kumarakom) Kozhikode (Calicut) Malappuram Munnar Palakkad Thekkady (Periyar) Thiruvananthapuram Thrissur Wayanad

Among them the major cities are Thiruvananthapuram(the capital), Kozhikode and Kochi (Ernakulam district).

Interesting Facts

Kerala is the first state in India to achieve absolute literacy.
It is the foremost state to implement land reforms first in India.
It is the state with maximum life expectancy.
It is the state with lowest birth rate.
It is the state with least infant mortality.
It is the only state with the facility of hospitals in every village.
It is the state with the premier communication infrastructure.

Last Updated on 31 May 2011