HISTORY OF KERALA Original Inhabitants : Namboothiries Ruled By : Zamorins of Calicut, Moopins of Kochi and Raja of Kollam. Foreign Influence : Portuguese, Dutch, Danes, French and English Formed On : November 1, 1956

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Historical Synopsis - Annals and Antiquities of God's Own Country

You must be interested in visiting a state which has so little written accounts that it is difficult even for historians to be unanimous on the genesis of God's own country. The slender green sliver of land that clings to the southwestern flank of the Indian peninsula, as it curves down to meet the very tip of the country at Kanya Kumari, is cloaked in myths and legends. Traditional Malayali legend proclaims that, long ago in the mists of time, Parasurama, the sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, threw his battle axe into the sea after slaying the kshatriya dynasty 21 times to expunge their power from earth. The area where the axe landed, from shaft to blade, rose from the sea as the Land of Parasurama or today's Kerala, a land of plethora and prosperity. You might take it as a poet's dream. But, the geologists have pointed out that the elevation of Kerala from the sea was indeed a result of some seismic activity, either sudden or gradual. The history of Kerala is unanimous.

The topography of Kerala, sandwiched between the Arabian Sea and the Western Ghats, has considerably influenced the content of its history. From the dawn of history it has sequestered the culture of this coconut fringed terrain. As a result, Kerala seldom confronted those foreign invasions which had ravaged North India from time to time. It is only here that the Jews, the early Christians and the Muslims, built their first synagogues, churches or mosques in India. Today, Kerala stands tall with her well-preserved culture and traditions and still enthralls all of her guests with equal vivacity and cheerfulness as it used to in times of yore. Take up historical tours of Kerala to enjoy the various facets of Kerala.
Travel to Kerala to gather more inputs on historical information of Kerala.

Through The Pages of Yore

Kerala has always been famous for its distinct individuality. This fairytale spicy land of southern India was once the fabled musiris, attracting cargoes of the ancient world, and people of different faith. Take historical tour of ancient land of Kerala to know amore about the culture of Kerala. It is said that when the Queen of Sheba made her celebrated entry to Jerusalem, she carried in her cart 'spices, gold, precious stones and the wood of almug tree (sandalwood) from Ophir'. Scholars believe that Ophir is the town of Puhar that existed to where Thiruvananthapuram is today. In the first century AD, there was even a temple to Augustus, built here by the Romans. At Cochin, Alwaye and Quilon, major ports in their time, one can see the most picturesque remnants of the Chinese interests in the giant fishing nets that hover on the horizon like dragonflies. The historical information on Kerala is best discovered through the historical tour in Kerala.

The Namboothiries are said to be the oldest landowners (janmi) of Kerala. Lands were being leased out to next higher castes for share cropping, and these in turn were further distributed out to those lower on the caste hierarchy and to non-Hindus. Over the pages of history of Kerala entered a phase of baronial chieftains or warlords (naduvazhis) who divided the region according to their measure of power - the Zamorins of Calicut (Samuthiri of Kozhikode) to the North, Moopins of Perimpadappu (near modern day Kochi) in the central regions and Raja of Kollam.

The year 1498 brought a twist in the tale. It was when Vasco da Gama made his historic landing on the Malabar Coast, thereby zipping open the sea routes to the fabulous Orient. Throughout the next century, the leading maritime nations of the period - the Portuguese, the Dutch, the Danes, the French and the English - planted one flag after the other to establish their rights. On the contrary, the air of Kerala pulsated with feudalism and warfare. The landlords lived in supreme luxury, while the peasantry toiled to keep them in comfort. The thirst for power thereon impoverished the country side. Kerala lost its radiance when it was ripe for picking. This is exactly what the Europeans, who found a sea lane to the fabled land of spices and gold, wanted. And there was nothing anyone could do to stop the next two-and-a-half centuries of colonial rule.

It was only on November 1, 1956 that Kerala gained recognition as an independent state. On account of recomendations by the State Reorganisation Commission set up by the Government of India, the then Malabar district was merged with Tranvancore-Cochin state and Kasargod taluk of South Kanara District to form the State of Kerala. The elections for the Kerala Legislative Assembly were held in 1957, which led resulted in the formation of a communist-led government, often said to be the first democratically elected marxist government in the world.

An Endeavour To Be At The Top - Kerala

The Modern History of Kerala - A Journey From The Ground To The Sky

Today Kerala stands tall amidst other bustling metropolis of India with a fine penchant for the finer aspects of life. It has eventually developed into a hundred per cent literate society, with world-class healthcare systems, India's lowest infant mortaliy and highest life expectancy rates. The state has three international airports. Well connected by air, rail and road and offering a choice of luxury and budget accommodation, life here is surely peaceful and pristine, simple and safe. With all these tourism benefits, ayurveda, tea, spice and tonnes of cordiality, this palm-fringed land of Kerala has indeed become God's own country on the world map.