......................................Kerala
- The God's own country is a narrow, fertile strip of
land on the south-west coast of India. The name Keralam
in Sanskrit means the land added on. But the popular
version is that it means the land of from "kera"
(coconut tree) and "alam" (land or location).
............................................Kerala
is immensely blessed by nature with lush vegetation,
tranquil beaches, stunning mountains, hill station,
wildlife and bird sanctuary, forts and palaces, pilgrim
centres, festivals and has a network of 44 major rivers
and lakes on the backwater system.Kerala is a state
with full literacy, Higher Health care and lower mortality
ratio.Kerala stands as an example for religious harmony.
All the temples, churches, Mosque stand shoulder to
shoulder that sometimes one fails to distinguish between
them.
............................................Kerala
was placed among the `50 destinations of a lifetime'
by National Geographic Traveler in a special collectors'
issue released just before the turn of the millennium.
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History of Kerala
........................................................................... Not much is known about the history
of this region of the period after the Ashokan
edicts, except the fact that there was extensive
trading with the Romans from this region.
Chera was the first large empire that took
roots in this state, and continued to use
Tamil till 7th century as their administrative
language. This shows the influence and power
that Tamils exerted over this region. Cheras
established a wide network of trade links
not only with Indian businessmen, but also
with countries outside ranging from Sumatra
to Cordoba. The Chera power declined in
the 10th century AD, after Cholas, the rulers
of Tamil Nadu, were successful in overthrowing
the dynasty
.........................................After
the decline of Cholas in the 11th century,
gradually political power in the state went
into the hands of the Zamorin of Calicut.
In 1496, Vasco da Gama became the first
European to find a route to India through
sea and started a long-time fight for the
power in this region between the Portuguese,
British, and Dutch. This fight marginalized
the local powers, though the Zamorin made
a fight back in the early 17th century when
they gained the external support from the
Dutch and British in return for trading
rights from Kerala.
........................................ For a brief period in the middle
of 18th century AD, Travancore, with the
help of petty kingdoms, tried to control
the political power of Kerala. Haider Ali
and Tipu Sultan also tried to annexe the
areas south of Travancore, but could not
fulfil their dream as they were attacked
by the British from the east and had to
withdraw. The local chieftains in Kerala
looked up to the British to save them from
the wrath of Tipu and consequently the British
took control of the forts previously held
by Tipu. After Tipu's first defeat by the
British, the Seringpatnam Treaty brought
all the captured parts of Kerala directly
under the British and Travancore and Kochi
became princely states under the British.
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