Kerala is undiscovered India. It is God's own country and an enchantingly beautiful, emerald-green sliver of land. It is a tropical paradise far from the tourist trial at the southwestern peninsular tip, sandwiched between the tall mountains and the deep sea. Kerala is a long stretch of enchanting greenery. The tall exotic coconut palm dominates the landscape.

There is a persistent legend which says that Parasuram, the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver of the Hindu Trinity, stood on a high place in the mountains, threw an axe far in to the sea, and commanded the sea to retreat. And the land that emerged all from the waters became Kerala, the land of plenty and prosperity.Kerala is a tiny strip of land, in the south west corner of Indian peninsula. It has only 1.1 8 per cent of the total area of India but 3.43% of the total population of the country is in Kerala. 

Kerala is a land of rivers and backwaters. Forty-four rivers (41 west-flowing and 3 east-flowing} criss-crossing Kerala along with their countless tributaries, but these rivers are comparatively small and being entirely monsoon-fed, and will turn into rivulets in summer especially in the upper parts of Kerala. 

The backwaters are an attractive and economically valuable feature of Kerala. These include lakes and ocean in lets which stretch irregularly along the lengthy coastline of Kerala. The biggest among these backwaters is the Vembanad lake, with an area of 200 sq km, which opens out into the Arabian Sea at Cochin port. The Periyar, Pamba, Manimala, Achenkovil, Meenachil and Moovattupuzha rivers drain into this lake. The other important backwaters are Veli, Kadhinam kulam, Anjengo (Anju Thengu), Edava, Nadayara, Paravoor. Ashtamudi (Quilon), 

The National Geographic Society publication has listed Kerala among the world's '50 greatest places of a lifetime', the only other Indian name in the list is Tajmahal 

Kerala is a 560-km long narrow stretch of land. At the widest, Kerala is a mere 120-km from the sea to the mountains. Gracing one side of Kerala, are the lofty mountains ranging high to kiss the sky. And on the other side the land is washed by the blue Arabian Sea waters. The land is covered with dense tropical forest, fertile plains, beautiful beaches, cliffs, rocky coasts, an intricate maze of backwaters, still bays and an astounding 44 glimmering rivers. Kerala's exotic spices have lured foreigners to her coast from time immemorial.

Earlier, Kerala was made up of three distinct areas. Malabar as far up the coast as Tellicherry, Cannanore and Kasargode with the tiny pocket-handkerchief French possession of Mahe nearby (it was returned to India in the early 1950 's and is now administratively part of Pondicherry). This area belonged to what was once called the Madras Presidency under the British. The middle section is formed by the princely State of Cochin; the third comprises Travancore, another princely State.

Archaeologists believe that the first citizens of Kerala were the hunter-gatherers, the ting Negrito people. These people still inhabit the mountains of southern India today, consequently, they had a good knowledge of herbal medicine and were skilled in interpreting natural phenomena. The next race of people in Kerala were believed to be the Austriches. The Austric people of Kerala are of the same stock as the present-day Australian Aborigines. They were the people who laid the foundation of Indian civilizations and introduced the cultivation of rice and vegetables, which are still part of Kerala scene. They also introduced snake-worship in Kerala. Traces of such worship and ancient rites have been found among the Aboriginal tribes of Australia. Austric features can still be seen fairly and clearly among the people of Kerala today. Then came the Dravidians (The Mediterranean people). Dravidian absorbed many of the beliefs of the Negrito and Austric people, but they were strongly inclined to the worship of the Mother Goddess in all her myriad forms: Protector, Avenger, Bestower of wealth, wisdom and arts.

The Dravidians migrated to the southwards, carrying their civilization with them, though leaving their considerable cultural input on their successors, the Aryans (Indo - Iranians). But Kerala is still strongly influenced by the Dravidian culture: urbane, cash-crop and trade oriented, and with strong maternalistic biases. The Aryans have made a deep impression on Kerala in late proto-historic times.

Jewish and Arabs trade's were the first to come to Kerala sailing in the ships to set up trading stations. The Apostle of Christ, St. Thomas is believed to have come to Muziris in AD 52 and established the first church in Kerala

Portuguese discovered the sea route to India from Europe when Vasco da gama landed with his ship near Kappad in Calicut in AD 1498. Slowly the Kerala society became a mix of people belonging to various sects of Christianity, Islam and Hinduism. The arrival of Portuguese was followed by the Dutch, the French and finally the British.The State of Kerala was created on the 1st of November 1956. The Keralites celebrate this day as 'Kerala piravi' meaning the 'Birth of Kerala'

Commercial agriculture get prominence over food grain crops due to historical and climatic reasons. Thus, the state has to import food grains from its neighbouring states, especially rice which is the staple food of the people. Kerala has 30.21 lakh hectares of cultivable land in 1992-93, but yield of food crops (cereals, millets, pulses and tapioca) was only 23%. It owes much to Kerala's unique cropping pattern. Kerala produces 92 per cent of India's rubber, 70 per cent of coconut, 60 per cent of tapioca and almost 100 per cent of lemon grass oil. Kerala is the single largest producer of a number of other crops like banana and ginger, besides tea and coffee in abundance. Coir and cashew are two of the largest traditional industries in the state. Handloom and bamboo-based in­dustries are well-developed. 

Kerala accounts for about 1/3 of India's marine exports. In 1991 the state announced a new industrial policy of liberalization for private entrepreneurs. Kerala hopes to be a power surplus state by 2000.Cochin International Airport Ltd. (Nedumbassery), India's first private airport was opened in June, '99. 

In Apr. 97, Kerala became the first state to have public telephones in all its villages, accessible over STD/ISD from any part of the world. In April, '98 Kottayam became the first district in India to complete computerisation of the taluk offices connecting them with the dist. hq. All block panchayats have computer links now. Government has set for itself a target of 8 lakh new jobs during 9th Plan. 

Kerala has launched a Non-resident Keralites Insurance and Security Scheme. Brahmapuram diesel power project was commissioned in June '97. The 180 MW Lower Periyar Hydro Electric Project was commissioned in Oct.

In Kerala, they usually serve meals instead of a la Carte. Some high priced hotels do have a menu and one can order a meal of personal choice.

The meals are mostly served on banana leaves or in steel thalis (Plates). The meals comprise of Rasam, Sambar, one lentil vegetable, a seafood curry, pickle, coconut chutney served with rice, Dosais and Idiappams. Generally the Keralan Cuisine uses a lot of coconut in any form such as coconut fresh, coconut milk, etc. and the meals are cooked only in coconut oil. Seafood is also consumed in abundance due to its coastal placement. The curries are a must have but to be consumed only by the brave hearts since Keralan cuisine is pretty spicy.

Air : The nearest airport is at Cochin 64 km to the north and Trivandrum Airport is 159 km to the south. 
Rail : Alleppey Railway Station. Connected by rail with Cochin. 
Road : Alleppey is connected by road with several tourist centres and cities in India. 
Water : Alleppey is connected by water transport with Cochin 5.30 hrs., Quilon 8 hrs., Kottayam 2.30 hrs. and Changanacherry 3 hrs.