Kerala is a small state in Southwestern India lying in between the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea. It is one of India's most popular tourist destinations and has recently been included in the National Geographic Traveler magazine's "50 Places of a Lifetime" and "10 Paradises of the World".

Yet, there is more to Kerala than just its breath-taking tourist spots. Its rich history is one other area that is likewise worth looking into. Kerala has three major cities, namely, Kochi, Kozhikode, and Thiruvananthapuram. Of these, Thiruvananthapuram is the state capital and also the largest.

The history of the state name is unclear although there is a concensus that the term Kerala appeared to have stemmed from the fusion of two Malayan words, namely, kera (meaning coconut palm tree) and alam (land or location). Needless to say, Kerala was coined to refer to the abundance of palm trees in the area.

Meanwhile, the history of Kerala itself dates back to the 10th century BC as evidenced by the discovery of granite burial monuments in the region. The megalithic tombs resemble those found in Western Europe and in certain parts of Asia at around the same period.

In the last centuries BC, Kerala gained prominence with its harvest of spices, particularly black pepper. The Greeks and the Romans brought these spices back to their respective homelands where these were greatly appreciated.

At that time, Kerala was believed to be ruled by kings from the Cheras Dynasty who began to introduce the concept of trade in the region. With its initial contact with the Greeks and the Romans, the Chera kings soon attracted the attention of merchants from Southern Europe and West Asia.

Kerala then fell under the rule of the Portugese which sought to control what was then a burgeoning pepper trade in the region. Soon after, the Dutch ousted the Portugese. In return, the Muslims overthrew the Dutch. After that, the expanding British East India Company came to Kerala and established its authority there, although the Muslims staged several unsuccessful rebellions in defiance of British rule.

In spite of this colorful history, it was only in the early part of the 1980's that Kerala attracted worldwide attention. The Kerala Tourism Development Authority took notice of the region's many beaches, wildlife sanctuaries, and national parks, and from there, started an aggressive marketing campaign to attract more visitors.

The strategy proved to be successful as tourist started to pour in. Kerala beaches, such as those found in Varkala, Cherai, and Kovalam began to be flooded with visitors. Ditto for Kerala’s wildlife areas and national parks like those found in Periyar and Eravikulam.

So successful was the effort of the state government in promoting Kerala tourism that the region eventually found its name in the prestigious National Geographic Traveler magazine.

Apart from the places, other attractions in Kerala that visitors find worth seeing are the regular activities held during certain days of the year. An example of these is the annual Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Held in August, the race takes place at the Punnamada River, one of several water forms that comprises Kerala's extensive network of interlocking rivers, lakes, and canals.

There is also the Thrissur Pooram, a Kerala festival highlighted by the participation of native elephants. These animals are highly revered in Kerala and were designated as the state animal. They are even featured on the official emblem of the Government of Kerala.

There are two distinct Kerala seasons. The wet season lasts for about four months. Heavy rains, however, are often caused by the southwest summer monsoon. Summer, on the other hand, is characterized by occasional droughts and sea level rises as a result of global warming. Nevertheless, gale force winds, storm surges, and cyclone-related downpours are not totally unexpected.