Kerala
The following information was provided from The India Travel Info Web Page:
A slender green sliver of land clinging to the southwestern flank of the Indian peninsula, Kerala is one of the southern states of the Republic of India.
Though it's roots date back to the early years of the Christian era, the modern state of Kerala was created in 1956, when all the states of India were reorganized on a linguistic basis. History was created in 1957, when Kerala became the first state in the world to have democratically elected a Marxist government to power. Things have changed, but politics still continues to dominate conversation, particularly in the numerous wayside tea stalls, where the brew is as strong as the ideology.
The state has been in the forefront, in terms of education and health services. It has the highest rate of literacy, lowest rate of infant mortality and the leading female to male ratio, in the country.
Geography
Kerala is made up of fourteen districts. Each of them have a distinct
character. Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum) is the capital of
Kerala, famous for it's Kovalam beach (rated one of the top ten beaches of the
world). Geography is destiny in Kerala with the monsoon winds bringing the gift
of life annually. It's monsoons are likened to a battalion of wild elephants.
Commerce
Agriculture contributes most to the state's income in the primary sector.
Kerala's major sources of exports are agro-based and traditional like coir and
cashew as well as marine products and manpower. In spices, pepper is the single
most important product, with Kerala being the largest producer and exporter of
black pepper. Cardamom and ginger are also exported.
Kerala at a glance
Area 38,863 Sq.Km Corporations 3
Districts 14 Municipalities 54
Taluks 63 Rivers 44
Panchayats 991 Highest Mountain Anamudi (2652.3 Metres)
Links:
India: A country Study: http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/intoc.html
Christianity in India: https://members.tripod.com/~Berchmans/chridx.html
Kerala Interactive: http://64.226.143.55/kerala/default.html