Kerala, the incredibly beautiful land, located at the southernmost tip of India has always been one of the most astonishing places for visitors from across the globe. Kerala has all the ingredients of an amazing and picturesque location-a wonderful blend of diverse cultures, exquisite wildlife, and expansive backwaters and pervading verdant greenery, what to say of the lip-smacking cuisines exclusively prepared for the guests.
However these are some of the facts that almost everyone knows, but few people know some of the other beautiful aspects of Kerala which are simply fascinating. Let’s survey these little known facts below.
1. Kerala Art and Craft
With its amazingly lush greenery notwithstanding, few people know that the most of the natives of Kerala are artistically inclined. In fact every other person in Kerala knows some or the other kind of art. During your visit to this marvelous place, you will come across numerous stores, shops and stalls selling local handicrafts, artistic goods, finely carved minute figurines, elegant and exquisite metal statues besides sandalwood and rosewood figurines of all kind. Moreover, being a land of abundant coconut growth, a tourist will find a huge array of coir products, displaying wonderful craftsmanship and talent of the people. In addition to this the excellent and admirable wooden works like lampshades, flower vases and other utility items are surely not to be missed. Also products from Kora grass are also fairly popular due to their eco-friendly nature. In the same way the craftsmen of Kerala create mesmerizing art with paintings and metal.
2. Kerala Cuisine
The preparation of food in Kerala is also a kind of art for the people. The people of Kerala lay a great emphasis on the minute details of cooking like choice of the vessels, the quality of the ingredients used, accurate amount of spices and other. As a result, the taste of the Keralan cuisine is something that cannot be explained in words, but can only be experienced. There are almost an infinite number of flavors in the numerous dishes cooked with vegetables, meat, fish and poultry with a heartening amount of coconut used. However, to truly experience the wide spectrum of dishes, one has to really come down on Onam and savor these delicacies.
3. Kerala History
Kerala has an amazing history that can be only be explored once you visit all the historically significant places in the state. According to the myth associated with the state, Kerala was created by the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Bhagwan Parshuram, when he threw his axe into the sea. Thus, there is something incredible about the city’s history which you don’t want to miss.
Kerala had one of the most fascinating cultures which can now be explored in its various museums and galleries. The land of coconut has a rich history of wars and battles and several heroic tales and legends that contributed a lot to the local traditions and brought prosperity to this land. Thus, these stories are an amazing source of entertainment and revelation for the visitors. However, to explore more of its history one can pay a visit to the historical sites of Kochi, Kollam, Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram for a better knowledge of the past.
4. Kerala Music
Kerala musical tradition is one of the richest in India and its heritage and significance has allured people from far off places. The music is highly melodious, greatly meaningful and sweetly memorable. The songs played during the Onam festival are lovely and infectious and also display a truly devotional connotation. Thus, it is one of the hidden gems of the state that is highly admired.
5. Religions in Kerala
Kerala has a wonderful multi-cultural and multi-religious society with majority of its population following the three principal religions of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity, while there are also people following Jewish traditions. People belonging to different faiths live amicably and participate in each other’s festivals at the time of celebration. The land is full of amazing mysticism and one visiting to the state can experience its wonderful culture. Such a unity in diversity makes this destination special in the eyes of the visitors. There are numerous religious destinations that one can visit such as Guruvayoorappan Temple, Sabarimala Temple and St. Mary’s Florence Church at Baharanamganam, St. George’s Forane Church, Malayatoor Church, Malik Dinar Mosque, Beemapali Mosque, Thazathangadi Juma Masjid and Jewish Synagogue. Over the period of time, Kerala has evolved into an important destination for religious pilgrimage and most of the religious sites still look wonderfully pristine and untouched by modernity which attracts most of the tourists to its threshold.
6. Kerala Dances
Dance is the something that is unique to every culture and Keralan culture too has some dance forms that are exclusive to them. Kerala has two main art forms- Mohinyattam and Kathakali- besides some prominent smaller art forms are Koodiyattam, Theyyam, Chakyar Koothu, Ottamthullal, etc. which are popular. An amazing aspect of their art forms is that each performance is accompanied by an elaborate and splendid costumes which looks really incredible. The specific aspects of two of the most important dance forms can be stated as below:
Mohiniyattam
This art form is mostly performed by women and is accompanied with subtle sensuous movements. There are plenty of graceful gestures and a lot of eye movements which makes it really attractive and entertaining for the audience.
Kathakali
Kathakali is also performed by women but on most occasions they are played by men. The dancers wear elaborate dressings with a surging skirt, an elaborate headgear and a number of different ornaments. Kathakali mostly revolves around the legends of Ramayana and Mahabharatha and is narrated by a drummer who also plays his instrument along.
All these amazing aspects of God’s Own Country make it one of the most attractive and must-visit destinations for the travelers looking to include a unique and fascinating place in their travel itinerary.
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