Kerala Heritage and Culture

Kerala-Its Heritage and
Culture
Presented by:-
Nithin Pradeep N 16BME1085
Aditya VG 16BME1070
S.R.PRAJVAL 16BEC1148
Navin Prince 15BME1114
Kerala - Geography
• Kerala is situated between the Arabian Sea to the west and the
Western Ghats to the east.
• Kerala’s coast runs some 580 km in length, while the state itself
varies between 35–120 km in width.
• Geographically, Kerala roughly divides into three climatically
distinct regions. These include the eastern highlands (rugged
and cool mountainous terrain), the central midlands (rolling
hills), and the western lowlands (coastal plains).
• Located at the extreme southern tip of the Indian subcontinent, Kerala lies
near the center of the Indian Tectonic plate (the Indian Plate) as such most
of the state is subject to comparatively little seismic or volcanic activity.
• The topography consists of a hot and wet coastal plain gradually rising in
elevation to the high hills and mountains of the Western Ghats.
• Kerala’s climate is mainly wet and maritime tropical, heavily influenced by
the seasonal heavy rains brought up by the monsoon.
• Finally, Kerala’s coastal belt is relatively flat, teeming with paddy fields,
groves of coconut trees, and heavily crisscrossed by a network of
interconnected canals and rivers. The comparative water-richness of the
coastal belt can be partly gauged by the fact that Kuttanad, with its
backwaters canals and rivers, itself comprises more than 20% of India's
waterways by length.
• The most important of Kerala’s forty-four rivers include the Periyar
(244 km in length), the Bharathapuzha (209 km), the Pamba River
(176 km),the Chaliyar river(169) the Chalakudy Puzha(144 km), the
Kadalundipuzha (130 km), and the Achancoil (128 km). Most of the
remainder are small and entirely fed by the Monsoons.
• There are 44 rivers in Kerala, all but three originating in the Western
Ghats, 41 of them flow westward and 3 eastward. The rivers of Kerala
are small, in terms of length, breadth and water discharge.
• The Western Ghats is a continuous mountain range of 450 km along
the eastern side of Kerala.
• Anamudi is the highest peak in India outside Himalayas.
The landscape of the district includes low lands bordering the sea, midlands with
undulating areas, and forests and highlands on the east, near the Western Ghats.
You can also see sandy, laterite and forest soils here.
It is rich in water resources on account of the 12 rivers that run across the
district. The longest river here is River Chandragiri.
The district also houses reserve forests like Adoor, Eleri, Karudukka, Parappa,
Muliyar and others. It can boast of an abundance of medicinal plants and
mangrove forests.
Kerala – Its names and how it came
• Kerala : Kera in Malayalam means coconut. Hence Kerala means “The
Land of Coconut trees”
• God’s Own Country : Kerala is known as God’s own country because, it
is said to believe that ‘Parashuraman’ an incarnation of Lord Vishnu
threw an axe across the sea for his devotees to live in, and the land
that gave birth with this is Kerala.
Origin and name
• Kerala had human habitation as early as 5000 BC, as evidenced by the
pictorial writings and stone age carvings in Edakkal Caves.
• Historian M. R. Raghava Varier of the Kerala state archaeology
department identified a sign of “a man with jar cup” in the
engravings, which is the most distinct motif of the Indus valley
civilisation.
• The word Kerala is first recorded (as Keralaputra) in a 3rd-century BC
rock inscription (Rock Edict 2) left by
the Maurya emperor Ashoka (274–237 BC).
The Land of Keralaputra
• The Land of Keralaputra was one of the five independent kingdoms
in southern India during Ashoka's time, the others
being Chola, Pandya, Tamiraparani and Satiyaputra.
• A 3rd century CE, Brahmi inscription, found
on Edakal cave, Ambukuthi hill, contained the word ‘Chera'
(‘kadummipudha chera'), the earliest inscriptional evidence of the
dynasty Chera.
• The Cheras collapsed after repeated attacks from the
neighboring Chola Empire and Rashtrakuta Empire.
The spice trade
• Originally known as Chera Nadu, Kerala had established itself as
a major spice trade center, as early as 3000 BC.
• It had direct contact across the Arabian sea with all
the major Mediterranean and Red Sea ports as well those of the Far
East.
• The spice trade between Kerala and much of the world was one of the
main drivers of the world economy.
• For much of history, ports in Kerala were the busiest (Muziris(an
ancient sea port)) among all trade and travel routes in the history of
the world.
Adi Shankaracharya and the
Brahmin Settlements
• In the 8th century (AD 789), Adi Shankara, one of the greatest Indian
philosophers, was born at Kalady in central Kerala. He travelled
extensively across the Indian subcontinent establishing institutions
of Advaita Vedanta philosophy.
• Adi Shankara the exponent of Advaita (monistic) philosophy lived in
the 8th century AD. The whole of Kerala came to be covered by a
network of Hindu temple centered Brahmin settlements.
Adi Shankaracharya and the Brahmin
Settlements
• A silent revolution was taking place in the social system of the
western coast of south India during the last phase of Sangam Age.
• Towards the end of Sangam age, Brahmins migrated into this region
and by about the 8th century, a chain of Brahmin settlements had
come up a large number of which were in Central Kerala.
The Kingdom Of Kozhikode – The
Samoothiris
• Historical records regarding the origin of the Samoothiri of Kozhikode is
obscure. However, its generally agreed that the Samoothiri were originally
the rulers of Eralnadu region of the Later Chera Kingdom and were known
as the Eradis.
• Eralnadu province was situated in the northern parts of present-
day Malappuram district and was landlocked by the Valluvanad and
Polanadu in the west.
• Samoothiri allied with Muslim Arab and Chinese merchants and used
most of the wealth from Kozhikode to develop his military power. They
became the most powerful king in the Malayalam speaking regions during
the Middle Ages, controlling vast parts of kerala.
Formation of Kerala state
• The two independent kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin joined

the Union of India after India gained independence in 1947
• On 1 July 1949, the two states were merged to form Travancore-
Cochin. On 1 January 1950, Travancore-Cochin was recognized as a
state. The Madras Presidency was reorganized to form Madras
State in 1947.
• On 1 November 1956, the state of Kerala was formed by the States
Reorganization Act merging the Malabar district, Travancore-Cochin
(excluding four southern taluks, which were merged with Tamil Nadu),
and the taluk of Kasargod, South Kanara.
Kerala – Salient Features
• Kerala has the highest literacy rate.
• The first state in India to provide 100% primary education to children.
• It has the highest sex ratio in India.
• Lowest population growth in India.
• Highest HDI in India.
• Highest life expectancy in India
• Only state to have 4 international airports.
• Has the biggest Technopark in Asia.
Kerala – Beauty and Serenity
• Kerala was selected by National Geographic Traveler as one of the ten
paradises in the world and one of the 50 must-see destinations of a
lifetime.
• The rice fields of Kerala, situated at North Travancore section of
Kerala, Kuttanad and was given the title ‘The Venice of the East’.
• The backwaters of Kerala has always been the centre of attraction for
many tourists in and around the country.
• The boat race in Kerala, conducted only twice in a year is truly one of
its kind.
• Munnar, the lush green Hilltops with more than 10 dams around it,
located on the Western Ghats is a feast for the hearts.
• The 580km coastline gives the state many beach and every beach is
different to the other. Muzhappilangad Beach in North Kerala is the
only drive in beach in Asia.
• The rich flora and fauna found in the Wayanad district of Kerala is
unparalleled.
• The different art and culture forms, and different dialects seen on
each districts of Kerala will amaze any Indian or non-Indian
• The ‘Padmanabhaswamy temple’ located at south Kerala is the richest
temple in the world.
• The religious harmony of the people of Kerala will give awestruck to
any Indian.
• With over 5000 years of history, Ayurveda is said to have been
originated from Kerala and its still practiced actively in Kerala.
• Kathakali(story play)- an art form from Kerala which has seen roots
from over 2000 years is still actively played here.
Thank you!

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Kerala-Its Heritage and

• The two independent kingdoms of Travancore and Cochin joined

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