150 Interesting Facts About Kerala

Facts About Kerala: Kerala is the southernmost state of India. Kerala is bordered by the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Kerala is bounded on the west by the Arabian Sea and on the south by the Indian Ocean. Kerala is mentioned as one of the greenest states in India. The state of Kerala was established on November 1, 1956. Thiruvananthapuram is the capital of the state of Kerala and Kochi and Kolikod are important cities in the state. Malayalam is the main language of the state. The state of Kerala has gained a lot of momentum in terms of tourism development. The food culture here is also unique.

Kerala is the second largest state in India in terms of tourism. The literacy rate in the state is close to 100 percent. Therefore, Kerala is the most educated state in India. Of course, Kerala has the highest personal development index in India. According to a 2005 survey, Kerala is the least corrupt state in India. Kerala has witnessed a large influx of locals in the last few years. The number of people traveling from Kerala to the Gulf countries for work is significant. It is characterized by nature's resources and the highest proportion of women in education.

Mind Blowing Facts About Kerala

Periyar is the longest river in Kerala.
Kanikkonna is the state flower of Kerala.
There are 34 lakes and 44 rivers in Kerala.
Konni was the first forest reserve in Kerala.
Jackfruit is the official fruit of the state.
Kerala has only one township called Guruvayur.
KINFRA was the first animation parks in Kerala.
Annie Mascarene was the first Malayali woman MP.
There are in total 9 national highways in Kerala.
KR Gowri was the first woman minister of the state.
Kerala’s people like to wear light Cottons clothes.
Great Indian Hornbill is the official bird of Kerala.
Mattupetti was the first concrete dam built in Kerala.
Malampuzha in Palakkad is the biggest dam in the state.
There are 152 block panchayats and 75 Taluks in Kerala.
Karimeen (Green Chromide) is the official fish of Kerala.
Anna Malhotra was the first woman IAS officer from Kerala.
Neendakara was the first coastal police station in Kerala.
Kerala is a state of India, and its capital is Trivandrum.
Mattancheri was the first tourist police station in Kerala.
Eravikulam is the first and largest national park in Kerala.
R. Sreelekha was the first woman IPS officer from the state.
The state represents 1.18% of the total area of the country.
PT Usha, the famous Olympian, belongs to the state of Kerala.
Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha and 9 Rajya Sabha seats in the state.
Padma Ramachandran was the first woman chief secretary of Kerala.
Trivandrum Public Library was the first public library in Kerala.

Amazing Facts About Kerala

Kerala is also known for its traditional martial arts techniques.
The population of Kerala is 3,33,87,667. (According to census 2011)
Kozhikode in Kerala had the first woman police station in the state.
KM Beenamol was the first Malayali woman winner of Khel Ratna Award.
Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary is the first wildlife sanctuary in Kerala.
According to a survey, Kerala has the highest number of suicide cases.
Kerala has 20 Lok Sabha seats and Kerala has 140 seats in Rajya Sabha.
The oldest active synagogue is the Paradesi Synagogue in Kochi, Kerala.
The Delhi Metro is built by Metro Man Sreedharan who hails from Kerala.
Agasthyavanam, the first biological park in India, is located in Kerala.
The old name of Kerala was Travancore but it was renamed on 1 July 1949.
Sujata V. Manohar was the first woman high court chief justice of Kerala.
There is only one cantonment in Kerala. In is located in Kannur district.
Jothi Venkatachalam was the first woman chancellor and governor of Kerala.
Despite having 100% literacy, it has the highest number of suicide reports.
There are around 44 rivers flowing in the state, making it rich in agriculture.
Kanjikkuzhi (Alappuzha) in Kerala was the first panchayat to get Swaraj Trophy.
Trivandrum was the first electrified town in Kerala. It was electrified in 1933.
National Highway 47A is the shortest highway in India with a length of only 6 km.
Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala is home to the headquarters of Kerala Bhasha Institute.

Geographical Facts About Kerala

There are 44 rivers in Kerala. The largest river here is Bharathapuzha (251 .1 k.m).
90% of the people of Kerala have their own land and they have built their own house.
Holy Angels Convent, established in 1888, is the first girls’ high school in south India.
The elephant is the state animal and Kanikonna is the state flower of the state of Kerala.
Vellayani is a beautiful freshwater lake and is the southernmost freshwater lake in Kerala.
Malayalam is the most widely spoken language and is also the official language of the state.
Kuthumkal in Idukki district is the biggest private-sector hydro-electric project of Kerala.
Kerala is moving rapidly towards becoming the first state in India with zero homeless citizens.
Fathima Beevi was the first Malayali woman to be a member of the National Human rights commission.
The coconut tree is the state tree and the great hornbill is the state bird of the state of Kerala.
Kerala has a fisheries university with the name of Kerala Fisheries University located in Ernakulam.
Kerala is a treasure house of flora and fauna and boasts 5 national parks and 18 wildlife sanctuaries.
Anju Bobby George of Kerala was the first Malayali woman gold medalist in world Athletic Championship.
Kerala’s largest exports include rubber, black pepper, cardamom, ginger, coffee, tea, and cashew nuts.
The famous Thattekad Bird Sanctuary is located in Kerala. It was the first bird sanctuary in the state.
Kozhikode, formerly known as Calicut, was the place where Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama landed in 1498.
An estimated 1,50,000 Keralites are working in the Gulf. There are many skilled technicians and medical staff.
Among several types of medicine available in the country, Kerala uses Ayurveda as its primary mode of medicine.
The launch of the first sounding rocket from Thumba, Kerala in 1963, marked the start of the Indian Space Program.
Thenmala of Kerala was the first eco-tourism project in India. It is a dam with the largest reservoir in the state.
It is a lesser-known fact that Kerala has the highest number of digital banking users and operational bank accounts.

Historical Facts About Kerala

The history of Kerala as an Indian state in its current form begins post-independence. The state was formed in 1956.
Kerala underwent a dramatic demographic transition in the last century and has moved towards zero population growth.
The first ever mosque in India is Cheraman Juma Mosque and is located in Kerala. The mosque was built in the 629 A.D.
Kerala is the birthplace of Sree Narayana Guru, who was a spiritual leader, a Hindu sage and social reformer in India.
Kerala is famous for being a pioneer in Ayurveda. The state is home to the world’s first ayurvedic resort- Somatheeram.
Kerala became the first state in 2016 to have achieved 100% primary education through its literacy program called Athulyam.
Moolamattom Power Station, located in Idukki district of Kerala, is the biggest underground hydro-electric project in India.
One of the unknown facts about Kerala is that it has a high life expectancy of 75 years as compared to 64 years in the country.
Kerala is also known more for Ayurvedic herbs. Approximately one-fourth of India’s species of 10,000 plants are found in Kerala.
One of the unknown and interesting facts about this state is that the first soil museum in India is located at Parottukonam, Kerala.
The state of Kerala consumes about 20% of the country's gold. Brides to be in Kerala can be seen submerged in gold from head to toe.
Cochin International Airport (COK) is the first Indian airport to be built from a fund of 10,000 people from 30 different countries.
Ammathottil was launched at Trivandrum in 2002. It is a government initiative that provides care and services for abandoned children.
It is the only state in India to have hospitals and banks in every village, therefore increasing the overall development of the state.
Silent Valley National Park is a national park in Kerala, in the Nilgiri hills. The park consists of some rare species of flora and fauna.
In the small southern part of India, the size of Kerala is equal to Switzerland. Which is 1% regional share of India and has a 4% population.

Economic Facts About Kerala

Supplying 60% of the total global white coir fibre, the state houses the first ever coir factory in India that was set up in Alleppey in 1859.
Trivandrum (capital of Kerala) Techno Park is the largest and first technopark in India. There are many multinational companies in Trivandrum.
Elephant is the state animal of Kerala and has a special bond with the state. It plays an imperative role in religious processions and festivals.
Kerala is the first state to include panchayats and villages under the National Optical Fiber Network Program’s high-speed broadband connections.
Kerala is the first baby-friendly state in the world. The Baby Friendly Initiative sponsored by the WHO and UNICEF was adopted in Kerala by 1993.
Kerala has been included in the list of Top Ten Paradises of the world in the 1999 edition of The Traveler Magazine, published by National Geographic.
Kannimari in Malappuram, is the oldest tree in the world. Besides its environmental importance, it is also worshipped by many tribes living in the area.
Kerala is known for the conservation of Sanskrit language. The famous Sree Sankaracharya Sanskrit University is located in Ernakulam district of Kerala.
Coconut plantation plays a vital role in the economy of Kerala. Around 7.70 lakh hectares of cultivated area in the state is used for coconut plantation.
Kerala is the first state in the country with 4 operational international airports. These are located in Cochin, Kozhikode, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kannur.
Kerala receives the first spell of rain in the country. While the monsoon arrives in July in most of the states, it does in Kerala in the first week of June.
It is home to an enormous quantity of herbs with medicinal properties such as Bharangi, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Brahmi, Ashwagandha, Amalaki, and Phyllanthus Amarus etc.
According to WHO and UNICEF research, Kerala is the first state in the world which is a “child-friendly state” because 95% of children are born here in the hospital.
The Kerala Education Act introduced in 1958 gave a tremendous boost to the literacy rate in the state, and played a major role in making it the most literate state in India.
Muzhappilangad Beach of Kerala is the longest drive-in beach in Asia. It runs parallel to NH-66. This beach is also ranked amongst the world’s top 6 beaches for driving by BBC.

Cultural Facts About Kerala

Kerala also boasts the highest literacy rate in India. It has a literacy rate of 93.91% according to the census of 2011. The town of Pathanamthitta has a literacy rate of 97.42%.
Kerala is named after the vast coconut plantations in the state. ‘Kera’ means coconut tree and ‘Alam’ stands for land. Therefore, Kerala can be named as the land of coconut trees.
Kerala, the state that supplies a gigantic amount of the total global white coir fiber, is home to the first-ever coir factory in India. This factory was set up in Alleppey in 1859.
Kerala is one of the cleanest states in India. Along with Sikkim, it tops the list of the cleanest states according to the survey conducted by the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO).
Kerala experiences about 4% corruption in public services according to CMS “Indian Corruption Study” of 2017. The least corrupt state was Himachal Pradesh with a bribery percent of about 3%.
The first plantation of “teak” trees in the world was started by the British. The only Teak Museum in the world is also present here. The world’s largest and longest “teak” tree is also in Kerala.
Kerala is truly a secular state. It is home to people belonging to different religions living in harmony and peace. People belonging to different religions can be found in its every nook and corner.
Kerala is the largest producer of rubber in India. The state produces more than 90% of the total rubber produced in the country. More than 5 hectares of land in the state is used for rubber cultivation.
Kerala has the world’s first public electoral communist government. It was the first state in the world in 1957 to bring to power a communist government through democratic elections rather than revolution.
The Traveler Magazine of National Geographic included Kerala in its list of Ten Paradises of the world in its 1999 edition. The magazine also included Kerala in its list of Top 50 destinations of the world.
As the state is known for its beaches, the coastal area of the state is of 580 square kilometers. Beaches of Kerala play a vital role in making it one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country.
Kerala’s Pain and Palliative Society provide emotional support sessions and free home care services to the patients and because of their noble efforts, Kerala has been named as the best place to die in India.
Kerala has become the first Indian state to achieve 100 percent primary education. The Vice-President, Mohammad Hamid Ansari has officially declared the 100 percent primary education status achieved by Kerala

Information About Kerala

Kerala is the only state in the country that has an institutional delivery rate of 99.9%. National Family Health Survey says that in Kerala, almost all of the infants are born in medical institutions and hospitals.
Kerala is blessed with the Western Ghats which are home to one of the eight hottest hotspots in the world. The state houses the majority of the national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and forests in the Western Ghats.
Kerala has the highest per capita alcohol consumption in the country. According to a BBC study, Kerala’s alcohol consumption amounts to over 8 liters per person every year. This figure is more than Punjab and Haryana.
Kerala, along with Pondicherry, is the only Indian states to have a female - to - male ratio higher than 0.99. Kerala has 1084 females per 1000 males with a rate of 1.084 which is higher than the national figure of 0.940.
Another interesting fact is that Cochin Airport in Kerala is the first fully solar-powered airport in the world. The airport was awarded ‘Champion of the Earth’ by the United Nations for its contribution towards the environment.
Anamudi Peak of the Anaimalai range is named the ‘Everest of South India’. The peak reaches an incredible height of 8133 feet and is the highest point on the Western Ghats. It shares its borders with Ernakulam and Idukki districts.
Kerala is one of the 5 largest Christian population states in India. The Christian community has contributed to all walks of life in Kerala and is the primary reason for educational reform in Kerala and helped it reach 100% literacy.
God's own country as it is famously known, Kerala gets the first spell of rains in India. While the rest of the nation experiences rain in July, Kerala witnesses it around the first week of June every year followed by Mumbai and Delhi.
One of the most amazing facts about Kerala is that it is the biggest consumer of gold in India. The state consumes about 1/5th of the country’s gold. That’s why it is a normal sight to see brides covered with gold in weddings in Kerala.
One of the most wonderful facts about Kerala is that almost 99% of the men in the state enjoy access to media exposure while around 94% of the female population has the same reach. Newspapers in Kerala are available in 9 different languages.

Unbelievable Facts About Kerala

Kerala is home to India’s most advanced society. 100% literate, the state has the highest density of science and technology personnel, highest physical quality of life index (PQLI), highest life expectancy, and lowest infant mortality (IMR).
Since the state has given a prominent place to multiple religions and is highly admired for the same, it is natural to believe that numerous festivals are celebrated here. These festivals beautifully exemplify the unity of the diverse cultural structures.
In 2016, Kerala became the first digital state in the country. The then President, Pranab Mukherjee, conferred the state with this title. Kerala has the largest telecom literacy rate in India with full mobile connectivity and about 75% internet connectivity.
Backwaters are one of the prime attractions for tourists in the state. These backwaters are an intricate network of streams and canals, all interwoven exquisitely. Lagoons and lakes are the major components of these backwaters which run parallel to the Arabian Sea.
One of the facts that many people are unfamiliar with is that Kerala has the highest mortality rate in India. As per the Sample Registration Survey (SRS) survey conducted by the Registrar General of India, the mortality rate of the state is 10 per 1,000 live births.
Elephants in Kerala seem to share a special bond with its keepers and the people of the state. The elephants play a vital role in all the religious processions and the festivals being celebrated. The state animal of Kerala is the elephant which also features in its emblem.
The Nilambur Teak Plantation in Kerala is home to the oldest teak trees in the world. It is located in Malappuram and stretches across a vast region of 2.31 hectares. This plantation was established during the mid-19th century by H.V. Conolly- the collector of Malabar District.
Hinduism is a prominent religion of the Indian subcontinent and hence more than 1,60,650 temples are present in the country. Out of these, the richest Hindu temple in the world is located in Kerala. Padmanabhaswamy temple is the richest temple regarding gold and precious stones.
According to the 2011 Census of India figures, 54.73% of Kerala’s population are Hindus, 26.56% are Muslims, 18.38% are Christians, and the remaining 0.33% follow other religions or have no religion. Various tribal people in Kerala have retained the religious beliefs of their ancestors.

Unknown Facts About Kerala

Kerala is known as ‘God’s Own Country’. This slogan is used by the Kerala Tourism Department. The beautiful Arabian Sea in the west along with the backwaters make for a picturesque backdrop. Coconut trees lining the shorelines and turquoise water of the sea grab tourists’ attraction in a jiffy.
About 7.70 lakh hectares of cultivated area in Kerala is used for coconut plantation. Its production plays a vital role in the state's economy. Even the state is named after it. 'Kera' stands for coconut tree whereas 'alam' means land. Thus, Kerala can be iterated as the land of coconut trees.
The NFHS-3 compiled a list of states according to the percentage of media exposure enjoyed by them. A whopping 99 percent of the males enjoy media exposure while 94 percent of the females have access to media exposure in the state. The newspapers in Kerala are printed in nine different languages.
Kerala is home to some of the rarest wetlands, prominently the three wetland sites- Sasthamkotta Lake, Vembanad-Kol Wetland, and Ashtamudi Lake. These Ramsar sites play vital ecological roles and are among the best-preserved secrets of the state. Sasthamkota is the largest freshwater lake in Kerala.
Kerala is renowned for its spices and is called the Spice Coast of India. The state boasts an assortment of spices which originated from the cultures of Christians, Muslims, Jews, and merchants who settled down here. A creamy texture and aroma can be easily found in the original cuisines of the state.
The schools in Kerala are affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE), the Kerala State Education Board or the NIOS. Kerala became the first state in January 2016 to have achieved 100 % primary education through Athulyam, its literacy program.
Kerala is the most literate state in India with a literacy rate of 93.91% while the literacy rate of the country stands at a mere 74.04% according to the census of 2011. The rural area of Kottayam district in Kerala has a literacy rate of 97.17 percent while amongst the urban areas, Pathanamthitta has 97.42 percent.
India was believed to be a home to the wondrous Ayurvedic practices that were diligently followed by a number of people. This pious tradition still has its roots in the state of Kerala. It is essentially because of the amazing climate and nature’s innumerable blessings that an overwhelming number of herbs and spices are grown here.
The slogan used by the Kerala Tourism Department says it all about this alfresco state. With the Arabian Sea in the west and a channel of backwaters running throughout the state, Kerala indeed offers the most scenic backdrop for all your clicks! A horde of coconut trees can be witnessed, and its turquoise blue waters will surely take your breath away.
Now that we know Kerala is not only the most literate but is even the cleanest, is home to the richest temple, and is a place where the maximum number of festivals are celebrated, we have every reason to believe that it would be counted as one of the best family holiday destinations. Believe it or not but Lonely Planet has already confirmed it and listed it as one of the best 5 family vacation places in the 2016 edition.
Muzhappilangad beach of Kerala runs parallel to NH 66 and is the longest drive-in beach in Asia. Besides being the best drive-in beach in Asia, it ranks amongst the world’s top 6 beaches for driving by BBC. You can enjoy a 4 km drive on the sandy beach. Its curved territory is bordered by black rocks and the nearby Dharmadam island is visible from the shores. During low tide, a narrow passage emerges from the sea that connects Muzhappilangad beach and Dharmadam island.
Kerala is known for its pioneer in medication using Ayurveda as its treatment method. It is also home to Somatheeram, the world's first Ayurvedic Resort. Ayurveda is also used for beauty, massage and hair treatment. Ayurveda is used for medical treatment primarily. Even today with the modernisation of medicine, Kerala uses age-old Ayurvedic techniques to fight and cure most of its diseases. It is also being used to treat arthritis in the state. Ayurveda is the primal mode of medicine in Kerala.
St Thomas, Syro-Malabar Catholic church in Palayur was established in 52 AD by St Thomas one of the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ. Built in the 629 AD, the first ever mosque in India Cheraman Juma Mosque is in Methala, Kodungallur, Kerala. It was built by Malik Deenar. Coming to the Synagogue, the oldest active synagogue is the Paradesi Synagogue that's in Kochi, Kerala. It is one among the seven synagogues of the Cochin Jewish community or the Yehudan Mapila people constructed in the year 1567.
There may be innumerable Hindu temples in Kerala but there’s no dearth of churches, synagogues, and mosques. In fact, it is in Kerala only where India had the first of its church, mosque, and synagogue. The first mosque, named Cheraman Juma Mosque was established by Malik Deenar in 629 AD, St. Thomas Syro Malabar Catholic Church is the first ever church in India built by St. Thomas in 52 AD while the first ever synagogue called Paradesi Synagogue was established in 1567 by the people of Yehudan Mapila.

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