Kerala is a land of surf, spice and magic and an ancient crossroads of cultures... Chinese fishing nets drawn up on the golden sand, Jewish synagogues, Portuguese forts, Dutch and Syrian churches, and of course beautiful Indian temples and palaces... backed by mountains, fringed with surf, beautiful beaches, alluring backwaters, paddy fields, spice plantations and swaying palms tree.

Geographically, Kerala is a narrow fertile strip on the southwest coast of India, sandwiched between the Lakshadweep Sea and the Western Ghats. The Western Ghats with their dense forests and extensive ridges have sheltered Kerala from many mainland invaders and the long coastline has encouraged maritime contact with the outside world - a contact that has resulted in an interesting blend of cultures.

The State's heart is composed of intensely green paddy fields and a unique network of rivers and lagoons. Upland Kerala, relatively little visited, is composed of hills thickly wooded with

teak and rubber. It is here that Kerala's most precious spices, cardamom, pepper and nutmeg, are grown in carefully nurtured plantations.