Description
The God's own country is a narrow, fertile strip of land on the south-west coast of India. The name Keralam in Sanskrit means the land added on. But the popular version is that it means the land of Kera, the Coconut. According to legend, the land was a gift of Parasurama, one of the ten Avatars (incarnations) of Lord Vishnu. It is believed that Parasurama threw his battle-axe into the sea, reclaiming the landmass, Kerala. This state consists of 14 districts with Thiruvananthapuram as its capital. Kerala is immensely blessed by nature with lush vegetation, tranquil beaches, stunning mountains, hill station, wildlife and bird sanctuary, forts and palaces, pilgrim centres, festivals and has a network of 44 major rivers and lakes on the backwater system.