Kerala

Winter season between September to March is the best time to visit Kerala.

Currency: Indian Rupees

Official languages: Malyalam

The term Kerala was first epigraphically recorded as Ketalaputo (Cheras) in a 3rd-century BCE rock inscription by emperor Ashoka of Magadha. In 1498, Vasco Da Gama established a sea route to Kozhikode and raised Portuguese settlements, which marked the beginning of the colonial era of Kerala.

Kerala traces its non-prehistoric cultural genesis to its membership (around the AD 3rd century) in a vaguely defined historical region known as Thamizhagom — a land defined by a common Tamil culture and encompassing the Chera, Chola, and Pandya kingdoms.

Hinduism and Islam are the two major religions of Kerala. More than 50% of people in Kerala follow Hinduism, and more than 25% follow Islam. Around 20% are Christians, and others follow Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism and other religions. The cultural diversity of Kerala is well known. The culture of Kerala evolved through the Sanskritization of Dravidian ethos, revivalism of religious movements and reform movements against caste discrimination. Kerala showcases a culture unique to itself developed through accommodation, acculturation and assimilation of various faculties of civilized lifestyle.

The temperature in Kerala normally ranges from 28° to 32° C (82° to 90° F) on the plains but drops to about 20° C (68° F) in the highlands. Kerala, which lies in the tropic region, is mostly subject to the type of humid tropical wet climate experienced by most of Earth's rainforests. Meanwhile, its extreme eastern fringes experience a drier tropical wet and dry climate. Kerala receives an average annual rainfall of 3107 mm – some 7,030 crore m3 of water.

Citizens of most countries, including the United States, need a visa to visit India which should be arranged in advance. Full details can be found at The Government of India website (http://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/). Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan do not need a visa, while some nationalities may get them upon arrival.

The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and Kerala Urban Road Transport Corporation (KURTC) are the lifeline of the state. These ubiquitous buses are the cheapest and sometimes fastest means of transit. They are present in every city, town, and village, and reach the most remote corners of the state. Sometimes rattling, but always sturdy, these buses have transferred the people of this land from one place to another since 1961. The trusted carriage of every Keralite, KSRTC has come a long way over the years as they are now available in comfortable low-floor AC buses on certain routes. The minimum charges range from ₹7 (£0.08) to ₹21 (£0.25) depending upon the travel time and comfort level of the bus.

Bus schedules between stops can be obtained from www.aanavandi.com and www.keralartc.com. However, confirmation of the travel schedule at the KSRTC bus depot is highly recommended.

Before you leave on your holiday, there are at least four health-related things you should do. Please check the handbook for specifics, but for now, here’s the short list:

Step 1: Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting.

Step 2: Have a medical checkup with your doctor.

Step 3: Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

Step 4: Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less important than steps 1-3.)

We recommend avoiding packing any plastic bags in your luggage before flying to Kenya. You should also remove any items purchased at departure airports from their bags before boarding. Double check your luggage before disembarking in Kenya and leave any plastic bags on the plane.

• Don’t purchase air/rail/bus tickets through strangers or unauthorized travel agents / tour operators.
• Don’t point your finger at any person. It is taken as a sign of annoyance.
• One must carry proper maps of the places proposed to visit.
• Book your hotels in advance. Hotels and accommodations systems are well defined to suit every pocket. Contact a tour operator or a tour guide, who will make your tour easy and comfortable.