Kerala, the impossibly green God's own country is believed to have been created when God Parashurama, bidding a farewell to his arms, asking forgiveness for his sins, threw his axe from heaven which landed on southern India to form this narrow verdant strip of land surrounded by the rolling hills of the Western Ghats from top to bottom on its eastern edge and by the Arabian Sea on the western edge. Enclosed within is a mossed backwaters, abundant wildlife, paddy fields, a rich land bursting with cashew, coconut and rubber plantations and a variety of spices like Cardamom, pepper, turmeric, and ginger, making Kerala the spice capital of India.
However, in spite of the deep and lasting impressions left by all the settlers, the original inhabitants never surrendered his individual identity or passionate awareness of his own culture. A unique and spectacular dance from Kathakali, a masked dance drama . There is the highly classical art of Koodiyattom the lyrically sensuous dance of the enchantress-Mohiniattam, the religious fervor of Krishnattom and the Kalaripayatu - the martial art form which Karate originated.
An intrinsic part of the traditional Kerala are its handicrafts. Kerala's most important resources are the coconut palms. No part of this tree is wasted and a flourishing coir industry exists because of its plentiful presence. Coir products, woven from coconut husk fiber are a Kerala specialty. Kerala is famous for intricate rosewood and sandalwood carvings, ivory work, brass and "bell metal" lamps.