Keralam

Introduction & Top Questions
Land
- Relief and drainage
- Climate
- Plant and animal life
People
- Population composition
- Settlement patterns and demographic trends
Economy
- Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
- Resources and power
- Manufacturing, services, and labor
- Transportation
Government and society
- Constitutional framework
- Health and welfare
- Education
Cultural life
History

References & Edit History Related Topics

Images & Videos

Map of southern India highlighting the state of Keralam in orange along the southwestern coast, with its capital Thiruvananthapuram labeled. Surrounding countries and major bodies of water, including the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, are also shown for regional context.

The word Keralam appears in white text over a blue background.

Large cantilevered fishing net suspended over the water, with people operating the traditional wooden structure at a fishery in Kochi, India.

Front view of the Kerala Legislative Assembly building in Thiruvananthapuram, featuring a large red-tiled roof, columns, and a decorative entrance gate with trees on either side.

At a Glance

Kerala summary

Quizzes

Chandigarh. Statuettes at the Rock Garden of Chandigarh a sculpture park in Chandigarh, India, also known as Nek Chand's Rock Garden. Created by Nek Chand Saini an Indian self taught artist. visionary artist, folk artist, environmental art

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Jodhpur. Rajasthan. Jaswant Thada an architectural landmark in Jodhpur, India. A white marble memorial, built in 1899, by Sardar Singh in memory of Maharaja Jaswant Singh II. Indian architecture

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Related Questions

How are Keralam’s roads and railways connected to the rest of India?
How can changing rainfall patterns contribute to floods and landslides in Keralam?
How did Malayalam cinema gain recognition for realism and experimentation?
How did Portuguese, Dutch, French, and British influence the Malabar Coast?
How did Ravi Varma combine European painting styles with Indian themes?
How did Thunchath Ezhuthachan influence Malayalam literature?
How did Travancore and Cochin become part of Kerala state in 1956?
How do Hindu temples, mosques, and churches reflect Keralam’s cultural history?
How do Keralam’s inland waterways transport people and goods?
How do coconut palms contribute to Keralam’s economy?
How do kathakali performances combine dance, drama, music, and acting?
How do the Western Ghats shape Keralam’s landscape?
How do tourism and information technology contribute to Keralam’s economy?
How is Keralam governed under the Constitution of India?
How is mohiniyattam different from kathakali?
How long is Keralam’s coastline along the Malabar Coast?
How many districts are there in Keralam?
How many members are elected to the Keralam Legislative Assembly?
What animals live in the forests of Keralam’s Western Ghats?
What are Keralam’s most important cash crops?
What caused the severe floods in Keralam in 2018?
What happened during the deadly landslides in Wayanad district in 2024?
What is kalaripayattu, and how is it connected to Keralam?
What is the capital city of Keralam?
What is the highest mountain peak in peninsular India?
What products are made from Keralam’s forests?
What role does Cochin Port play in Keralam’s transportation system?
When did the Kochi Metro begin operating?
When do the southwest and northeast monsoons bring rain to Keralam?
Where is the High Court of Keralam located?
Where is the Paradesi Synagogue located in Keralam?
Which Indian epics provide stories for many traditional dances of Keralam?
Which Indian states border Keralam?
Which food crops are grown in Keralam?
Which industries employ workers in Keralam’s manufacturing sector?
Which language do most people in Keralam speak?
Which protected area is the largest national park and tiger reserve in Keralam?
Which religious communities make up Keralam’s population?
Which rivers in Keralam flow into the Arabian Sea?
Which sea lies along Keralam’s western coast?
Which types of fish are important to Keralam’s fishing industry?
Who are the Mappila people of Keralam’s Malabar Coast?
Why are most rivers in Keralam short and swift-flowing?
Why are the Western Ghats in Keralam considered a biodiversity hot spot?
Why did Keralam develop cultural connections with foreign regions?
Why did the Cochin Jewish community decline after the mid-20th century?
Why do the Western Ghats receive heavy rainfall in Keralam?
Why does Keralam import food despite its productive agriculture?
Why has unemployment remained a problem in Keralam?
Why is Keralam sometimes called the Land of Lamps?
Where is Keralam located?
What are the main geographical features of Keralam?
What is the climate of Keralam?
What are some key economic activities in Keralam?
Why was Kerala renamed Keralam?
What is significant about the Venkateswara Temple, Tirumala?
Who is the deity Venkateswara?
What rituals and festivals is the Venkateswara Temple known for?
What is the history of the Venkateswara Temple?
How was Chennai founded?

Geography & Travel States & Other Subdivisions

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External Websites

IndiaNetzone - Kerala, India
Official Tourism Site of Kerala, India

Britannica Websites

Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.

Keralam - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Keralam - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)

Keralam

Also known as: Kerala, Land of Lamps

Written by

William A. Noble

Professor of South Asian Geography, University of Missouri, Columbia.

William A. Noble

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 13, 2026 •History

Keralam is first mentioned (as Keralaputra) in a 3rd-century-bce rock inscription left by the Mauryan emperor Ashoka. In the last centuries bce, this region became famous among the Greeks and Romans for its spices (especially pepper). During the first five centuries ce, the region was a part of Tamilakam—the territory of the Tamils—and thus was sometimes partially controlled by the eastern Pandya and Chola dynasties, as well as by the Cheras. In the 1st century...

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